Force Reader Mode Every Webpage? How To

You cannot force every webpage to open in reader mode by default in most browsers, but you can get very close with a few settings and extensions. This article explains what reader mode actually does, which browsers support it, and the practical steps to make it load automatically on as many sites as possible.

Formula

The calculator works out your average pace and speed for a run, walk, or cycle. You enter the total time in minutes and the distance in kilometers. The formulas are:

Pace (min/km) = Total time (min) ÷ Distance (km)

Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Total time (min) ÷ 60)

Where:

• Total time (t) is in minutes
• Distance (d) is in kilometers
• Pace is in minutes per kilometer
• Speed is in kilometers per hour

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: 50 minutes and 10 km.

1. Pace = 50 ÷ 10 = 5.00 min/km
2. Speed = 10 ÷ (50 ÷ 60) = 10 ÷ 0.8333 = 12.00 km/h

So a 10 km run in 50 minutes gives an average pace of 5:00 per kilometer and an average speed of 12 km/h.

What Is Reader Mode and Why Use It?

Reader mode (also called reading view or distraction-free mode) strips away ads, sidebars, pop-ups, and formatting, leaving just the article text and images. It reflows the content into a clean, readable layout with adjustable font size and background color. It is built into most major browsers, but the way you turn it on and how automatic it can be varies.

The main benefit is focus. If you read long articles, research papers, or recipes, reader mode reduces clutter and can make pages load faster because it doesn’t load many of the heavy scripts. It also helps with accessibility—larger text, higher contrast, and a consistent layout help people with visual impairments or dyslexia.

Which Browsers Support Reader Mode?

Here is the current state of built-in reader mode:

• Safari (macOS and iOS): Has a reader mode that can be enabled per-site and remembered. On iOS, tap the reader icon in the address bar; on macOS, click the reader button in the Smart Search field. You can set it to auto-activate on specific sites.
• Firefox (desktop and Android): Has a reader view that you can open by pressing F9 or clicking the reader icon in the address bar. Firefox does not have a built-in option to auto-enable it for all sites, but you can use extensions to get closer.
• Microsoft Edge (desktop and mobile): Has an immersive reader that you can open by pressing F9 or clicking the book icon. Edge also lets you set it to open automatically for certain sites, but not globally by default.
• Chrome (desktop and Android): Does not have a built-in reader mode. You need to use an extension or enable a hidden flag (chrome://flags#reader-mode-heuristics) that adds a reader mode button, but it still requires you to click it each time.

So the short answer: no browser lets you force reader mode on every single webpage by default. The closest you can get is per-site settings or extensions that auto-click the reader button.

How to Force Reader Mode Automatically

If you want reader mode to activate without you clicking each time, here are the practical methods:

Use a Browser Extension

Extensions like Auto Reader Mode (for Firefox and Chrome) or Just Read (for Chrome and Firefox) can automatically open reader view on every page you visit. They usually let you whitelist sites you want to keep normal (like your email or banking). After installing, the extension scans the page and if it detects an article, it applies its own clean layout. This works on most news sites, blogs, and documentation pages.

Use Safari’s Per-Site Settings

In Safari on macOS, you can right-click the reader icon in the address bar and choose “Settings for This Website.� Then select “Always Use Reader� from the drop-down. This forces reader mode for that specific site. You have to do this for each site you visit regularly, but it’s a built-in method without extensions.

Use Edge’s Immersive Reader Automatically

Edge has a similar per-site setting. Click the immersive reader icon, then click “More� (the three dots) and select “Open immersive reader on this site automatically.� Again, it’s per-site, not global.

Common Problems and Workarounds

Reader mode isn’t perfect. Here are the typical issues and how to handle them:

• Pages that don’t work: Some sites block reader mode or are too complex (like interactive maps or dashboards). Extensions usually let you add those sites to a blacklist.
• Missing images or formatting: Reader mode sometimes drops images or breaks code blocks. For technical documentation, you may want to keep the original view.
• Paywalls and login walls: Reader mode does not bypass paywalls. It only removes visual clutter; if the site requires a subscription to read the full text, reader mode won’t help.
• Dynamic content: Pages that load content via JavaScript (like infinite scroll) may not show everything in reader mode. You might need to scroll to the bottom first, then activate reader mode.

How to Choose the Right Method

Think about your browsing habits:

• If you mostly read news and blogs: An extension that auto-activates is best. It saves you one click per page.
• If you only want it on a few sites: Use the per-site settings in Safari or Edge. It’s built-in and doesn’t need an extension.
• If you value privacy and minimal extensions: Use the built-in reader mode manually. Click the icon when you need it.
• If you use Chrome: You have no built-in option, so an extension is the only way to get close to automatic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does reader mode save data or battery?

Yes, to a degree. By not loading ads, trackers, and heavy scripts, reader mode can reduce data usage and extend battery life on mobile devices. The effect is more noticeable on article-heavy sites with lots of ads.

Can reader mode break websites?

Yes, especially on pages that are not primarily text—like web apps, forms, or interactive tools. That’s why most extensions let you disable reader mode for specific domains. If a page looks broken, turn off reader mode for that site.

Is there a way to force reader mode on all sites in Chrome?

Not by default. You can enable a hidden flag (chrome://flags#reader-mode-heuristics) that adds a reader mode button, but it still requires a click. For automatic activation, you need an extension like “Auto Reader Mode� or “Just Read.�

Does reader mode remove paywalls?

No. Reader mode only strips visual elements. If the site requires a subscription or login to view the full content, reader mode will not bypass that. It only shows what is already available in the page’s HTML.

Can I use reader mode on PDF files?

In most browsers, reader mode does not work on PDFs. You can use the browser’s built-in PDF viewer to adjust text size, but it’s not the same as reader mode. Some extensions can convert PDFs to a readable format, but that’s separate.

Why does reader mode sometimes show a blank page?

This usually happens when the article content is loaded via JavaScript after the initial page load. Try scrolling to the bottom of the page first to force all content to load, then activate reader mode. If that fails, the site may use a technology that reader mode can’t parse.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2