The Kindle is a popular e-reader device that can also be used to listen to audiobooks. If you have a Kindle device and a subscription to an audiobook service, such as Audible, you can download and listen to audiobooks on your Kindle.
In this article, we will show you how to listen to audiobooks on Kindle devices and give you some tips on how to get the most out of your audiobook-listening experience.
Quick Answer
To listen to audiobooks on Kindle devices, you will need to:
- Connect your Kindle device to Wi-Fi.
- Open the Kindle Store app.
- Tap on the Audiobooks tab.
- Browse the library of audiobooks or search for a specific audiobook.
- Tap on the audiobook that you want to listen to.
- Tap on the Buy Now button to purchase the audiobook.
- Tap on the Download button to download the audiobook to your Kindle device.
- Once the audiobook has been downloaded, open the Kindle app and tap on the Library tab.
- Tap on the audiobook that you want to listen to.
- Tap on the Play button to start listening to the audiobook.
Does Kindle Have Audiobooks?
While all Kindles include Alexa’s text-to-voice narration, audiobooks cannot be purchased on older Amazon e-readers. However, you can use the Audible Manager for PC and a USB cable to transfer purchased Audible books to older Kindles. Amazon has a list of Kindles that natively support audiobooks.
Sideloading audiobooks from sources other than the Audible store is also possible on Amazon Fire tablets.
Furthermore, any Alexa-enabled device, including the Amazon Echo and Echo Show, can read to you.
Listening to Audiobooks on Kindle
Amazon Audible is built into all Kindles that support audiobooks. Look for the Audible tab in the Kindle store to browse through thousands of available titles. If you download a book that supports Audible, you can add professional narration for a reduced price. When you buy audiobooks on one device, you can download them on any other Kindle associated with your Amazon account.
In addition to purchasing individual audiobooks, you can subscribe to Audible’s service, which includes one free audiobook of your choice each month and a 30% discount on all audio purchases. You can exchange an Audible book you downloaded for another if you don’t like it. Prime Reading allows Amazon Prime members to borrow Audible books.
Newer Kindles include VoiceView, which lets you connect your e-reader to a Bluetooth speaker. You can enable VoiceView on older models by using the Kindle Audio Adapter.
How to Buy Audiobooks on the Kindle Store
The process for purchasing audiobooks on all Amazon Fire tablets is the same. The procedure is very similar to other Kindle models:
- Launch the Kindle app and tap the shopping cart to access the Kindle store.
- In the top-left corner, tap the hamburger menu.
- Select Audiobook Store.
You’ll see suggestions based on your previous purchases. To look for titles, use the magnifying glass icon.
Using the Audible App to Listen to Kindle Audiobooks
Launch the Audible app from your home screen or tap the Audible tab at the top to access your audiobooks on an Amazon Fire tablet.
When you select an audiobook, a player with various controls will launch. You can, for example, set a sleep timer by tapping the Clock. More options are available by tapping the three dots in the upper-right corner.
You can read and listen to audiobooks on your smartphone by downloading the Audible and Kindle apps for iOS and Android devices.
Listen to Audiobooks Online on Kindle
You can listen to audiobooks online without downloading any files if your Kindle has a web browser. Free audiobook streaming websites include:
- Digitalbook.io
- Librivox
- Lit2Go
- OpenCulture
- Storynory
How to Transfer Audiobooks From PC to Kindle
For older Kindles that did not come with audiobook support, you can download the Audible Manager for your PC and use a USB cable to transfer Audible books you’ve purchased to your Kindle.
There are websites where you can download free audiobooks in addition to Amazon Audible. Using the default media player on your Fire tablet, you can listen to any audiobook in a DRM-free format (such as MP3). Simply connect your tablet to your computer and copy the audiobook file into the Music folder on the device.
DRMare Audible Audiobook Converter removes DRM restrictions from Audible files, allowing you to listen to them on any device and in any format.
