Use reader mode to bypass soft paywalls
Updated September 2026
Your browser's built-in reader mode can quietly remove some paywalls — the "soft" kind, where the article text is already on the page behind a JavaScript overlay. Here is how to turn it on in each browser, and where it stops working.
What reader mode actually does
Reader mode re-renders a page as clean text — no ads, no scripts, no overlays. On a soft paywall (the article is in the HTML but hidden by an overlay), stripping the overlay reveals the text. It is instant and built into your browser.
When it works — and when it doesn't
Reader mode only helps on soft walls where the text is already delivered. On metered walls it may work on your free reads; on hard subscription walls (WSJ, FT, Bloomberg) it does nothing, because the server never sent the article. For those, a reader-first tool with archive fallback is the better bet.
Turn on reader mode in your browser
- Safari (Mac & iPhone). On Mac, click the reader icon at the left of the address bar or choose View → Show Reader. On iPhone, tap the "Aa" in the address bar, then "Show Reader".
- Chrome. Desktop: open the side panel and pick Reading Mode (enable it at chrome://flags if it is not visible). Android: tap the menu and choose "Simplified view" when offered.
- Firefox. Click the reader-view icon (a page symbol) at the right of the address bar, or press F9. Firefox has one of the most reliable reader views.
- Edge. Click the Immersive Reader (book) icon in the address bar, or press F9.
Live success rates
Unlike other tools, RemovePaywall shows how often it actually works, from real usage — recent examples: The New Yorker ~98% · WIRED ~98% · The Atlantic ~97% · Business Insider ~92% · The New York Times ~64%. See the full live list.
FAQ
Does reader mode remove every paywall?
No — only soft ones where the text is already on the page. Metered walls work on free reads; hard walls send no text, so reader mode cannot help.
Which browser has the best reader mode?
Firefox and Safari have the most reliable built-in reader views; Chrome's Reading Mode is newer.
What if reader mode does not work?
The wall is probably metered-out or hard. Paste the link into a reader-first tool, which also checks public archives automatically.