[Updated] Do you want to disable the Google Chrome reading list? see how

New updates are being added at the end of this story …….

The original story (published on March 16, 2021) follows:

The latest iteration of the Google Chrome browser loads a version number 89 and was incorporated into the stable branch earlier this month. The update brings several new features.

For the uninitiated, the profile module received a major overhaul with the update where each user can now personalize their profile with a personalized background and play with various themes and color schemes.

The update also implements support for WebHID, which in short is an API that allows web applications to interact with human interface (HID) devices such as VR controls, gamepads and joysticks.

And last, but not least, is Google Chrome’s new Reading List feature, which allows users to save things that are worth reading for later or perhaps just for archival purposes.

Before that, people relied on third-party plug-ins like Pocket for the same purpose, but now it’s great to see Chrome having its own built-in function.

However, to add things to the Chrome Reading List, just click on the star icon inside the address bar and select “Add to Reading List”.

These saved sites can be conveniently accessed at the left end of the Chrome bookmarks bar, as shown in the image above.

This implementation, however, was not well received by everyone. Many are now complaining that the Reading List option consumes too much space on the favorites bar – space that could be used to keep additional favorites in view.

Therefore, some users have been looking for a way to hide it completely.

So this “Reading List” has appeared close to my favorites and is taking up a lot of space for what I need for them. I wonder how I can get rid of this.
Source

How to hide – Reading favorites list. It was bothering me too much, it just came out of nowhere today.
Source

Fortunately for you, we have managed to find a simple solution.

You should be aware that Google Chrome gives users a high degree of control over their resources through flags. And while most things under it can be experimental, it ends up serving very well for those looking for a way to customize Chrome beyond what it allows on its front end.

This same feature will now help us to remove the Reading List from the bookmarks bar in Google Chrome, disabling it completely. Just follow the steps provided below for immediate results:

NOTE: If you want to know more about the Google Chrome Reading List on Android, click here.

1. Type chrome: // flags / # read-later in the address bar and press the Enter key.
2. Select “Disabled” from the drop-down list next to the Reading List option.
3. Restart Chrome.

Obviously, the series of steps above is fully valid on any desktop operating system – be it macOS, Windows or Linux.

Simple enough, isn’t it? Hopefully, the workaround did the job for you. If so, be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Update 1 (March 17)

It is important to note that, as is often the case with phased deployments, the Reading List feature may not be available to everyone (since it has just started to be implemented). The only way to get rid of it at the moment is the one we described above.

However, if you don’t want to go that route, but want Google to roll back the feature, it’s worth knowing that the rollback will only happen when many users send negative feedback about the feature to the company. So the best thing you can do is send your feedback as feedback to the company.

Take a look at what a product expert in the community recently said about this (translated):

It’s not in my environment
I think it’s probably applied sequentially or in the form of “distributed as a test to a small number of people”

As usual with Google, if you want to apply it to everyone at once
We can pre-apply to 5% or 10% of users to see the reaction in advance.
Eventually, it will be applied to everyone
I think it will be removed a small number of times if it is a fatal defect or a great unpopularity.
(Are there not many visible withdrawals?)

I think it’s good to send “Jamada” as an opinion
I think it’s good to send feedback and say, “I’m getting more and more obstructive to the reading list. I want to get rid of it. ”

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