Tips & Tricks

Beginner

3 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

How to Use Safari Reader Mode for Easier Web Browsing

Safari's Reader Mode strips away ads, pop-ups, and distractions from any article, leaving just the text and images.

At a Glance

Open Reader Mode on iPhone or iPad

~29s

Navigate to an article in Safari. Look at the address bar at the top of the screen. On the left side, you may see a small paragraph icon (four stacked horizontal lines) or the text "AA." Tap it. If a Reader Mode option appears, tap "Show Reader." The page instantly transforms into a clean reading view.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: If you do not see the Reader icon, the page may not have a detectable article. Try it on news articles, blog posts, or recipe pages — those work best.

Open Reader Mode on Mac

~17s

In Safari on your Mac, navigate to any article. Look in the address bar for the Reader icon (stacked lines icon on the left). Click it. Or use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Command + R. The page reformats to a clean reading layout in the main window.

Change Text Size and Font

~19s

In Reader Mode, tap the "AA" button (iPhone/iPad) or click "AA" in the address bar (Mac). A panel shows text size sliders — tap the large A to increase text size, the small A to decrease it. Below that, choose a different font: Athelas, Charter, Georgia, Palatino, San Francisco, or Seravek. Pick whichever you find most readable.

Switch to a Dark or Sepia Background

~19s

In the same "AA" panel, you see four background color options: white, beige/sepia, gray, and dark/black. Tap the dark option to switch to a dark background with light text — much easier on the eyes in low light or at night. The sepia (cream) background is also gentle on the eyes for long reading sessions.

Set Automatic Reader Mode for a Website

~20s

If a website always loads with too many ads, you can make Safari always open it in Reader Mode. In Reader Mode, tap "AA" and look for "Website Settings" or "Reader Mode for Website." Toggle on "Use Reader Automatically." From now on, whenever you visit that site, Safari automatically activates Reader Mode without you needing to tap anything.

You Did It!

You've finished reading: How to Use Safari Reader Mode for Easier Web Browsing

How well did this guide stick with you?

Need more help? Book a TekSure tech

Many websites are so cluttered with ads, pop-ups, cookie notices, and sidebars that reading an actual article feels like an obstacle course. Safari's Reader Mode solves this in one tap. It strips everything away and shows you just the article text and images in a clean, calm layout.

Reader Mode works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac — any device that uses Safari as a browser. It is built right in and does not cost anything extra.

When you turn on Reader Mode, you can also adjust the text size (make it bigger for easier reading), change the font to one you prefer, and switch to a dark background to reduce eye strain in the evening.

Reader Mode does not work on every page. It only activates when Safari detects that the page contains a main article or long text content. For pages that are mostly navigation, videos, or shopping, the Reader Mode button will not appear.

You can set Safari to automatically use Reader Mode on all pages of a specific website — great for news sites you visit regularly that have particularly aggressive ads.

Rate this guide

How helpful was this guide?

safari

reader mode

iphone

ipad

mac

accessibility

reading

Official Resources

How-To Geek AARP Technology Tips Tom's Guide — Tips

Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

← Previous

How to Use Battery Saver Mode on Android to Extend Battery Life

How to Use Samsung Quick Share to Send Files Between Galaxy Devices

Still stuck? Let a pro handle it.

A real person can walk you through this over the phone, anywhere in the US. If we can't fix it, you don't pay.

Book a Verified Tech How It Works

Learn more from official sources

Related Guides

iPhone: Battery Saving Tips

Make your iPhone battery last longer with these proven tips and settings.

1 min read

iPhone: Safari Browser Tips

Get more out of Safari on iPhone with these hidden features and shortcuts.

1 min read

iPhone: iMessage and Texting Tips

Hidden iMessage features that make texting more fun and productive.

1 min read