How to Print a Webpage Without Pictures in Chrome and Firefox

Short answer: Chrome’s built-in Background graphics option suppresses page backgrounds; it is not a documented switch for removing ordinary inline pictures. Firefox can offer a broader Simplified print format that strips clutter, including background images, but it is not available for every page. For a page that supports it, Reader View is another print-friendly option. In either browser, check print preview before printing or saving as PDF.

If you need to remove specific inline pictures while retaining the rest of a page, neither browser’s documented built-in print controls promise that. You may need to edit the page first with a suitable third-party tool, or capture the page as a screenshot or PDF using a service such as ScreenshotNeo when an image capture is what you need.

1. Know which images you want to remove

“Pictures” can mean different things in a webpage’s print output. The distinction matters because a background setting generally controls page decoration, not every image element:

Content type	Examples	What to expect
Background graphics	Colored areas, background patterns, decorative background images	Chrome and Firefox both document controls for printing backgrounds.
Inline images	Photos, logos, diagrams, product images, charts embedded in content	Chrome’s documented background setting does not establish that these are removed. Firefox Simplified can remove clutter, but does not promise removal of every inline image.
Other page clutter	Navigation, buttons, ads, sidebars	Firefox Simplified removes some clutter when a simplified version is available. Results depend on the page.

Decide whether you want to keep the original layout and suppress only backgrounds, or create a simplified content view. If you need to remove particular elements, plan to edit the page before printing. Webpages may also use print-specific styling, so the preview can differ from what you saw on screen.

2. Print without background graphics in Chrome

1. Open the webpage in Chrome.
2. Open print preview with File > Print, press Ctrl+P on Windows or Linux, or press Command+P on Mac.
3. Choose a printer or Save to PDF as the destination.
4. Expand More settings. If the preview offers Background graphics, turn it off.
5. Review the preview. If ordinary photos or logos are still present, that is expected: this control is for backgrounds, not a universal inline-image remover.
6. Select Print or save the PDF.

Google’s desktop print instructions describe opening a page, using the print workflow, choosing a destination, and adjusting settings. Chrome also has a background-graphics printing policy: on managed devices, an administrator can set the default and may restrict the user’s ability to change it. The exact interface and available choices can vary by operating system, Chrome version, destination, and device policy.

When Chrome’s background option is enough

Use it when the unwanted content is page decoration and you want to keep the original document layout. For example, a page’s colored section backgrounds may disappear while its inline company logo, chart, or article photo remains. If those remaining images are the problem, Chrome’s built-in print setting does not provide a documented general-purpose control to remove them.

3. Use Firefox Simplified printing

1. Open the webpage in Firefox and open the application menu.
2. Select Print… to open print preview.
3. Expand More settings and look for Format.
4. If available, choose Simplified. Inspect the changed preview: Firefox describes this format as stripping clutter such as buttons, ads, and background images.
5. Choose a printer or Save to PDF, then print or save.

Simplified is a page-presentation option, not simply a switch that hides all pictures. Whether it appears depends on whether Firefox can provide a simplified version for that page. Mozilla also documents turning on Reader View before printing as another way to get a print-friendly presentation.

If Simplified is missing

Check whether the page supports Reader View. You can turn Reader View on before printing, then reopen print preview. Simplified-format controls may be missing when a simplified page is unavailable or Reader View was already turned on before you opened print preview.

Firefox’s Print backgrounds setting

Firefox also offers Print backgrounds in More settings. Use it when you want to preserve the original page format but omit backgrounds. It cannot be selected alongside Simplified: Simplified changes the presentation and disables that background control. Choose one approach based on whether you want the original layout or a simplified one.

4. Save the result as a PDF

Saving to PDF follows the same print-preview steps as sending the page to a physical printer. In the destination selector, choose Save to PDF (wording may vary), review the page layout, then save the file. A PDF can preserve a useful record of the print view, but the result still reflects the browser’s print formatting and whichever background or simplified options were available.

Before saving, scan the preview page by page. Look for images that remain, missing content, awkward page breaks, blank pages, and headers or footers you may want to adjust if those controls are offered. Web pages can lay themselves out differently for paper than they do on screen, so checking the preview is part of the process, not just a final formality.

5. Remove specific inline images

If a page’s actual photos or other embedded pictures must be removed, first try Firefox Simplified or Reader View if your goal is a cleaner, readable article. These options may strip clutter, but they do not guarantee removal of each inline image. If you need precise control, an editing workflow may be necessary.

A third-party page-editing extension is one possible fallback. Mozilla Add-ons describes PrintFriendly as offering webpage edits such as image removal, and its listing describes website-data permissions. Check the current listing, publisher, requested permissions, and suitability for your use before installing any extension. An extension that can read or change page content may have access to sensitive information displayed on sites you visit. Do not install one on confidential pages unless its permissions and your organization’s rules allow it.

