[Updated] Do you want to disable the Google Chrome playlist? Here’s how to

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Here is the essence of the article in video form:

New updates are added at the bottom of this story …….

The following is the original story (published on March 16, 2021):

The latest iteration of the Google Chrome browser has version number 89 and was merged into the stable branch earlier this month. The update brings some new features.

For the uninitiated, the profile module has received a major renovation with the update, where each user can now customize their profile with a custom background and can 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 devices (HIDs), such as VR controls, gamepads, and joysticks.

google-chrome

And last but not least is the new Google Chrome Playlist feature that allows users to save things they think are worth reading for later or maybe just for archiving.

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

However, to add things to your Chrome playlist, simply tap the star icon in the address bar and then select “Add to playlist.”

chrome-reading-list-ss

Such saved sites can then be conveniently accessed from the left side of the Chrome bookmarks bar, as shown in the image above.

However, this implementation did not go down well with everyone. Many are now complaining that the Reading List option consumes too much bookmark space – space that might otherwise be used to keep additional bookmarks in sight.

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

chrome-forum-complaint

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So, this “Reading List” has just appeared next to my bookmarks and takes up too much space for my bookmarks. I wonder how I can get rid of her.
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How to hide – Bookmark reading list. Damn it, it just came out of nowhere today.
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Fortunately for you, we managed to get our hands on a simple solution.

You may be aware that Google Chrome gives users a high degree of control over its features through Flags. And while most of the things below it may be experimental, they end up being pretty good for those looking for a way to customize Chrome beyond what it allows on the front end.

This feature will now help us remove the Reading List from the bookmarks bar in Google Chrome by disabling it completely. Simply follow the steps below for immediate results:

NOTE: If you want to learn about Google Chrome Reading List on Android, go here.

google-chrome-reading-list-flag-flag

Click to enlarge

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

Of course, the above series of steps is completely valid for any desktop operating system – whether it’s macOS, Windows or Linux.

Pretty simple isn’t it? We hope the solution did the job for you. Indeed, be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Update 1 (March 17)

It is worth noting that, as is usually the case in gradual releases, the Read List feature may not be available to everyone (because it has just started to be released). The only way to get rid of it right now is the one I described above.

However, if you don’t want to go this route, but want Google to withdraw the feature instead, it’s worth knowing that a return 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 opinions as feedback to the company.

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

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

As is often the case with Google, if you want to apply it to everyone at once
We can apply in advance to 5% or 10% of users to see the reaction in advance.
Eventually it will be applied to everyone
I think it will be withdrawn several times if it is a fatal defect or a great unpopularity.
(Aren’t there a lot of visible withdrawals?)

I think it’s good to send “Jamada” for 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 him. ”

Update 2 (March 18)

For the naive, flags appear under Experiments until a feature becomes part of the stable update and is forced on all devices. This is why sharing your feedback while the feature is still being tested is becoming increasingly important.

So if you don’t like the Playlist feature and don’t want to be stuck forever, make sure you share your opinion with the developers. Take a look at how a community product expert explained this:

I’d also like to recommend that if you don’t like the feature, send your opinion to the Chrome team about what you don’t like or why you don’t like it:

  • Report a Chrome error or feedback – Google Chrome Help

    • It is very important that you do this, as these comments will be received directly by the Chrome team (usually they do not go through the forums in Spanish). It is also important, because if this function is set to the stable version for everyone, the flag will eventually be removed and there will be no way to disable the option.

    Here is an example of expert feedback:

    For example, what I don’t like is that when I click on the star tag, it asks me if I want to save it as a bookmark or if I want to save it in the playlist: I’d prefer the dialog that is always appears, with the option to save it in the playlist.

    Update 3 (March 19)

    We conduct a survey to understand whether or not users like the Read List feature. So share your opinion by voting below:

    Update 4 (March 20)

    One of the readers in the comments section said that, for some reason, the “# read-later” signal doesn’t work for them. Changing it to the “# reading-list” did the trick for them. So, in case you are facing the problem, try it this way.

    Update 5 (March 21)

    It seems that more and more users are now turning to the community to share their views on the Reading List feature. Sharing the same solution (as we did in this article) to turn off the feature, a Chrome product expert recently said:

    While many are over the month with Chrome’s “Playlist”, not everyone wants to keep it.
    Essentially, it’s Google’s answer to the Collections feature on Microsoft Edge.

    Note: The following are some of the other articles in this series:

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