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Microsoft Edge’s Immersive Reader is now labeled Reading mode. It converts supported webpages into a cleaner reading view by removing ads, pop-ups, navigation controls, sidebars, and other distractions.
You can enable the Reading mode button in Edge’s settings, open it with the address-bar control or F9, and adjust the font, column width, theme, read-aloud voice, and other options. The feature is built into Edge, so you do not need to install an extension.
What happened to Immersive Reader in Edge?
Microsoft’s current Edge interface and support documentation call the feature Reading mode. Older guides may still refer to it as Immersive Reader. They describe the same built-in reading view.
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Check whether your Edge version supports Reading mode
Microsoft lists Reading mode for Edge on Windows 10, Windows 11, and macOS. The current feature page lists support for Edge version 149 or later. To check your installed version:
- Select Settings and more (…) in the upper-right corner.
- Go to Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge.
- Allow Edge to check for updates. Restart the browser if an update is installed.
On Windows, Microsoft’s detailed support instructions currently apply most directly to Windows 10 and Windows 11. Menu labels can vary slightly between Edge releases and managed work or school installations.
Enable the Reading mode button
Reading mode is built into Edge, but its address-bar button may be hidden until you enable it in the toolbar settings.
- Open Edge and select Settings and more (…).
- Select Settings.
- Select Appearance in the left sidebar.
- Scroll to the Toolbar section.
- Turn on the Reading mode switch.
The complete path is:
Settings and more (…) > Settings > Appearance > Toolbar > Reading modeOnce enabled, Edge displays the Reading mode page icon in the address bar whenever the current page is eligible.
Open a webpage in Reading mode
Navigate to an article or other text-heavy webpage, then use either of these methods:
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- Select the Reading mode page icon in the address bar.
- Press F9.
Edge opens a simplified version of the page while retaining the main text and relevant visual content. Ads, pop-ups, buttons, sidebars, and much of the surrounding site layout are removed.
Press F9 again to leave Reading mode. Depending on the Edge version, an exit control may also appear on the Reading mode toolbar.
Open only part of a webpage
If Edge cannot convert the entire page, you can send a specific passage to Reading mode:
- Drag across the text you want to read.
- Right-click the selection.
- Select Open selection in Reading mode.
Older Edge documentation may call this command Open in Immersive Reader. The current wording is “Open selection in Reading mode.”
Force Reading mode with the read: prefix
Some pages do not show the Reading mode button even though Edge can process their content. You can try opening the URL with the read: prefix.
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For an HTTPS page, enter:
read:https://example.com/articleFor an HTTP page, include the full protocol after read::
read:http://example.com/articleThis matters because Edge may hide http:// in the address bar. Do not type only read:example.com; use the complete URL.
Customize the reading appearance
After opening Reading mode:
- Select the Settings icon on the Reading mode toolbar.
- Select Appearance settings.
- Adjust the available reading options.
Current Edge builds provide controls for:
- Font — change the typeface.
- Font size — make the text smaller or larger.
- Column width — control how wide the text column is.
- Theme — choose a more comfortable page background and text appearance.
Older versions and Microsoft’s legacy instructions may use different names, including Text preferences, Text spacing, Text column style, and Page themes. If you see those labels, they are the older form of the same appearance controls.
Use Read aloud in Reading mode
To have Edge speak the article:
- Open the page in Reading mode.
- Select Read aloud on the Reading mode toolbar.
- Use the speech controls to pause, resume, or move between paragraphs.
- Select Voice options to choose a voice and adjust the reading speed.
You can also access the feature outside Reading mode through:
Settings and more (…) > More tools > Read aloudThe voices and other reading features available to you depend partly on the language of the page and your Edge installation.
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Other Reading mode tools
Depending on the page, language, Edge version, and account configuration, the Reading mode toolbar may also include:
- Translate
- Summarize
- Explain
- Chat with Copilot
Microsoft says Reading mode’s built-in translation supports more than 70 languages. Individual Reading mode capabilities are not identical across all languages. Features such as line spacing, page colors, syllables, parts of speech, line focus, picture dictionary, and translation may be unavailable for some languages.
Why the Reading mode button is missing
Enabling the toolbar switch does not make Reading mode available on every page. Edge shows the control only when it can identify and extract suitable article content.
The button may be absent when:
- The page is not recognized as an article.
- There is not enough text for Edge to create a reading view.
- Important content would be lost or displayed incorrectly.
- The site uses a layout or script that Edge cannot process.
A missing button does not necessarily mean the feature is disabled. Try selecting the article text and choosing Open selection in Reading mode. You can also try the read: URL prefix. If both methods fail, that page is probably not eligible for Reading mode.
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Common mistakes to avoid
| Problem | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Searching Settings for “Immersive Reader” | Go to Appearance > Toolbar and enable Reading mode. |
| Expecting a book icon on every page | The address-bar control appears only when Edge can process the page. |
| Assuming F9 works on every website | Use selected text or the read: prefix for pages that are not recognized automatically. |
Using read:// |
Use the documented read: prefix, such as read:https://example.com. |
| Installing an Immersive Reader extension | Reading mode is a built-in Edge feature; no extension is required. |
Reading mode versus a normal webpage
Reading mode is useful for articles, documentation, and long-form pages where the surrounding layout gets in the way. It is not a replacement for the original webpage: interactive forms, navigation menus, comments, subscription widgets, and some images or embedded content may be removed or altered.
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When a page depends on those elements, keep the original tab open and use Reading mode as a separate, cleaner view for the text itself.
FAQ
Is Immersive Reader still available in Microsoft Edge?
Yes. Microsoft now calls it Reading mode. Older help pages and guides use the former name, Immersive Reader.
How do I turn on Immersive Reader in Edge?
In Edge, go to Settings and more (…) > Settings > Appearance > Toolbar, then turn on Reading mode.
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What is the keyboard shortcut for Edge Reading mode?
Press F9 on a supported webpage. Press F9 again to exit Reading mode.
Why is the Reading mode icon not showing?
The page may not be recognized as an article, may not contain enough extractable text, or may include content that would not work correctly in the simplified view. Try selecting text and choosing Open selection in Reading mode.
Can I use Reading mode on an HTTP page?
Yes. Type the complete address with the prefix, for example read:http://example.com/article. Including http:// is important because Edge may hide it in the address bar.
Does Edge Reading mode read pages aloud?
Yes. Open Reading mode and select Read aloud. You can pause, navigate between paragraphs, choose a voice, and change the reading speed.
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To enable Edge’s former Immersive Reader, turn on Reading mode at Settings and more (…) > Settings > Appearance > Toolbar. Open it with the address-bar icon or F9. If the icon is missing, select the page text and choose Open selection in Reading mode, or try the read: URL prefix.
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