Frequently asked questions

Short answers to the things people ask most.

What is focus (RSVP) reading?

RSVP — Rapid Serial Visual Presentation — shows one word at a time in a fixed spot instead of lines of text you scan. Your eyes stay still, so there's less visual overhead and it's easier to concentrate.

Do I need an account or login?

No. Focal has no accounts and no login. Open it and read.

Where is my data stored?

Entirely on your device. Saved links, imported files and PDFs, your reading history and position, and your settings never leave your phone. We have no servers and never receive it.

What can I import?

Pasted text, documents you upload (PDF, DOCX, EPUB, TXT, Markdown), any public web article by URL, and public-domain books from Project Gutenberg.

Does it work offline?

Reading anything already in your library works fully offline. Importing a web article or a public-domain book needs an internet connection at that moment, since it fetches from the web.

Is it free? Are there ads?

Focal is free, with no ads and no tracking.

How fast should I read?

Focal defaults to a comfortable pace and eases you in with a warm-up. A good range for most people is roughly 250–400 words per minute; push higher for familiar or light material, and slow down for dense text. Comprehension > a big number.

Will I actually understand what I read?

At sensible speeds, yes — that's the whole point of Focal's pacing (punctuation pauses, warm-up, sentence rewind). If something doesn't land, swipe left to replay the sentence.

How do the in-reader gestures work?

Tap to play or pause. Swipe left/right to go back or skip a sentence. On the right side of the screen, swipe up/down to change speed; on the left side, swipe up/down to adjust brightness. A one-time tutorial shows this the first time you read.

How do I delete my data?

Settings → Clear local data. It removes saved items, reading history, and preferences from your device after a confirmation.

What Android version do I need?

Android 7.0 (API 24) or newer.

I found a bug or have a request.

Please contact us — feedback genuinely shapes the app.