Browsing the internet in text-only mode can be beneficial for various reasons, such as saving bandwidth, reducing loading times of web pages, or addressing specific needs. Major browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox offer the option to enable text-only browsing mode. Here’s how to activate it in your browser.
It’s important to note that text-only mode and reading mode feature in web browsers are distinct features. While reading mode allows you to view a web page without distractions, it still requires the full page to load first. In contrast, text-only mode load the websites in a simplified text format, conserving bandwidth and system resources.
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How to Turn on Text-Only Browsing Mode in Google Chrome Browser
To browse web pages in text-only mode using your Chrome browser, follow these steps to enable the necessary settings:
1. Open Google Chrome browser on your computer, click the three-vertical dots icon and select Settings.
2. Next, select the Privacy and security option.
3. Under Privacy and security section, click on Site Settings.
4. Next, under Content section, click on the Images option and select “Don’t allow sites to show images“.
5. Next, go back to Content section and click on JavaScript option.
6. On the next page, select “Don’t allow sites to use JavaScript.”
How to Turn on Text-Only Mode in Microsoft Edge Browser
To browse in the text-only mode in Microsoft Edge, follow below steps:
1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser, click on the three-horizontal dots icon and select Settings.
2. Next, click on the Cookies and site permissions option on the left pane of the browser.
3. On the right pane, click on JavaScript and toggle off the option
4. Next, click on the Images and toggle off the option.
How to Turn on Text-Only Mode in Firefox Browser
1. Open the Firefox browser on your computer, type about:config in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Click on Accept the Risk and Continue button.
3. Now, search for permissions.default.image.
4. Click the Edit button, change the value from 1 to 2 and press the Enter button.
5. Now, search for javascript.enabled, double-click on it to set it as false.
You have now enabled text-only mode in your browser, allowing you to open any website without images and JavaScript. This means you can browse most sites in a simplified text format. Keep in mind that in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, you can choose to allow or block images and JavaScript for specific sites through the settings page. However, Firefox does not offer this option.