For a one-off task, consider whether you can copy the text you need into a document and remove images there. For recurring work, choose a tool whose editing controls and permissions match the pages you process. Browser print controls alone should not be presented as if they can selectively remove any chosen inline image.

6. Choose the right method

Goal	Try this first	Limit
Remove page backgrounds in Chrome	Turn off Background graphics in print preview.	Does not promise to remove inline pictures.
Remove clutter from a readable page in Firefox	Choose Simplified in print preview.	Only offered when Firefox has a simplified version; content and images may still vary.
Print a supported page in a reader-friendly view	Turn on Firefox Reader View before printing.	Only works for pages Firefox can show in Reader View.
Keep page layout but omit backgrounds in Firefox	Use Print backgrounds off.	Not available at the same time as Simplified.
Remove particular inline images	Use a suitable editing workflow or carefully selected page-editing extension.	Requires a separate tool; review permissions and output.

7. Or skip the browser setup

If what you need is a screenshot or PDF capture of a webpage rather than a physical printout, ScreenshotNeo provides a website screenshot API and MCP server. A single GET request can return an image or PDF. Here is a cURL example saving a WebP screenshot:

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. Cookie banners, popups, and chat widgets are removed before the shot; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. An MCP server gives AI agents tools to take screenshots, get page information, and capture PDFs. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Browser printing and webpage capture produce different outputs, so choose capture when an image or PDF file is the result you need.

Sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month, with no card required.

8. Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely cause	What to do
Chrome still prints photos or logos	Background graphics controls backgrounds, not all inline images.	Use Firefox Simplified if suitable, or edit the page with an appropriate tool before printing.
Chrome has no Background graphics checkbox	The option may vary with platform, destination, browser version, or administrator policy.	Check the available settings and whether the device is managed. If policy controls the setting, ask the administrator.
Firefox does not show Simplified	The page may not have an available simplified version, or Reader View may already be active.	Try Reader View before printing, or use the original-format background setting if that meets your need.
Firefox Print backgrounds is unavailable	Simplified is selected, which disables the background control.	Choose the original format if you need to control backgrounds, or keep Simplified for its clutter-reduced presentation.
The printed page differs from the screen	Web pages can apply print-specific styles and reflow content.	Inspect the preview, check each page, and adjust the offered layout settings or use a different workflow.
A PDF has unexpected pages or breaks	The print layout may paginate content differently than the browser window.	Review the full preview before saving and change available scale, margins, or layout settings.
An extension changes more than expected	Page-editing tools can interact with page content and may request website-data permissions.	Review the extension listing and permissions; remove it if it does not suit your privacy or organization requirements.

9. Reliability, time, and cost considerations

For an occasional page, built-in print preview is usually the simplest route: there is no separate extension to install, and both browsers let you inspect the output before printing or saving. The limits are availability and scope. Chrome’s documented control is narrow, while Firefox’s broader simplified presentation is conditional on the page.

For repeated printing, standardize the browser, destination, and selected settings, then check sample pages that represent the sites you use. Managed Chrome settings may establish defaults or restrict changes. Firefox Simplified and Reader View can vary from page to page. If exact image removal matters, verify the resulting print or PDF before relying on it; do not assume every site will respond consistently.

Cost depends on your destination: printing uses the printer and supplies you already have, while a PDF avoids a paper copy. No savings percentage is implied here. Extensions may have their own terms and permissions; review their current listings. ScreenshotNeo has a free tier and paid plans for screenshot and PDF capture, but an API capture is not identical to a browser-printed document, and it is only relevant if that output fits your task.

10. Frequently asked questions

Can I print a webpage without any pictures in Chrome?

Chrome’s documented Background graphics setting is not a universal inline-image removal switch. For selective image removal, use a separate editing workflow.

Does Firefox Simplified remove every image?

Mozilla describes it as removing clutter including background images, but it does not guarantee that every inline photo, logo, or chart disappears. Inspect the preview.

Can I use Firefox Simplified and turn off Print backgrounds?

No. Simplified disables the Print backgrounds control. Use Simplified for a changed presentation, or the background setting with the original format.

Why is Reader View not available?

Not every page supports Reader View or a simplified version. Try another print approach for that page.

Can I save the simplified result rather than print it?

Yes. Choose Save to PDF as the print destination if it is available, and review the PDF preview first.

Sources

• Google Chrome Help: Print from Chrome — desktop print workflow and shortcuts.
• Chrome Enterprise policy documentation — background graphics printing policy behavior.
• Mozilla Support: Print simplified, clutter-free pages in Firefox — Simplified availability and Reader View.
• Mozilla Support: How to print web pages in Firefox — print preview, backgrounds, and print styling.
• Mozilla Add-ons: PrintFriendly — extension features and permissions listing.