Google has begun a wide deployment of vertical eyelashes and an updated Full page reading mode in Chromemaking both features available without the need to enable experimental flags. The implementation is occurring gradually and is linked to Chrome 146. Users who don’t see any of the features immediately may need to wait until the update hits their installation.
Previously, vertical tabs were limited to Chrome Beta following its announcement in January 2026. The reading mode update is announced alongside changes to the tab layout.
How vertical tabs work in Google Chrome
Vertical tabs in Chrome move the tab strip from the top of the window to a sidebar on the left side. Each tab displays full page titles, making it easy to identify and manage multiple open tabs. Google says this layout is designed for multitasking.
To turn on vertical tabs, right-click on any Chrome window and select “Show tabs vertically.” To return to the horizontal layout, right-click inside the vertical tab panel and choose “Show tabs at the top.”
Full page reading mode in Chrome
Chrome’s built-in reading mode, which simplifies web pages by removing surrounding interface elements to focus on text content, will have a new full-page layout. The updated interface allows Reading Mode to expand to fill the entire window instead of appearing as a side panel.
Users will be able to change the window size once the mode is activated. Google has not yet confirmed whether the full page layout will become the default or whether it will remain an option alongside the existing dashboard view.
When are vertical tabs and full page reading mode available?
Both features are rolling out gradually through Chrome 146. Google has not provided a timeline for when the rollout will end. Users can check their Chrome version and update status by clicking the three-dot menu, selecting Help, and then About Google Chrome.
