Reading Lists is Apple's own take on a read-it-later service. Built right into the Safari browser on iPhone and iPad, Reading Lists let you save any articles you stumble across while browsing the web so you can go back and read them at your convenience. Because Reading Lists sync via [iCloud], that can be on the go with your iPhone, lounging at home on your iPad, or while you're enjoying a coffee at your Mac. Since Safari Reading List can save stories from almost any site, it's also perfect for recipes, funny articles, and anything else you want to remember to share later.
How to add an article to your Reading List in Safari
- Launch Safari from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad. You can also use any other third party app that supports sending links to Safari's Reading List.
- Navigate to the web address for the article or page that you'd like to add to your Reading List.
- Tap on the Share button.
- Tap on Add to Reading List.
The process can vary a little in App Store apps that support Safari Reading List. If all else fails, just look for a Share button or hold down on a link to see if the option comes up.
How to access your Reading List in Safari
- Launch Safari from the Home screen of your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on the Bookmarks icon in the bottom navigation menu.
- Tap on the icon in the top navigation that looks like reading glasses.
- This is your Safari Reading List. Now just tap on the story you'd like to start reading.
Note: Originally published, December 2013. Updated, November 2014.
Reader comments
How to set up and use Reading Lists in Safari for iPhone and iPad
I've used it on occasion but I always revert to Instapaper. I simply prefer it over the built-in Reading List feature or any other 3rd party read-later apps.
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Sweet and Simple. :D
I use Pocket because of how it integrates with IFTTT and its Highlights feature.
I use Pocket. Instapaper was free a week ago, though I haven't had the chance to try it yet.
Brilliant - thanks. Not very intuitive though, is it? I'd have expected the 'add' button to have been somewhere within the reading list itself.
There is a better way to read later than using reading lists, instapaper or pocket and its to convert said url/page to a pdf right from within safari. You then can save it to whatever productivity suite of your choice or simply save it to ibooks. I have been using this method as of late and simply love it .
I must be the only person left who copies links and emails them to myself. It's old fashioned but I like it. If the article is in Feedly I'll mark it to read later; otherwise, email works for me. Maybe I am making things harder on myself than I should?
Sent from the iMore App
Pocket is the best.
I find Reading List a very frustrating experience. Although the syncing works well and I end up using it as a "to read" list, the articles/pages never (well, almost never) download even when I'm on wifi. Even if I actually open the page and let it load fully, the content isn't saved when I go back to it without a data connection. What's happening? How does that work?
Thanks Ally - I had no idea this option was available.