Reading mode button is missing in single sidebar mode

[chermnyx]

Captchas

• [x] I have read the instructions.
• [x] I have searched existing issues and avoided creating duplicates.
• [x] I am not filing an enhancement request.
• [x] I have checked that this issue cannot be reproduced on Mozilla Firefox.
• [x] I have checked that this issue can be reproduced once I removed all my Mods and Custom CSS.

What happened?

1. Configure zen to use single sidebar
2. Open a website where normally reading mode is applicable
3. Reading mode button is missing from the url bar

url bar + sidebar:

single sidebar:

I think the reading mode button should appear

Version

1.11b

What platform are you seeing the problem on?

Linux (Tarball)

What component is this issue related to?

URL Bar

Relevant log output if applicable

[chermnyx]

I've noticed that on the current Zen Twilight version (2025-04-24 at 23:03:30) it appeared in the URL bar popup (when clicking on the URL)

I don't know if the button should be added directly to the sidebar itself, from a design point of view

[alee3960]

I believe this has been the behavior since the single toolbar layout was introduced, though I do agree it would be better to not have to click the address bar. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+R to enter reader mode without having to click first. I would recommend doing a feature request instead of a bug for this as this is not unexpected behavior.

[dosubot[bot]]

Hi, @chermnyx. I'm Dosu, and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog. I'm marking this issue as stale.

Issue Summary:

• You reported the missing reading mode button in the URL bar on Linux, version 1.11b.
• You noted the button appears in the URL bar popup but questioned its accessibility from the sidebar.
• Alee3960 commented that this behavior is consistent with the single toolbar layout design.
• They suggested using Ctrl+Alt+R for reader mode and recommended a feature request instead of a bug report.

Next Steps:

• Please confirm if this issue is still relevant to the latest version of the desktop repository by commenting here.
• If no updates are provided, the issue will be automatically closed in 7 days.

Thank you for your understanding and contribution!

[chermnyx]

This is still relevant and the missing button, in my opinion, is unexpected

[dosubot[bot]]

Hi, @chermnyx. I'm Dosu, and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog. I'm marking this issue as stale.

Issue Summary

• The reading mode button is missing in the URL bar when using single sidebar mode in Zen on Linux.
• This issue does not occur in Mozilla Firefox.
• Alee3960 suggested using Ctrl+Alt+R as a workaround or submitting a feature request.
• You confirmed that the issue is still unexpected and relevant.

Next Steps

• Please confirm if this issue is still relevant to the latest version of the desktop repository by commenting here.
• If no updates are provided, the issue will be automatically closed in 7 days.

Thank you for your understanding and contribution!

[chermnyx]

This is still relevant and the missing button, in my opinion, is unexpected

[dosubot[bot]]

Hi, @chermnyx. I'm Dosu, and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog and am marking this issue as stale.

Issue Summary:

• You reported that in Zen's single sidebar mode on Linux (v1.11b), the reading mode button disappears from the URL bar unexpectedly.
• A contributor explained this is by design with the single toolbar layout and suggested using Ctrl+Alt+R or filing a feature request.
• You confirmed the issue still persists and remains unexpected in your experience.
• The maintainers are currently awaiting further updates or feedback before deciding on next steps.

Next Steps:

• Please let me know if this issue is still relevant with the latest version of the desktop app by commenting here.
• If I don’t hear back within 7 days, this issue will be automatically closed.

Thanks for your understanding and contribution!

[chermnyx]

This is still relevant and the missing button, in my opinion, is unexpected

[afonsojramos]

I was not a big user of this mode, but today I wanted to enable it and can confirm that I cannot see it.

[afonsojramos]

It seems from this PR that reader.parse-on-load.enabled was disabled on purpose for performance gains, but it seems that it is that same setting that evaluates whether firefox should show that button or not.

Weirdly enough, on about:config this shows as true...

I'm content with the keybinding to be honest, but I also understand if there are people who'd prefer a button. Could this just be a button in the customize toolbar section?

[Propheticus]

This is still relevant and the missing button, in my opinion, is unexpected

There's not so much room in the single toolbar sidebar's URL field, so very little is shown there on hover.

When you click in the URL more is shown though. Do you not see this after clicking in it?:

[afonsojramos]

@Propheticus Just tested and it does with the toolbar at the top, but in Single toobar mode, it doesn't.

[Propheticus]

@afonsojramos Just so we are on the same page, you don't get extra icons (like the reading mode) when you click in the URL like this?:

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/76a6d1a2-a7ce-4dc3-814b-338f2c6b1b12

[afonsojramos]

@Propheticus I do 🙈 Never actually opened the URL bar 😅 Skill issue then, this issue can be closed from my end 💀

But it would be nice to have it visible right away on hover like the connection one.

[Propheticus]

@afonsojramos as explained the field is too small to show all the icons, having all 6 from the example above would obscure almost the whole URL. Would be nice to have a (clickable) ... to indicate there's more hidden ones though. Could then click this to pop up the remaining icons that are not shown.

[afonsojramos]

That or have it be configurable in some way? But maybe we're solutionizing and this would just add bloat and most users are comtempt as it is.