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How to Open Reading Mode from the Floating Toolbar

Learn how to strip a cluttered web page back to just the article with Reading Mode, straight from Helperbird's floating toolbar.

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What This Does

Reading Mode takes away the menus, adverts and sidebars and leaves the article, on a clean background, with an estimate of how long it will take to read.


Who is This For?

This is helpful for:

  • Anyone trying to read an article buried in adverts
  • People who find movement and clutter distracting
  • Students reading on a busy news or reference site
  • Anyone who wants to know how long a page will take before starting

Step 1: Open the Toolbar

If the toolbar is closed, it sits in the bottom-left corner as a single round button. Click it to open the row of tools.

The Helperbird floating toolbar open along the bottom of a web page, showing its row of toolsView full-size image (opens in a new tab)

If you do not see it at all, it needs turning on first. See how to turn on the floating toolbar.

Step 2: Use It

Press Reading Mode on the toolbar. The page is rebuilt as a clean article.

Close it with the X in the top corner to go back to the normal page.

A web page opened in Reading Mode from the Helperbird floating toolbar, stripped back to just the articleView full-size image (opens in a new tab)

Inside Reading Mode you also get buttons to have it read aloud, start Speed Reading, change the reading width, switch between light and dark, change the text settings, and translate it with Google Translate.

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 22nd, 2026

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

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