Home > Additional Resources > Removing Chrome's Reading List

Google is constantly modifying the Chrome web browser, and sometimes, those modifications are more of a nuisance than an aid.  These instructions show you how to remove the annoying Reading List feature which makes saving a Bookmark a two click exercise instead of a single click.

Step 1

With the changes Google has now made with the Chrome web browser (version 95+), when you attempt to save a website as a Bookmark, and you click on the star icon that's at the far-right edge of the address bar at the top of the screen.  As you can see, rather than show the usual add a Bookmark window, it shows two options, Add bookmark, and Add to reading list.  

Step 2

If you left-click on Add bookmark, you will get the usual Bookmark added window.

Step 3

To avoid having this extra step when attempting to save a Bookmark, and you are not using Chrome's Reading List option, enter chrome://flags/ in the address bar of Chrome, as shown here, and press the Enter key.

Step 4

Chrome will then open up the "experimental" section of its settings as shown here.

Step 5

In the Search Flags box, enter Temporarily unexpire M94 flags.  The Temporarily unexpire M94 flags option will then appear below that, as shown here.   

NOTE: By enabling the Temporarily unexpire M94 flags option this will activate the feature in Chrome that will allow you to turn off the Reading List prompt when you are trying to save a Bookmark.  It's a two step process.

Step 6

Left-click on the Default pull-down menu button, and select Enabled.

Step 7

At the bottom of the screen you will see the Relaunch button appear.  Left-click on the blue Relaunch button.  This is will restart Chrome, preserving any and all tabs you had open.

Step 8

When Chrome restarts, you will see that the option for Temporarily unexpire M94 flags is now enabled, as shown here.

Step 9

In the Search flags box, enter Reading List, as shown below.  The Reading List and Side Panel options will then automatically appear below that.

Step 10

For both of these options, Reading List and Side Panel, left-click on the Default pull-down menu buttons, and select Disabled.

Step 11

At the bottom of the screen you will see the Relaunch button appear.  Left-click on the blue Relaunch button.  This is will restart Chrome, preserving any and all tabs you had open.

Step 12

When Chrome restarts, you will see your settings as shown below.  

Step 13 - Conclusion

You can now close the chrome://flags tab.  From now on, whenever you left-click the Bookmark star icon on a website you want to keep as a Bookmark, you will now see the normal Bookmark added window, as shown here.