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Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Use Automatic Scrolling in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader (PC & Mac)

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Modern office space with text overlay "How to Use Automatic Scrolling in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader"This tutorial shows how to use automatic scrolling in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader. Specifically, we will look at how to turn on and turn off automatic scrolling, and how to combine automatic scrolling with Full Screen mode.

What Is Automatic Scrolling and When Is It Useful?

The automatic scrolling feature automatically moves your PDF vertically on the screen from your current view to the bottom of the file.

Automatic scrolling can be used at any time, but it is particularly useful when viewing long documents or giving presentations. This feature can even turn Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader into a temporary teleprompter because you can control the speed of the scroll while you read aloud to a live audience or record a video using separate software or a camera.

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This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

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The images below are from Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. The steps are the same in Adobe Acrobat 2020, Adobe Acrobat 2017, and all updated versions of Acrobat Reader. In addition, the steps are the same for PC and Mac.

How to Turn On and Turn Off Automatic Scrolling

You can use automatic scrolling within the normal view so you still have quick access to menus and the navigation panes.

  1. Select the Close button for any open toolbars because automatic scrolling is not available when a toolbar is open.
Comment Toolbar Close Button in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 1. Close button
  1. Select the View menu.
View Menu in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 2. View menu
  1. Select Page Display from the drop-down menu.
Page Display Option in the View Menu in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 3. Page Display option
  1. Select Automatically Scroll from the submenu.
Automatically Scroll Option in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 4. Automatically Scroll option

Your PDF should begin to scroll automatically.

  1. Press the number keys 1 through 9 on your keyboard to control the speed of the scroll, with 1 being the slowest and 9 being the fastest.
  2. (Optional) Press and hold your trackpad or click and hold with your mouse to pause the scroll as necessary.

Pro Tip: You can still use the horizontal and vertical scroll bars while using automatic scrolling. When you stop using the scroll bars, the automatic scrolling will start again.

Vertical Scroll Bar in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 5. Vertical scroll bar
  1. Press the Esc key to end automatic scrolling.

If you don’t press the Esc key, the automatic scrolling will continue until it reaches the end of your PDF. It won’t return you to the beginning of your PDF.

How to Use Automatic Scrolling with Full Screen Mode

Friendly Reminder: Always enter Full Screen mode before turning on automatic scrolling. If you attempt to enter Full Screen mode with automatic scrolling turned on, the scrolling will stop.

  1. Select the Close button for any open toolbars (see figure 1).
  2. Select the View menu (see figure 2).
  3. Select Full Screen Mode from the drop-down menu. (Alternatively, PC users can press Ctrl + L and Mac users can press Command + L to turn on Full Screen mode.)
Full Screen Mode Option in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 6. Full Screen Mode option

Your PDF should switch to the Full Screen mode.

  1. PC users press Shift + Control + H and Mac users press Shift + Command + H to turn on automatic scrolling.

Your PDF should begin scrolling automatically within the Full Screen mode.

  1. Press the Esc key once to end the automatic scrolling.
  2. Press the Esc key again to leave the Full Screen mode.

Related Resources

How to Use the Split View in Adobe Acrobat

How to Open Links in Separate Tabs in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader

How to Use Dark Mode in Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader

Updated August 29, 2022