<a id="read-and-listen-to-your-futures"></a>

# Read and listen to your futures

The full player shows one **future** at a time. A future is a short statement with an optional image and voice.

Open it from **Today > Daily Ritual > Start**, from a board's play button, or by tapping a future.

<a id="move-through-futures"></a>

## Move through futures

1. Swipe up to move to the next future.
2. Swipe down to return to the previous one.
3. Pause on a future when you want more time to read it.

A future does not need an image or voice to appear here. A future without a voice has no spoken recording to play.

<a id="play-and-pause"></a>

## Play and pause

Tap the large triangle at the bottom to play. Tap the pause symbol to pause.

You can also tap the card to start or pause. During a quiet reflection pause, tapping the card skips the pause instead. Use the bottom pause button if you want to stop there.

<a id="know-the-player-controls"></a>

## Know the player controls

| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Voice or microphone symbol | Mute a voice, or record a voice when available |
| Repeat arrows | Choose how often futures play |
| Large play or pause symbol | Start or pause the session |
| Hourglass | Add quiet time after spoken futures |
| Music note | Open background sound, sleep timer, and Audio Focus |
| Three dots at the top | Open actions for the current future |
| Outward arrows at the top | Hide the controls for a larger view |
| Down chevron at the top | Leave the full player |

See [repeat and reflection settings](https://futurecastapp.com/help/practice-repeat-and-reflect) or [sound and timer settings](https://futurecastapp.com/help/practice-sound-and-timer).

<a id="voice-controls"></a>

## Voice controls

If the current future has a voice, tap the voice control to mute or unmute it.

If it has no voice, pause playback first. The microphone control can then start a recording. Some voice controls also have a menu when you press and hold them.

Use [record your voice](https://futurecastapp.com/help/create-recording) or [use your AI voice](https://futurecastapp.com/help/create-ai-voice) for the recording and voice choices.

<a id="hide-controls"></a>

## Hide controls

Tap the outward arrows at the top right. The player enters **immersive mode**, which hides the extra controls so the future fills more of the screen.

Tap the inward arrows at the top right to bring the controls back.

<a id="leave-the-full-player"></a>

## Leave the full player

Tap the down chevron at the top left.

Spoken playback can continue in the **mini player**, the small player above the bottom tabs. To stop listening, tap pause.

When a board name at the top is a button, you can tap it to open that board.

<a id="mini-player"></a>

## Mini player

- Tap its artwork or words to reopen the full player.
- Tap play or pause to control listening.
- Tap its three dots, when shown, to open **Playback Options**.

The smaller mini-player layout has fewer controls. Open the full player if you cannot see the setting you need.

<a id="listen-with-the-screen-locked"></a>

## Listen with the screen locked

For Futurecast playback controls on the Lock Screen:

1. Start a future that has a voice.
2. Tap the music note in the full player.
3. Tap **Audio Focus**.
4. Choose **Futurecast only**.
5. Tap **Done** and return to playback.
6. Lock your iPhone.

**Futurecast only** lets Futurecast take charge of the Lock Screen and headphone playback controls. The modes that mix with another app can leave that app in charge instead.

If playback stops after headphones disconnect, check where the sound will play before tapping play again.

<a id="more-actions"></a>

## More actions

Tap the top three dots to see the current future's actions. The options depend on its content and where you opened it.

- **Edit Future**, **Add Image**, or **Record Audio:** [change a future](https://futurecastapp.com/help/create-future), [add an image](https://futurecastapp.com/help/create-images), or [record a voice](https://futurecastapp.com/help/create-recording).
- **Add to Board:** [organize your futures](https://futurecastapp.com/help/create-organize).
- **Copy Text**, **Share**, **Save to Photos**, or **Export Audio:** [save and share images](https://futurecastapp.com/help/create-images) or [export a recording](https://futurecastapp.com/help/create-recording).
- **Remove from Board** or **Remove from Ritual:** remove it from the current set. This does not delete the future itself.

<a id="finish-a-session"></a>

## Finish a session

At the end, choose the action shown:

- **Continue:** return to the unfinished session.
- **Play again:** start another pass.
- **Done:** leave the session.
- **Back to Daily Ritual:** return to your daily set, when offered.

If sound is missing, see [fix audio problems](https://futurecastapp.com/help/practice-audio-help).

[Back to Futurecast Help](https://futurecastapp.com/help)