Safari Reader is a feature on the iPad that allows students to view a web page without ads or other distracting items.
Safari Reader can support students to:
increase focus and attention
build independence
strengthen comprehension and fluency
boost confidence with reading
To use Safari Reader on an iPad in iPadOS 18:
Tap each image below to learn more, and zoom in to get a closer look.
Go to the "Safari" app. Then choose a webpage that has an article or story with text.
Tap the "Reader" icon in the top left of the URL search bar.
Tap "Show Reader". An easier to read page will now be shown on the screen with a black background and white text.
Tap the "Page Reader" icon, then use the menu items to change the font, font size (AA), or the background colours of the text.
To turn off Safari Reader, tap the "Page Reader" icon, then tap "Hide Reader".
To hide distracting items on a webpage, such as advertisements or images, tap the "Reader" icon, then tap "Hide Distracting Items".
Touch the items that will be hidden, then tap "Hide". The item(s) will now disappear from the screen.
When finished hiding distracting items, tap "Done".
To stop hiding items, tap the "Reader" icon, then tap "Show Hidden Items".
Use the "Search" icon to find words on the page, or tap the smaller or larger "A" to make the font size of the text on the page look smaller or bigger.
To see more options, tap the three dots, ("●●●"). Then choose a menu item or touch "Edit" to customize the menu.
Swipe up to find and tap the circle to toggle on "Use Reader Automatically" to have the iPad always use Reader view while in Safari. Then tap "Done" when finished editing to return to the Safari Reader menu and webpage.
Step-by-step instructions according to the iPad's Operating System:
The website links provided below are operated by organizations outside of the TDSB. These organizations are solely responsible for the operation and information found on their sites. In providing these links, it does not imply any endorsement of the organization or information found on the website. Any comments or inquiries regarding the linked websites should be directed to the organization operating the website.
With Safari Reader students in the TDSB can:
focus on reading educational content. Turn on Safari Reader to remove ads, sidebars, and extra images, in order to focus and read the content of online articles without distractions.
make text clearer and easier to read. Students can change the font size and background colour of a webpage they are reading while researching for a project.
simplify web pages. Use Safari Reader to simplify long web pages and highlight key information, to make it easier to find and understand.
follow along with a reading assignment. Use a speech-to-text tool and listen to a webpage while reading along in Safari Reader, to help understand the material better.
Last Updated June 16, 2025