Did you know you can listen to your Kindle books without using Audible? For many, the ability to listen to books has transformed the reading experience, making it more accessible and enjoyable. In this post, we'll guide you through the various options for listening to your Kindle books, involving using Audible narration, the built-in test-to-speech (TTS) tools offered by Audible or Google, no matter your preference.
Do you want to listen to Audible audiobooks on your Kindle? This post will help you check if your Kindle is compatible and show you how to do that.
Part 1. How to Listen to Kindle Books without Audible (Free Ways)
Wondering how to listen to Kindle books without Audible to save money? Fortunately, there are several free methods to turn your ebooks into audio with the help of the Kindle app, the Alexa app, and the device's built-in read text features.
Way 1. Using the Built-in Text-to-Speech Feature in the Kindle App
Does the Kindle app have text-to-speech? The answer is yes, but it is often hidden under a feature called "Assistive Reader." This is the most direct way to listen to Kindle books without leaving the app. Note that this feature requires books that support "Enhanced Typesetting." Don't worry, most modern Kindle books support this feature.
How to Use the TTS Feature in the Kindle App:
Open the Kindle app on your device and open the book you want to read.
Tap the center of the screen to reveal the top menu bar.
Tap the Aa icon.
Select More from the options tab.
Toggle the switch for Assistive Reader and Read-time Text Highlighting to On.
Tap the screen to return to your book. You should now see a Play button at the bottom of the screen. Tap it to start listening.
The read text will be highlighted simultaneously.
Way 2. Using Speak Screen Feature on iPhone
The Kindle book you're reading doesn't support the "Assistive Reader" feature? No problem. Your iPhone has a built-in accessibility tool that can help. The "Speak Screen" function can read any text on your display, letting you turn a Kindle book into an audiobook in seconds.
How to Use the Speak Screen Feature on iPhone:
Go to your iPhone Settings.
Tap on Accessibility > Spoken Content.
Toggle the switch for Speak Screen to turn it on.
Open your Kindle app and go to the page where you want to start reading.
Swipe down with two fingers from the very top of the screen.
A small control panel will appear, and a voice will begin reading the book text automatically. You can adjust the speed (e.g., 1.5x or 2x) using the controls.
If the screen reader reaches the end of the page, swipe to the next page to keep the reader reading.
Way 3. Using the Alexa App or an Echo Device
If you want to listen to Kindle Unlimited books or standard purchases without Audible, you can use Amazon's own ecosystem. Alexa can read eligible Kindle books directly from the cloud, free of charge. This is a seamless way to listen to Kindle books if you have an Echo speaker or just the Alexa app on your phone.
How to Use the Alexa App to Play Kindle Books:
Open the Alexa app on your phone.
Tap the Play tab at the bottom of the screen.
Scroll down to find your Kindle Library.
Tap on the book you want to listen to.
Choose which device you want to play it on, such as This Device for your phone or Echo Dot for a smart speaker.
Say, "Alexa, read [Book Title]." Alexa will continue from your last reading position.
For more playback control, you can also use these voice commands:
- "Pause." / "Stop." / "Resume."
- "Skip ahead." / "Skip back."
- "Volume [1–20]."
Way 4. Using Third-Party TTS Apps on Android
While many third-party TTS apps on Android, like Voice Aloud Reader, cannot read Kindle books directly due to DRM protection, you can use the Android Accessibility Suite, which is often pre-installed or available on the Play Store. This acts as a screen reader overlay that works perfectly with Kindle.
How to Use the Android Accessibility Tool to Play Kindle Books:
Open your Android Settings and find Accessibility.
Look for Select-to-Speak. You may need to install Android Accessibility Suite from the Play Store if you don't see it.
Turn Select-to-Speak On. You should see a small speaker icon or accessibility button appear on your screen.
Open your Kindle book.
Tap the Select-to-Speak icon.
Tap the Play button to read the whole page, or tap a specific paragraph to hear just that section. It will read the text aloud clearly, letting you listen to audiobook on Kindle app effectively.
Part 2. How to Listen to Kindle Books with Audible
If you prefer professional voice acting over robotic text-to-speech, using Audible with your Kindle books is the best choice. This method provides high-quality narration and allows you to switch seamlessly between reading and listening.
Way 1. Listening to Kindle Unlimited Books with Free Narrations
If you are a Kindle Unlimited member, you are in luck. Kindle Unlimited (KU) subscription includes thousands of free audiobooks. You don't always need to buy the Audible version separately. Here is how to listen to Kindle Unlimited books that include free audio.
