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How to Turn on Reader Mode in Safari on an iPhone

Annoyed by ads or other distracting elements on websites? Learn how to turn on and use Reader mode in Safari on your iPhone.

Key Takeaways:

  • Safari’s Reader mode strips away clutter like ads and sidebars to highlight the article’s core text, with customizable font and background options.
  • Tap the page icon in Safari to enable Reader mode or press and hold it for quick access, then adjust text size or color to your preference.
  • You can auto-enable Reader mode for certain sites by selecting ‘Use Reader Automatically’ in Safari’s page or website settings for a cleaner experience.
  • Exit Reader mode anytime by tapping ‘Hide Reader’ in the page menu to return to the full, original version of the site.
  • If Reader mode doesn’t work, the site may not support it or your Safari app may need an iOS update to restore the feature.

Reader mode is a Safari feature that lets you read content on webpages without distractions. It does this by removing all unnecessary elements, such as ads and navigation bars, from webpages so you can focus on the main content on a page. You can even personalize your reading experience by customizing the text font and background color of the page.

Enabling and using the Reader mode in Safari is easy. Stick around, and we’ll explain how to do it.

How to Turn on Reader Mode in Safari on an iPhone and iPad

Safari allows you to turn on the Reader view on supported webpages. Here are the steps you need to follow to do this on your iPhone:

  1. Go to Safari and open the article you want to read in Reader mode.
  2. Tap the page settings button in the left corner of the address bar.
  3. Tap the Show Reader button you see on the resulting menu.
  4. Alternatively, you can press and hold the page settings button in the address bar, and it will turn on Reader mode.
    Turn on reader mode in safari in ios 18

That’s it. Once you’ve enabled the Reader mode, you can read the article in the default settings or customize the page settings per your preference.

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  1. Tap on your preferred color on the Reader mode overlay screen to set it as the page background.
  2. Similarly, you can change the font, too. Tap the drop-down button above the colors and choose your preferred font from the list.
    Select colour and font from customization page in reader mode

When you want to exit the Reader mode, bring up the page settings and tap the Hide Reader button.

If you’re on a older iOS version, you can enable the Reader mode on your iPhone like this:

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Tap the Aa icon in the left corner of the address bar.
  3. Select Show Reader.
    Select show reader in safari

You can turn off Reader mode by tapping Aa icon again and selecting Hide Reader on the resulting menu.

How to Automatically Enable Reader Mode in Safari on an iPhone and iPad

You may choose to turn on Reader mode for all sites or some specific sites you visit on Safari. While it’s possible to do this, keep in mind that some sites don’t support Reader view.

Automatically enable Reader mode on a specific site:

  1. Go to Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap the page settings icon on the left side of the address bar.
  3. Tap the three-dot button in the bottom left and toggle on the Use Reader Automatically option.
    Open any site and toggle on use reader automatically

Now, every time you open an article on that website, Safari will automatically open it in Reader view.

At any point, if you want to disable it, just follow the steps above and toggle off the Use Reader Automatically while on the website you’ve earlier enabled it for.

Automatically enable Reader mode on an all sites:

  1. Go to the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down to Apps and tap it, then select Safari.
  3. Next, scroll down to the Settings for Websites section and tap on Reader.
  4. Finally, tap Other Websites under Automatically Use Reader On.
    Toggle on other websites from reader in safari settings on iphone

Signing Off…

We hope this guide helped you turn on and use Reader mode in Safari on your iPhone or iPad. With the feature enabled, you can enjoy a distraction-free experience while reading articles or journals online on your devices.

Still have doubts? Let us know in the comments below. 

FAQs

Why is Reader mode grayed out in Safari on my iPhone?

The Reader mode will be grayed out on your iPhone if the website you’re on doesn’t support it.

What to do if Safari Reader mode is not working on my iPhone or iPad?

If Safari Reader mode is not working on your iPhone or iPad, you should try using it on other websites, as some don’t support it. If the issue persists, then it’s recommended that you update iOS on your device or contact Apple Support.

Is Safari Distraction Control feature the same as Reader mode?

No, the Safari Distraction Control feature is not the same as Reader mode. The Distraction Control feature only allows you to remove unwanted elements from a webpage, while Reader mode switches the webpage to a view to help you focus better on the text on a webpage.

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Jignesh
Jignesh

Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of iGeeksBlog.com, who has a keen eye for news, rumors, and all the unusual stuff around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting content on social media.

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