Reading modes in browsers aren't necessarily a brand new thing, especially since the majority of apps actually have one.

However, as I reported earlier today, Bing is only now while developing a reader way of Chrome, despite the fact that its app is currently the number one browser on both desktop and mobile.

Meanwhile, other popular browsers like Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari already include such capabilities, and you may give it a try in the latest version of each app.

As you probably know already, Microsoft is currently migrating Edge from EdgeHTML to Chromium, and one from the priorities is to also transition the full feature package, whilst adding new capabilities.

The reading mode is one of the features that Microsoft wants its Chromium-based browser to have from the beginning, even though it wasn't implemented within the original preview version shipped to Windows 10 device, it's now available for testing with a little trick.

First of all, what's the reading view? As Microsoft itself explains, this specific feature is supposed to make the reading of articles and text you find online a distraction-free experience, as all of the unnecessary content, including ads that's, is automatically blocked from loading. The company explains the next when describing reading view for the original Microsoft Edge:

"For a clean and simple layout with fewer distractions, select Reading view in the address bar. You can even change the reading view style (light, medium, or dark) and font size to find what's most comfortable for you?aclick anywhere on the page and select Text options."

Right now, reading view is a work in progress in the new Chromium Microsoft Edge, but because TechDows noticed, it is possible to enable it easily with just a few clicks.

This tutorial was tested in Microsoft Edge Canary, so update the browser to the latest version after which launch the flags screen by typing the next command in the address bar:

edge://flags

Now search for the following flag in the same screen of Microsoft Edge:

Microsoft Edge Reading View

This method ships as Default in Microsoft Edge, which means you need to click on the drop-down menu and switch it to Enabled. Afterwards, a browser reboot is needed.

Once reading mode is enabled in Microsoft Edge, you are able to basically head over to any news article like this one (simply refresh the page), and you ought to visit a small box icon in the address bar of Microsoft Edge. Clicking it instantly opens the reading view mode inside the browser and lets you browse the article distraction-free.

Needless to say, it's vital that you keep in mind that this selection continues to be a part of Microsoft Edge preview, therefore it could take a while until it can make its way to the beta and stable builds. This should happen later this year because the work on Microsoft Edge advances and more features are refined and prepared for production devices.

The reading view is a feature provided to all devices whatever the platform they run. The Chromium-powered Microsoft Edge will even support older Windows and macOS.

I expect Microsoft to enable the reading view automatically in Microsoft Edge once the browser is prepared, and also the only reason it's hidden in the advanced flags screen right now is the fact that it's still a feature that's under development. There's no ETA as to when it could become readily available for more users, but in the meantime, you're free to give it a try just by downloading Microsoft Edge Canary on your Windows 10 device right now.