Google has introduced two new updates to its Chrome browser: vertical tabs and a reading mode. The company announced the features in a blog post, stating that they are aimed at “maximising productivity” for users. The vertical tabs are designed to make tab management more efficient, while the reading mode aims to reduce on-screen distractions.
How the vertical tab functions
To use vertical tabs in Google Chrome, simply right-click anywhere in the browser window and select the “Show Tabs Vertically” option. This will move your tabs to the left side of the screen, allowing you to view full page titles and organise tab groups more easily — even when you have dozens of tabs open. The vertical tabs function similarly to traditional horizontal tabs. Google says, “this layout is perfect for multitasking.”
How the reading mode works
Alongside vertical tabs, Google has also introduced a reading mode to offer a more focused and distraction-free browsing experience. Users can right-click on any page and select “Open in reading mode” to activate the feature. Once enabled, the browser removes visual distractions such as ads and pop-ups that often interrupt reading. Google says the reading mode can “transform a busy webpage into an immersive” view, providing users with a more text-focused reading experience.
These updates are arriving at a time when web pages — especially on news sites — are increasingly cluttered with ads and prompts to subscribe to a newsletter.
Google’s updates are not limited to its browser; recently, it has rolled out multiple AI-driven features across its ecosystem. The company has introduced a new capability in Google Maps that uses its Gemini AI to automatically generate captions for photos and videos shared by users, giving them a head start while contributing content, with the option to edit or remove suggestions. Google says caption suggestions are currently rolling out in English on iOS in the U.S., with plans to expand to more regions and Android devices in the coming months.
At the same time, Google has quietly launched an offline-first dictation app called “Google AI Edge Eloquent” on iOS. This is a free-to-download app which offers real-time transcription and uses on-device AI to refine speech by removing filler words (um and ah) and improving clarity.