Buying Audible Books With Your Amazon Account
While narrated books and other narrated content can still be purchased directly from Audible’s website, Kindle owners can use their Amazon account to purchase Audiobooks from Amazon’s web store. There are several options.
The decision to purchase audiobooks without an Audible subscription should be guided by how much you read and want to listen to.
The first step is to go to Amazon’s website and look for the Audible section. Sign in to your Amazon account and then click the Departments button, which is located beneath the search bar at the top of your Amazon homepage. There will be a drop-down menu. You’ll see the Books and Audible option about halfway down. A submenu will appear if you scroll over this option.
There are two options at the bottom: Audible Membership and Audible Audiobooks.
At the time of writing, an Audible subscription cost $14.95 per month, with one free month included. Amazon will provide you with two free audiobooks during the trial period. If you cancel your subscription before the end of the one-month trial period, the audiobooks are yours to keep.
A monthly Audible subscription entitles you to one free audiobook, regardless of its cost. Furthermore, you will receive a 30% discount on any audio content purchased from Audible. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon will let you swap out any Audible books you’re not enjoying for free. If you listen to books less frequently, you can also purchase Audible books and magazines individually.
Regardless of which of these two options you choose, the price of the audio content that Audible offers will vary greatly.
If you like the idea of being able to sync the books you read on your Kindle with its Audible audiobook counterpart using Whispersync for Voice, Amazon makes it simple. Before finalizing your purchase, you will be encouraged to purchase the audiobook version of eBooks purchased from Amazon’s Kindle Bookstore (if available). When you purchase an Audible audio product, it will be wirelessly delivered to your device (assuming you own a compatible Amazon Kindle), where you can load, use, or archive it just like a Kindle eBook.
How to Connect Your Kindle to a Bluetooth Speaker or Headphones
To pair Bluetooth headphones or a speaker with your 2016 Kindle or your eighth or ninth-generation Kindle Oasis, first put the audio device in pairing mode. Then, tap the top of your Kindle’s display to bring up the toolbar. Then, tap the Quick Actions icon as follows: It’s the one that resembles a gear. Select All Settings now. Wi-Fi & Bluetooth should be one of the options on your Kindle’s Settings page. Choose it.
Tap the on-screen Bluetooth toggle after ensuring your Kindle is not in Airplane Mode. A new option, labelled Bluetooth Devices, will now be available beneath this one. Tapping Bluetooth Devices will open the menu, allowing you to pair your Bluetooth headphones or speaker with your Kindle. When you see your audio device’s name appear on your Kindle’s screen, select it to finish the pairing process. Your Kindle’s speakers or headphones should be ready to use.
You’ll be ready to listen to a good book after pairing Bluetooth headphones or a speaker with your Kindle.
If your Kindle did not pair with your audio device, ensure your speakers or headphones are still in pairing mode and tap Rescan in the bottom right corner of your Kindle’s Bluetooth pairing interface.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Audiobook Listening Experience on Kindle Devices
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your audiobook listening experience on Kindle devices:
- Use headphones or earbuds. Headphones or earbuds will help you to block out background noise and focus on the audiobook.
- Adjust the playback speed. Kindle devices allow you to adjust the playback speed of audiobooks. Experiment with different speeds to find what works best for you.
- Set a sleep timer. If you like to listen to audiobooks before bed, you can set a sleep timer on your Kindle device so that the audiobook will automatically turn off after a certain amount of time.
- Create bookmarks. Bookmarks can help you to keep track of your progress and to easily return to specific passages in the audiobook.
- Sync your audiobooks across devices. If you have multiple Kindle devices, you can sync your audiobooks across devices so that you can start listening to an audiobook on one device and finish listening to it on another device.
Conclusion
Listening to audiobooks on Kindle devices is a great way to enjoy books on the go or when you’re too busy to read. You can get the most out of your audiobook listening experience with the tips above.
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