How to Print a Website Without Pictures

Use a simplified or reader view before printing, then confirm the result in Print Preview. Firefox can provide a Simplified format that removes clutter and background images when the page supports it. Edge can omit background graphics and offers Immersive Reader on supported sites. Chrome’s Reading mode is site-dependent and is not documented as a universal way to remove every inline image.

1. Check the print preview first

Open the webpage you want to print.
Open your browser’s print command: usually Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on macOS.
Review every page in the preview. Look for inline photographs, background graphics, advertisements, headers, and blank pages.
Select only the pages you need, reduce the scale if content is clipped, and choose black-and-white when that option is available.
Use Save to PDF first if you want to inspect the final file before using paper and ink.

Websites can define a print layout that differs from the screen layout, so the preview is the final authority.

2. Firefox: use Simplified format or Reader View

Print with Simplified format

Open the page and choose the Firefox menu, then Print….
Expand More settings.
Under Format settings, select Simplified when it is available.
Check the preview. Simplified format is intended to strip clutter such as buttons, advertisements, and background images.
Choose the destination, page range, scale, margins, color mode, or Save to PDF, then print.

Firefox does not offer Simplified format for every page. Mozilla also notes that the format controls may be absent when no simplified version is available or when Reader View was already enabled. In Simplified format, Firefox prevents selecting Print backgrounds.

Print from Reader View

Look for the Reader View icon in the address bar.
Open Reader View, then start the print command.
Use the preview to confirm that the article text and required headings remain while unwanted pictures are gone.

Reader View is available only on pages for which Firefox exposes the control.

3. Microsoft Edge: disable backgrounds or use Immersive Reader

Remove webpage backgrounds

Choose Settings and more > Print, or press Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on macOS.
Expand More settings.
Leave Background graphics unchecked.
Inspect the preview and print only the pages you need.

This setting controls webpage backgrounds. It can leave ordinary inline photographs in place, so do not assume that every image will disappear.

Use Immersive Reader for a cleaner page

Open Immersive Reader from the address bar, or press F9 on Windows when the shortcut is available.
Print from that simplified view.
Confirm the output in preview.

Immersive Reader is not available on every website. Edge also supports printing a selected portion: select the text or images, right-click the selection, and choose Print.

4. Google Chrome: use Reading mode when available, then verify

Open the page’s print flow and inspect the preview.
If the page supports Chrome Reading mode, open it and print from that view.
Check whether inline images are still present. Chrome’s documented Reading mode behavior applies to the text shown in Reading mode; it is not established as a universal print-dialog switch for removing all webpage images.
If pictures remain, try Firefox Simplified format or Edge Immersive Reader when the site supports those views.

5. Safari and other browsers

Safari steps vary by device and operating-system version. Use the current Safari print preview and look for a reader or simplified page view before printing. If the preview still contains pictures, save to PDF and remove unwanted pages manually, or use a browser with a documented simplified-print option.

6. What to do when pictures still appear

What you see	Likely reason	Next step
Background colors or decorative artwork	Background graphics are enabled	Turn off Background graphics in Edge or the print dialog.
Photographs inside the article	They are inline images, not backgrounds	Use Firefox Simplified, Reader View, or Edge Immersive Reader if offered.
Advertisements, share buttons, or chat controls	The normal screen layout is being printed	Switch to a reader or simplified view before opening Print.
A simplified option is missing	The page does not expose a simplified version, or Reader View is already active	Try another supported browser view and rely on preview checks.
Only some pages contain pictures	The page uses mixed layouts or different image types	Print selected pages, or save to PDF and inspect each page.

7. A repeatable checklist

Open the page in a browser with a reader or simplified feature.
Enable Simplified, Reader View, or Immersive Reader when offered.
Disable background graphics if the browser exposes that setting.
Review every page in Print Preview.
Choose a page range, scale, margins, and black-and-white output that match your needs.
Save to PDF first when the result must be archived or shared.

8. Or skip the browser setup

If your goal is a clean image or PDF generated from a URL, ScreenshotNeo provides a website screenshot API and MCP server. Its capture options include custom CSS, so you can hide image selectors when you need a text-focused render; use the API documentation for the available request options.

One basic capture request looks like this:

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

import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)

const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);

Before the capture, ScreenshotNeo accepts cookie and consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and the response identifies the page verdict and billing status in X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers. Its MCP server exposes take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots each month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.

Create a free ScreenshotNeo account to try it.

9. Performance, reliability, and cost notes

Fastest workflow: use a reader or simplified view already built into your browser, then print from the preview.
Most predictable output: save to PDF and inspect it before printing. A website can change its print layout independently of its screen layout.
Browser limitations: simplified views are page-dependent. A background setting may not affect inline images.
Automated captures: ScreenshotNeo can wait for a selector, delay, or network idle, load lazy images for full-page captures, apply custom CSS and JavaScript, and cache results with a TTL you choose. Only clean shots are billed.
Cost control: use caching for repeated URLs, choose the required output format, and check the billing headers when automating captures.

10. FAQ

Will turning off background graphics remove photographs?

Usually it targets backgrounds. Inline photographs can remain, so use a simplified or reader view and verify the preview.

Can I print only the text I selected?

Edge documents printing a selected portion: select the content, right-click, and choose Print. The result still needs a preview check.

Why did the printed page change compared with my screen?

Websites can define a separate print layout. Headers, navigation, advertisements, and spacing may change when printing.

Is Chrome Reading mode guaranteed to remove images?

No. It is site-dependent, and the documented behavior focuses on text shown in Reading mode. Check the preview.

What if no browser has a suitable simplified view?

Save to PDF and inspect the pages, try another supported browser, or automate a clean render with ScreenshotNeo using custom CSS.