How to Find and Listen to Free Narrations for Kindle Books:
Open the Amazon app or Kindle store and look for books with the Headphone icon or the label Read and Listen for Free, instead of just Read for Free.
Tap Read and Listen for Free to borrow the title.
Go to your Kindle app library.
Open the book. You will see a headphone icon in the bottom corner saying Tap to Download. Tap it.
Once downloaded, tap the Play button to listen to the book on Kindle app.
Tip: You can filter your search on Amazon by Books with Narration in Kindle Unlimited to find eligible titles easily.
Way 2. Listening to Kindle Books with Audible Audiobooks
If you own a regular Kindle book that isn't part of Kindle Unlimited, you can still listen to it by adding the Audible narration to it. If you buy a Kindle ebook along with its matching Audible narration, you can usually get the audiobook at a much lower price, often around 1.99 dollars. After you own both versions, you can use Whispersync for Voice and Immersive Reading. These two tools let you listen while the text is highlighted on the page, and you can switch between reading and listening without losing your place.
How to Listen to Kindle Books with Audible Audiobooks at a Cheaper Price:
When buying a Kindle ebook on Amazon, check the box that says Add Audible audiobook to your purchase for just $x.xx.
If you already own the ebook, go to the Amazon Audible Matchmaker page to get its Audible version by tapping the Upgrade with Audio for $x.xx.
Open the Kindle book on your Kindle e-reader or mobile device.
Tap the screen to reveal the menu, then tap the headphone icon.
Tap the download arrow. When the audio finishes downloading, tap Play. The text will highlight as it's read aloud, giving you an instant Kindle-to-audiobook experience.
Bonus Tip: How to Listen to Kindle Audiobooks on Any Device
If you want to listen to your Audible audiobooks on devices beyond the Kindle or Audible app, such as your car system, smart speakers, MP3 players, smart TVs, or older devices, you'll run into format and app limits. The apps don't let you copy or move the audio files freely.
This is where ViWizard Audible Audiobook Converter helps. It lets you convert your Audible books into common formats like MP3, FLAC, M4A, M4B, WAV, and AIFF. Once converted, you can transfer your audiobooks to any device and listen offline without restrictions.
Key Features of ViWizard Audible Audiobook Converter
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- Convert Audible audiobook to unprotected audio formats like MP3
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Part 3. How to Listent to Kindle Books on a Dedicated Kindle E-reader
If you have a dedicated e-ink device like a Kindle Paperwhite, Oasis, or the new basic Kindle, you might wonder: can I listen to books directly on Kindle devices? The answer is yes, but these devices don't have built-in speakers. You'll need Bluetooth headphones or a speaker.
As mentioned in Part 2.2, you can buy the matching audiobook and play it on your Kindle app or e-reader. But what if your book doesn't have a corresponding Audible audiobook? Don't worry, your Kindle e-reader has a tool called VoiceView Screen Reader that can read the text on the page. It works similarly to the Speak Screen tool on iPhone or Select-to-Speak on Android.
How to Listen to Kindle Books with VoiceView Accessibility Feature:
On your Kindle home screen, tap Settings > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth > Bluetooth Devices.
Put your Bluetooth headphones or speaker into pairing mode and select them on your Kindle screen to connect.
Go to Your Kindle Settings > Accessibility > VoiceView Screen Reader. Toggle it to On.
Open your ebook. VoiceView will automatically begin reading the text on the page.
To pause, tap the screen with two fingers. To resume, tap again with two fingers.
Part 4. FAQs about Listening to Kindle Books
Do I need to have Audible to listen to audiobooks on Kindle?
Do I need an Audible subscription to listen to audiobooks?
Can I convert a Kindle book to an MP3 file?
Why isn't text-to-speech working on my book?
- Publishers restricts the Text-to-Speech on certain titles to encourage audiobook sales.
- Books with many images, like comics, cookbooks, or children's books, often don't support Text-to-Speech.
- Older Kindle e-readers, including the base 10th Gen model, may lack the Bluetooth hardware or software needed for audio.
How do I find out if a book has free narration?
If it only says Read for Free, the audiobook isn't included. You can also filter your Amazon search by selecting Books with Narration in Kindle Unlimited to see only eligible titles.
Conclusion
Listening to your Kindle books is very flexible. You can use free text-to-speech on your devices or enjoy professional narration with Audible audiobooks. By using the Kindle app, Audible app, your phone's accessibility settings, or Alexa devices, you can easily add hands-free reading to your daily routine and enjoy your library in a new way. If you want to listen to your Kindle books on more devices, don't forget to try ViWizard Audible Converter and take your audiobooks anywhere you go!
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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