How to auto scroll a page in Chrome, even in Gmail

Reading a long article, following a script or a recipe while your hands are busy: scrolling by hand gets tiring. Here is what's available.

What Chrome has built in

On Windows, Chrome supports middle-click autoscroll: click the mouse wheel, then move the pointer up or down to scroll. It's fast, but it needs a mouse with a wheel button and your hand on the mouse, and macOS Chrome doesn't offer it. For keyboard users, Space and Page Down move a screen at a time.

Why many auto scrollers fail

Most scrollers move the window. Web apps like Gmail, Notion or chat tools keep the window still and scroll a panel inside the page, so the scroller does nothing. Sites that turn on smooth scrolling also make simple scrollers stutter.

How Glide works

1. Start it from the popup or with Alt+Shift+S. Press Esc to stop.
2. Set the speed with a slider, from a slow read to a fast skim. The speed is the same on 60 Hz and 120 Hz screens.
3. It finds what actually scrolls, including the main panel of web apps.
4. At the end of the page it waits a few seconds for infinite feeds to load more, then stops by itself.

Glide only touches a tab when you click its icon or press its shortcut.

Cinema mode

For feeds full of images and videos, Cinema mode lays every picture and clip out in one full-screen strip that scrolls sideways on its own. It's tuned for Reddit, 9gag, Tumblr, Pinterest and Imgur, with a generic mode for other sites. Space pauses it and Esc exits.

Who it helps

People reading long documents, presenters and teachers, anyone with sore wrists or limited hand movement, and anyone following along with a recipe or tutorial.