How to use Reading View on Mac
For when you need to read something rather than work on it. Free, and one click away.
Most of a PDF app is there to help you change a document. Reading View is the part that gets out of the way so you can just read it.
Reading View is free and always will be. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing is watermarked.
What it does
Reading View takes the words out of the fixed page and presents them at a size you choose, on a background you choose, without the sidebar, the tools or the inspector. A page designed for print in 9pt type across a wide measure becomes something you can actually read on a screen.
| Control | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Text size | Compact, comfortable or large. Pick the one your eyes want at the end of the day rather than the one the document was typeset in. |
| Background | Light, warm, dim or dark. A warm background is easier on the eyes than stark white for long stretches. |
| Typeface | Switch to a face you find easier to read than whatever the document was set in. |
Opening it
Reading View is in the document actions panel on the right, under Read & Review. Open it, set the size and background you want, and read. Done returns you to the page exactly where you were.
Reading View works from the text in the document. A scanned page has none until recognition has been run over it, so run Make Searchable first if a scan opens empty.
When to use it, and when not to
Use it when the layout does not matter and the words do: a report you have to absorb, a paper you are reading rather than citing, a long set of terms. The text is what you want, and the two-column typesetting is in your way.
Do not use it when the layout is the content: a plan, a form, an invoice, anything with a table that only makes sense in position, anything you are marking up. For those, stay on the page and reach for the reading ruler instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is Reading View?
A distraction-free mode that presents a document's words at a size and on a background you choose, without the sidebar, tools or inspector.
How do I open Reading View on a Mac?
It is in the document actions panel on the right, under Read & Review. Done returns you to the page exactly where you were.
Can I change the text size and background?
Yes — compact, comfortable or large, on a light, warm, dim or dark background. A warm background is noticeably easier for long stretches.
Why is Reading View empty for my document?
Because the document is a scan and has no text yet. Run Make Searchable over it first.
Is Reading View free?
Yes, like the reading ruler and Read Aloud.