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How do I change the default page view in Google Reader?

Okay, I'm dabbling with Google Reader and am finding it pretty cool except for one big issue: every time I start up the program I have to read their "helpful hints" and am forced to click on "All Items" to see my news. Surely there's a solution?


Dave's Answer:

One of the most common tweaks I've seen people make in Google Reader is just what you're talking about: instead of having the default be the Google Reader news, having it be the latest new entries across all your subscriptions is far, far superior!

Let me demonstrate what you're seeing, first off, and then I'll show you how to change it.

Google Reader: Home View

That's what you're seeing, but that's not what you want. As Bob the Builder would say, though, "we can fix it, yes we can!"

Click on "Settings" on the nav menu on the top right:

Google Reader: Nav Menu

Once you're in the Settings area, click on "Preferences":

Google Reader: Settings: Preferences

Just about done. On the Preferences page, you'll notice a pop-up menu of different Start Page options:

Google Reader: Home View

Simply choose "All Items" and look for the tip that everything's worked: Your start page has been changed to "All items".

That's all there is to it. Now when you go to Google Reader, your default view will be the latest articles in all your RSS feeds:

Google Reader: All Items View

Since you aren't getting the latest Google Reader news, however, I would suggest that you also subscribe to The Official Google Reader Blog too. Here, this'll make it easy: subscribe in Google Reader.

For that matter, if you haven't yet subscribed to the AskDaveTaylor RSS feed, why not add that to your reader list too? It's easy: subscribe to AskDaveTaylor in Google Reader. :-)


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Categorized: Blogs and Blogging   (Article 7370, Written by )
Tagged: blogging, google reader, news readers, rss
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Reader Comments To Date: 4

Sevashr said, on June 1, 2007 1:46 AM:

thank you so much to help me about how to change the default page view in Google

i have the best wishes for you

John Scheirman said, on December 8, 2008 7:37 PM:

I have a google e-mail account. I also subscribe to a google Web site. The google Web site includes a page that lists, chronologically, all recent changes to any page of the Web site. It includes an option to "subscribe to changes." This allows me to get an e-mail every time a change is made to a Web page on the site. Now, here is my question: since I normally use an AOL e-mail address on a daily basis but use gmail only infrequently, how do I change the default for the e-mail address to which notices of changes to the Web site are sent (from gmail to AOL)? I don't see any option on the google site for making that change.

Mark said, on March 20, 2009 12:52 PM:

I just bought a new HP computer with vista OS. How do you set the computer so that the Google home page will come up as the default web site, with Google as your search engine.
Thanks,
Mark

WebHybrid said, on January 27, 2011 1:26 PM:

Thanks for this mini-tutorial on Google's user-unfriendliest product. Greader is just so UGLY. And no amount of Greasemonkey scripts improves it, imo. But at least defaulting to always opening without its navigation panel showing (an option I discovered only by following this post on a related matter) hides some of the dirt under the rug.

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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