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How to Use Reading Mode on Any Website

Learn how to use Helperbird's Reading Mode to create a clean, distraction-free reading experience. Reading Mode removes ads, sidebars, and clutter.

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What is Reading Mode?

Reading Mode removes distractions from a webpage and shows you just the main content. It gets rid of ads, navigation menus, sidebars, and other elements that can make reading difficult.

The result is a clean, simple view that looks like a book or document, making it much easier to focus on reading.

Who is This For?

This feature is helpful for:

  • People who are distracted by ads and other page elements
  • Anyone with dyslexia who benefits from simplified layouts
  • People with ADHD who need fewer distractions
  • Students reading articles for research
  • Anyone who finds cluttered websites overwhelming

Step 1: Open Helperbird

Click the Helperbird icon in your browser toolbar. It looks like a small owl and is usually in the top-right corner of your browser.

This will open the Helperbird menu.

Step 2: Go to the All Features Section

Scroll down to the bottom of the Helperbird menu. You will see a section called All Features.

Click the arrow next to All Features to expand it and show all available features.

Step 3: Find Reading Mode

Look through the list of features until you see Reading Mode.

It has a document or page icon next to it.

Step 4: Click Reading Mode

Click on Reading Mode.

Helperbird extracts the main article into a focused reading view, away from the surrounding navigation and advertising. Results depend on how the website structures its content.

You will see just the main text and images from the article.

Step 5: Customize Your View

Use the buttons in the Reading Mode header. On a narrow screen, open More options to reach the controls.

  • Show read-aloud controls opens the Text to Speech player. Opening the player does not start speech. Choose Play when you are ready.
  • Speed Reading shows one word at a time. Choose Play, Pause or the word arrows to control your pace.
  • Reading Width cycles the article width.
  • The Light or Dark button switches the reading theme.
  • Settings opens font, text size, line height, word spacing and letter spacing.
  • Translate opens the article in Google Translate.
  • Close returns to the webpage.

Reading Mode showing a garden article with its reading controls in the headerView full-size image (opens in a new tab)

Reading Mode saves its own appearance choices. Changing these controls does not change the original webpage or your other Helperbird apps.

Reading Mode Settings with its own font, size and spacing choicesView full-size image (opens in a new tab)

Wide tables and code blocks can scroll sideways. Code keeps its formatting and has a Copy control.

For a word-by-word view, follow the Speed Reading guide.

If the article includes a code block, Reading Mode keeps its spacing and uses syntax colors to distinguish parts of the code.

A code block in Reading Mode with preserved spacing and syntax colorsView full-size image (opens in a new tab)

Step 6: Exit Reading Mode

When you are done reading, click the X button in the top corner of the Reading Mode view.

This will return you to the normal webpage. You can also press Escape to close Reading Mode.

Tip: Reading Mode works best on articles, blog posts, and news stories. It may not work well on pages that are mostly images or interactive content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Reading Mode free? Yes! Reading Mode is included in Helperbird Free.

Does Reading Mode work on all websites? Reading Mode works best on articles, blog posts, and news sites. Some complex web apps, paywalled content, or image-heavy sites may not work perfectly.

Where are the font and text-size controls? Open Settings in the Reading Mode header. These preferences belong to Reading Mode. Immersive Reader has its own controls.

Can I print from Reading Mode? There is no dedicated print button in the current Reading Mode toolbar. Your browser's print command may include the underlying webpage, so check its preview before printing.

What's the difference between Reading Mode and Immersive Reader? Reading Mode is Helperbird's built-in feature for clean reading. Immersive Reader is Microsoft's tool with additional features like syllable breaking and parts of speech highlighting. Both remove distractions, but Immersive Reader has more learning-focused tools.

Reading Mode with its compact speech player above an articleView full-size image (opens in a new tab)

Reading Mode in dark mode with Speed Reading visibleView full-size image (opens in a new tab)

Related Guides

Video Tutorial

Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions or run into any issues, please contact the Helperbird support team. You can reach us at Helperbird support. We are happy to help you get the most out of Helperbird.

Printed from the Helperbird Help Center · Updated September 25th, 2026

Questions? We are happy to help — helperbird.com/support

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it didn't ask for obnoxious permi...

Immersive Reader from Microsoft is amazing, but my friends in Google districts were missing out until I found Helperbird. Great for proofreading! Simply highlight the text and have it read back to you, change the spacing in your view, highlight parts of speech, even translate by word or by document to have it read to you and adjust the speed! So amazing that I posted a YouTube tutorial within days of installing it. Plus, unlike many extensions, it didn't ask for obnoxious permissions like asking to delete everything in my Google Drive. #Winner #a11y
GK TechiesHelperbird user

an absolute lifesaver

This extension has been an absolute lifesaver. I have that fantastic combo of ADHD and Dyslexia while trying to go through college. I have difficulty keeping letters in order, seeing the gaps between words, and with ADHD on top, I lose focus A LOT. The immersive reader has been my new best friend. It drowns out the rest of the content on the page, changes the font to something I can read, and highlights the word as it reads to me. My eyes are forced to keep going in the right direction. I can slow down and pay attention to what I'm reading. I don't even have to go back and read the same paragraph 5 times to understand it! The screen overlay has been outstanding for eye strain and being able to distinguish between words and spaces. The custom font and spacing for research articles have been an enormous advantage! I can actually read the research papers now and not have this daunting 2 column fine print page to squint over.All around, this has been the best purchase I've ever had. I use this every day, with every assignment. I don't even struggle with story-based questions anymore. The immersive reader helps me read, listen, and understand the question all at once. I am still exploring what I can use this with and how it can make my academic career, and I keep getting impressed with every new way I find to use it. Seriously, try it out. You won't regret it at all. Even if you don't have dyslexia or ADHD, just try it out. You might find that it helps you understand the content you're trying to learn even better!
Mason HunterHelperbird user

she is now much happier about the...

I have been trying to find ways to make my child happy to go to school again, and someone recommended helperbird. She loves helperbird, and she is now much happier about the idea of returning to school. I think this might be a game changer, as they do so much web based schoolwork and research. She says they really understand people with dyslexia
Cris TownleyParent
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