Use reader mode to bypass soft paywalls

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, The Times, The Washington Post) 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

1. 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".
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Edge. Click the Immersive Reader (book) icon in the address bar, or press F9.

Live success rates

Unlike other tools, RemovePaywall publishes how often it works for each outlet, measured from real use. See the live list.