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The reading list on macOS’s Safari browser is a useful way to save articles you’d like to read later. But if you’re like me, your reading list might be overflowing with too many items that you’ll never have time to go back and read.
You can delete your reading list entities one by one by right-clicking them and selecting ‘Remove Item’ or you can clear the entire list by right-clicking on the reading list pane and selecting ‘Clear all items…’
I’m Jon, a Macbook Pro and Apple enthusiast. I’ve used Safari every day and know exactly how to delete the reading list from your profile.
So, come join me to learn exactly how to delete your reading list!
How to Delete Your Safari Reading List (macOS Monterey)
The reading list in your Safari web browser is an excellent way to keep track of web pages you want to leave later. Once you save the webpage, your offline reading lists are synced via iCloud.
This means you can access the specific web pages wherever you’re signed in to your account (including your iPhone, iPad, etc.). While this feature is convenient, the saved pages occupy space on your devices and iCloud. Depending on how often you save webpages, this can build up to take up a fair amount of space.
So, it doesn’t hurt to clear the Reading List every now and again to keep the space on your device open and everything running smoothly. Remember, any changes you make to the reading list on one device will reflect across any connected devices.
Apple makes it easy to delete your reading list entries or purge the whole list entirely. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open Safari Web Browser
Locate the Safari web browser icon (it looks like a small blue circular compass) on your Macbook Pro. Its usually on your Apple dock, but if it isn’t you can find it in “Launchpad.”
Click the Safari icon to open the browser.
Step 2: Click View
Once the browser is open, look at the top menu bar in the browser. You’ll see labels including ‘File,’ ‘Edit,’ and ‘History.’ Find ‘View’ and click on it. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3: Click Show Reading List Sidebar
Under the ‘View’ tab, locate ‘Show Reading List Sidebar’ and click on it. This option is mid-way down on the list, around the middle of the menu.
Alternatively, you can use a keyboard shortcut to get to this point. Once Safari is open, use the shortcut command + ^ + 2. The combination of keys will skip the previous step, sending you straight to the Reading List sidebar.
Step 4: Delete Reading List Entries
Once the list opens, browse through the list to determine which entries you’d like to delete.
To delete an entry, swipe right to left on that particular entry. Then, click ‘Remove’ once the option appears.
Alternatively, you can hold down the Control key and click on the listing you want to delete (or right click it).
Once the ‘Remove’ option appears, click on the button to delete the listing.
Step 5: Delete All (if you dare)
If you want to start from scratch and clear the entire list, you don’t need to delete each entry one by one. Instead, right-click anywhere on the Reading List sidebar.
Or, Control-click in the Reading List sidebar. Once the menu pops up, select ‘Clear All Items.’
After selecting ‘Clear All Items,’ the system will delete all entries, leaving an empty slate.
Deleting MacBook Pro’s Reading List with macOS Big Sur
Deleting the Reading List on a MacBook Pro that runs with Big Sur entails a slightly different process. The general concept is the same, but differs slightly from Monteray (which is the latest version of macOS).
macOS Big Sur features varying customization features in Safari, including a quicker way to access the Safari Reading List. From the start page, you can access web pages and remove them quickly.
Step 1: Open The Safari Web Browser
Start by finding the Safari web browser on your MacBook Pro. Click on the icon to open the browser.
Step 2: Locate The Reading List
Once the Safari browser is open, locate the Reading List. The list should be near the bottom of the start page, underneath the ‘Favorites’ icons.
Step 3: Remove Each Item
Browse through the list of saved web pages to determine which pages you want to remove. Once you figure out which web pages you want to delete, right-click on the website in question.
After you right-click on the entry, a short menu will appear. At the bottom of the menu, select ‘Remove Item.’ Repeat this step as necessary to remove the specific websites you’d like to delete.
Step 4: Delete All Entries
If you want to delete everything and start fresh, you’ll need to open the Reading List sidebar and follow the same steps as Monteray MacOS.
Click ‘View’ then ‘Show Reading List Sidebar’ and once the sidebar appears, right click anywhere on the pane and select ‘Clear All Items’.
How to Hide the Reading List Side Panel on MacBook Pro
The Reading List side panel consumes a fair amount of space on your screen. If you want to hide the list on your MacBook Pro, follow these steps:
Click once on the ‘Hide/Show Sidebar’ button on the top left of the Safari window.
Alternatively, follow these steps:
- Open Safari.
- Click on the ‘View’ label.
- Press ‘Hide Reading List Sidebar’ or ^⌘2.
Conclusion
Whether you need to clear the Reading List on your MacBook Pro to free up space or simply to start fresh, the process is quick and easy.
All it takes is a few minutes and a quick change in settings to delete specific entries or your whole reading list altogether.
Were you able to delete your reading list? If you’re having trouble, let us know in the comments below.
About Jonathon Jachura
