Quick Start
Get started with Current and have your first sources flowing in minutes.
Step 1: Download Current
Current is available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. Download it and open the app to begin.
Step 2: Add Your First Sources
On first launch, you have several options for adding sources:
Option A: Start with Recommendations
Current offers a curated set of starter sources across categories like Technology, Culture, and News. These are hand-picked to demonstrate the app's philosophy: high-quality, thoughtfully written content.
Option B: Add Sources Manually
- Tap the Sources button in Settings
- Tap the + button to add a new source
- Enter the URL of any website or blog. Current will automatically find the RSS feed
- Tap Subscribe to add it to your river
Option C: Import from Another Reader
If you're coming from another RSS reader, you can import your subscriptions via OPML:
- Export an OPML file from your current reader
- In Current, go to Settings → Sources → Import OPML
- Select your OPML file
- All your sources will be imported
Option D: Connect a Sync Service
Current supports syncing with popular RSS services. If you use one of these, your sources will sync automatically:
- Feedbin
- Newsblur
- Miniflux
- Any Google Reader-compatible service
See Sync Services for setup instructions.
Step 3: Explore the River
Once you have sources, articles will begin flowing into your river.
Basic Navigation
- Scroll to browse articles
- Tap any article to read it
- Swipe back (or tap the back button) to return to the river
The Waterline
The subtle blue line in your river is the waterline. It shows where new content begins. Everything above the line arrived since you last checked.
Step 4: Learn the Gestures
Current is designed around intuitive gestures:
Hold for Actions
Long press on any article to reveal the radial action picker. Drag your finger to select: Save (up), Share (right), Mute (down), or Focus (left).
Swipe Left to Release
When you're done with an article, swipe it left to release it from your river. Feel the tension build and the satisfying snap as it disappears.
Edge Swipes
Swipe from the left edge to open Search. Swipe from the right edge to open Settings.
Step 5: Customize Your Experience
Current offers several ways to tailor the reading experience:
- Themes: Choose from five color palettes: Paper, Ocean, Dusk, Midnight, or Slate
- Reading Modes: Switch between Skim (headlines only), Read (titles + excerpts), or Study (full excerpts with progress tracking)
- Flow Depth: Control how many articles appear: Quiet, Normal, or Surge
Visit Settings to explore all customization options, or see the Themes and Reading Modes documentation for details.
You're Ready!
That's the basics. As you use Current, you'll discover more features like Currents (smart collections), the Library (following writers), and Story Threads (automatic story grouping). But for now, just enjoy the flow.