How to read without getting distracted by your phone

Choose your book before the session begins

Give your next spare moment a clear destination: the book you want to read. Search Actually Read’s catalog to add your physical book with its cover, author, and summary, or choose an ebook to read in the app. Over 70,000 free public-domain books are available through Project Gutenberg.

Pin your current book to Focus. The book carousel lets you move through your current reads and choose the one for this session. Try ten minutes with a chapter, then adjust the next session to fit your day.

How does Actually Read block distractions?

Deep Focus uses Apple’s Screen Time API to shield the apps, categories, and websites you select during a reading session. Choose the distractions you tend to open when you drift away from the page.

Set a session length for a defined break, or choose unlimited time to keep reading without a countdown. A Live Activity displays the session while selected distractions stay blocked. Core focus sessions and distraction blocking are free.

1. Select your book in the Focus carousel.
2. Turn on Deep Focus and choose the apps, categories, and websites to block.
3. Choose a session length or unlimited time.
4. Start the session and return to your book.

Can you use Deep Focus with a physical book?

Yes. Any book can be pinned to Focus, including physical books and books you read in another app. You can block phone distractions without opening an ebook in Actually Read.

For example, select your paperback, choose twenty minutes, and block the social apps that usually interrupt you. Read the chapter in your hands, then log your progress. Your reading history keeps the session and progress ready to review.

Keep curiosity inside the reading session

A confusing passage can pull you away from an ebook too. Actually Read’s AI companion searches supported digital books and gives explanations with citations. Tap a citation to return directly to the relevant passage and continue reading with the context in front of you.

At the end of a session, return to your reading history to see time spent with each book, sessions, and progress. Highlights and chat entries help you revisit what caught your attention along the way.