What Is Autopace? How Guided Reading Keeps You Focused
Autopace is a reading technique that moves text at your chosen speed. Learn how it works, who it helps, and why it's different from auto-scroll.
Imagine someone holding a pen under each line as you read, moving at exactly your preferred speed. You don't have to think about where to look next — your eyes just follow.
That's autopace. It's the digital version of guided reading, and for many people, it transforms reading from a struggle into a flow state.
How Autopace Works
Autopace reveals text progressively at a speed you control. Instead of seeing an entire page of text and deciding where to start reading, the text appears line by line or section by section, guiding your eyes forward.
Key Features
- Adjustable speed — Start slow, increase as you warm up
- Pause and resume — Tap to pause anytime, tap again to continue from exactly where you stopped
- Works on everything — Articles, EPUBs, PDFs
- Remembers your position — Close the app, come back tomorrow, pick up where you left off
Why Autopace Is Different From Auto-Scroll
Auto-scroll has been around for decades, and most people hate it. Here's why autopace is different:
| Auto-Scroll | Autopace |
|---|---|
| Moves the page, forcing your eyes to chase | Reveals text in place, guiding your eyes naturally |
| One constant speed | Adjustable speed with pause/resume |
| Feels rushed and chaotic | Feels calm and rhythmic |
| Easy to lose your place | Impossible to lose your place |
| Reading while fighting the interface | Reading while the interface serves you |
The fundamental difference: auto-scroll moves the world and expects your eyes to keep up. Autopace moves your attention through the world at your pace.
Who Benefits Most
People Who Lose Their Place
If you constantly scroll back to find where you were, autopace eliminates this entirely. Your place is always visible, always marked.
Re-Readers
If you habitually re-read paragraphs because the information didn't stick, autopace's forward momentum reduces regression. Your brain learns to process on the first pass because the text keeps moving.
People Who Get Overwhelmed by Long Content
A 5,000-word article is daunting. But with autopace, the text moves forward at a steady rhythm, so you're focused on what's in front of you instead of staring at the overwhelming whole. Momentum replaces paralysis.
How to Get Started With Autopace
1. Install Nook (free Chrome extension)
2. Import any article, EPUB, or PDF
3. Enable autopace in the reading toolbar
4. Adjust speed until it feels comfortable — not too fast, not too slow
5. Read
Start with lighter content (news articles, blog posts) before tackling dense material. As you get comfortable, increase the speed gradually.
Tips for Best Results
Start Slower Than You Think
Your natural reading pace is probably faster than you'd guess, but start autopace slow anyway. It's easier to speed up once you're in flow than to start too fast and feel rushed.
Combine With Bionic Text
Bionic reading creates visual anchors that make autopace even more effective. The bolded beginnings help your eyes find the next fixation point instantly.
Use Chunking for Dense Content
For technical articles or textbooks, combine autopace with paragraph chunking. This way you process one chunk at a time, and autopace carries you through each one.
Find Your "Flow Speed"
There's a sweet spot where autopace feels neither rushed nor boring. At this speed, you'll enter a reading flow state where the text just... flows into your brain. It takes a few sessions to find this speed, but once you do, it's remarkably effective.
The Science Behind Guided Reading
Paced reading isn't new. Researchers have studied it for decades:
- Reduces regression: When text moves forward, your eyes follow instead of jumping backward
- Maintains attention: The moving element gives your brain a continuous stimulus to track
- Creates rhythm: Consistent pacing establishes a reading rhythm that aids comprehension
- Prevents mind-wandering: When the text is moving, there's less opportunity for your attention to drift
Common Concerns
"What if I miss something?"
Pause. Re-read that section. Resume. Autopace makes this easy — you never lose your place.
"What if it's too fast for complex material?"
Slow it down. Many people use different speeds for different content types.
"Will I become dependent on it?"
No. Autopace trains your brain to read more efficiently. Many users find their unassisted reading improves over time.
"Does it work for books?"
Yes — Nook supports EPUB files with autopace. Many users read entire books this way.
Try It Yourself
Autopace is available in Nook's free 7-day trial. Import any article and toggle autopace on. Most people know within 5 minutes whether it works for them — and for many, it's a revelation.
Autopace is one of several techniques that address common online reading struggles. For a broader look at what makes digital reading hard and the full range of solutions, see why reading online feels so hard.
Related reading:
- Why Reading Online Feels So Hard — the complete guide to online reading struggles and fixes
- Why Do I Keep Rereading the Same Line? — the problem autopace was built to solve
- How to Focus While Reading Online — autopace is one piece of a larger focus strategy