# Focus mode, outline and word count

> Write without distraction in focus mode, move around a long document with the live outline, and check the word count and reading time.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/docs-focus-outline-word-count
Section: Office > PlexiiDocs
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-15

Three tools help with long pieces of writing. **Focus** clears the screen down to the paragraph you are writing. **Outline** lists your headings so you can jump around a long document. And the word count, with an estimated reading time, is always in view.

## Before you start

- **Plans.** All three are on every plan.
- **For the outline,** give your sections heading styles. See [Format text and use styles](https://plexiidesk.com/help/docs-format-text-and-styles).

## Focus mode

Focus mode hides the menus, toolbar and side panel, and fades every paragraph except the one the cursor is in, so you can concentrate on one sentence at a time.

### Turn it on

- Click **Focus** in the bar above the page.
- Or choose **View** > **Focus mode**.
- Or press `⌘` `K` on a Mac (`Ctrl` `K` on Windows) and choose **Toggle focus mode**.

A small bar at the top of the window shows **Focus**, your word count and reading time, and **Exit · Esc**. As you move the cursor, the paragraph you are in comes into full view and the rest stays faded.

Focus mode always uses the continuous layout, even if you were in page view.

### Leave it

Press `Esc`, or click **Exit · Esc** in the bar at the top. Your menus, toolbar and page layout come back as they were.

## The outline

The outline is a live list of the document's headings. It changes as you type, and highlights the section the cursor is in.

1. Click **Outline** in the bar above the page, or choose **View** > **Show outline**.
2. The side panel opens on its **Outline** tab. Headings are indented by level.
3. Click a heading to jump to it.

Click **Outline** again to close the panel. With no headings yet, the tab says **No headings yet. Add a Heading 1, 2 or 3 and it shows up here for one-click navigation.**

> **Tip:**
> The outline is for finding your way while you write. To put a list of headings in the document itself, add a table of contents. See [Table of contents and footnotes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/docs-contents-and-footnotes).

## Word count and reading time

You can see the count in three places:

- **The bar above the page** shows the number of words and an estimated reading time, such as **1,240 words · 6 min read**. A new document shows **Empty document**.
- **The right end of the toolbar** shows the number of words.
- **Tools** > **Word count** opens a window with **Words**, **Characters** and **Characters excluding spaces** for the whole document.

The reading time assumes a reading pace of 220 words a minute, rounded to the nearest minute, and is never less than one minute.

## Common questions

**Can I count the words in just a selection?**
The counts are for the whole document.

**Focus mode is on and I cannot find the menus.**
Press `Esc` to leave focus mode.

**The outline does not show my headings.**
The outline lists text in heading styles. Bold or large text in a normal paragraph is not a heading. Apply a heading from **Styles** in the toolbar.

## Related tasks

- [Table of contents and footnotes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/docs-contents-and-footnotes)
- [Page view, margins, headers and footers](https://plexiidesk.com/help/docs-page-setup)
- [PlexiiDocs overview](https://plexiidesk.com/help/docs-overview)
- [Format text and use styles](https://plexiidesk.com/help/docs-format-text-and-styles)
- [Focus tools in Plexii](https://plexiidesk.com/help/focus-overview)