I have a large library on Audible. I realize Siri won't have any support for it. Is there any integration for audiobook and HomePod?
-- aarsam from HomePod Community on reddit.com.
The thing we are going to complain about Apple HomePod, is that it can't even play an audiobook from Apple Books, not to mention audiobooks from Audible or other platforms. HomePod does not have storage so HomePod cannot play audios that need to be downloaded such as Audible audiobooks. Can HomePod play Audible with AirPlay or something? Yes! There are still some features of HomePod such as AirPlay and Handoff we can use to get Audible on HomePod. Now, we will shed some light on how to listen to Audible on HomePod with 4 different solutions.
Part 1. Can HomePod Play Audible?
The simple answer is no, not on its own.
The HomePod works best with Apple services. Think Apple Music or Podcast. These apps live inside the HomePod's software. They talk directly to Siri.
Audible is different. It is owned by Amazon. Amazon has not built the Audible app to run inside the HomePod.
This lack of native support creates a gap:
- You cannot log into Audible from the Apple Home app.
- Siri on the HomePod cannot see your Audible library.
- Siri cannot start an Audible book without help from your phone.
Your iPhone must do the heavy lifting. The HomePod is a smart speaker, but for Audible, it mostly acts as a regular, high-quality speaker.
The good news is that the HomePod uses AirPlay 2. AirPlay is Apple's system for sending sound wirelessly. You can use your iPhone to stream sound to the HomePod. It is a simple workaround. The next parts show you exactly how to do it.
Part 2. How to Stream Audible on HomePod via AirPlay
AirPlay is a convenient way to stream Audible audiobooks from your iOS devices to your HomePod. Not only does it provide a seamless listening experience, but it also allows you to retain control over playback using your mobile device like your iPhone or iPad.
Make sure your iOS device and HomePod are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Launch the Audible app on your iOS device.
Choose the audiobook you want to listen to from your Audible library.
While the audiobook is playing, you'll see playback controls at the bottom of the Audible app. These controls allow you to play, pause, skip forward, or backward, and adjust the volume.
Tap on the Connect to Device button above the playback controls.
Select AirPlay & Bluetooth Devices.
Select your HomePod or HomePod mini from the list of available devices that appear on the screen.
Alternatively, you can AirPlay your Audible audiobooks to your HomePod using the Control Center:
Launch the Audible app on your iOS device and play the audiobook you want to listen to on your HomePod.
Swipe down from the upper right-hand corner of your iOS device's screen to open the Control Center.
Tap on the Music Playback section and tap on the AirPlay icon. A list of available AirPlay devices will appear, including your HomePod.
Select your HomePod. Your audiobook will now start playing on the HomePod.
The audio will effectively switch from your phone to the HomePod. You can now use your phone as a remote control. You can also use basic voice commands on the HomePod like "Hey Siri, pause" or "Hey Siri, turn it up."
Part 3. How to Handoff Audible Audio to HomePod
Apple's Handoff feature allows you to seamlessly transition your Audible audiobook playback from your iPhone or iPad to your HomePod. This convenient feature ensures that you can continue listening to your audiobooks without missing a beat. Before using Handoff, make sure your iPhone or iPad and HomePod are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and have Bluetooth turned on.
Open the Audible app on your iPhone or iPad.
Start playing the audiobook you want to listen to.
Open the Settings app and go to General > AirPlay & Handoff. Make sure to toggle on the switches for Transfer to HomePod and Handoff.
As your audiobook is playing on your device, hold your iPhone or iPad near the top of your HomePod.
You can now use voice commands with Siri or the Home app to control playback on your HomePod.
When you want to move the playback back to your phone, just hold your iPhone near the HomePod again.
Part 4. How to Play Audible on HomePod via Siri Shortcuts
If you want hands-free control, Siri Shortcuts give you a useful workaround. Siri on the HomePod can't control the Audible app by itself, but you can set up a custom voice command on your iPhone to do the job.
This setup still plays audio from your iPhone, yet it lets you start the process with your voice. Make sure you have the Shortcuts app installed and that your iPhone and HomePod are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Open the Shortcuts app.
Tap the + button to make a new shortcut.
Search for Set Playback Destination.
Choose your HomePod as the destination.
Add another action: Open App, then pick Audible.
Rename the shortcut, like Story Time.
Say "Hey Siri, Story Time" to your iPhone.
Your phone will switch the audio to the HomePod and open the Audible app. Then you just tap Play.
Part 5. How to Play Audible on HomePod via Siri Voice Commands
This method feels the most native. It is the only way to use full Siri voice commands directly with the HomePod. You do not need your iPhone running in the background.
This process requires a computer. You must move your Audible books into the Apple ecosystem as standard audio files. Audible files have special protection called DRM. They use the .aax format. You cannot just drop these files into Apple Music or iTunes.
You will need a third-party tool like the ViWizard Audible Audiobook Converter. This software changes the Audible files into common formats like MP3, M4A, M4B, FLAC, WAV, and AIFF. And it keeps the ID3 tags, chapter markers, and audio quality. Nothing breaks in the process, and you get smooth, reliable Audible playback on your HomePod.
After the conversion, you then add the files to Music or iTunes and set the media type to Music so the HomePod treats the audiobook like a music album and plays it without limits.
Key Features of ViWizard Audible Audiobook Converter
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- Convert Audible audiobook to unprotected audio formats like MP3
- Split Audible book into several smaller segments by chapter or by time
- Support playing Audible audiobooks on any device or media player
- Handle the conversion of Audible audiobooks up to 100× faster speed
Step 1Install ViWizard and Log In
First, download and install ViWizard Audible Converter on your Windows or Mac computer. Open the program and log in to your Audible account using the built-in web player. This will give you access to your full audiobook library.
Step 2Choose Output Format and Settings
Go to Menu → Preferences → Conversion. Pick a format that works with iTunes or Apple Music, such as MP3, M4A, AIFF, WAV, or FLAC. You can also adjust the bitrate or sample rate if you want. Finally, choose a folder on your computer to save the converted files.
Step 3Add Audiobooks for Conversion
Open your Audible library and find the titles you want to convert, these can be purchased books, Free Listens, or Plus Catalog titles. Click the + button in the bottom-right corner, select your books, and hit Add to List.
Step 4Convert Your Audiobooks
Click Convert to start. ViWizard will remove DRM and convert your audiobooks quickly. When the process finishes, click the folder icon next to a title to open the output folder and check your new files.
Step 5Import to iTunes/Music App and Set Up
Open the Apple Music app (Mac) or iTunes (Windows).
Drag and drop the audiobook file into your library.
Right-click the imported book file and select Get Info.
Go to the Options tab.
Change media kind from Audiobook to Music.
Ensure iCloud Music Library is enabled so the file uploads to the cloud.
Once uploaded, say to your HomePod: "Hey Siri, play the album [Book Name]." Your HomePod will treat the book as a song and play it directly from the cloud, no phone required.
Want to play your Audible audiobooks in iTunes on Windows or Mac? This guide shows you how to add Audible books to iTunes and sync them step by step.
Part 6. FAQs about Audible and HomePod
Can Siri read books on HomePod?
No, not directly. Siri on HomePod cannot natively open the Apple Books app or the Audible app to start reading a book from the cloud. If you say "Hey Siri, read my book," it will likely say it cannot find that media. You must start the book on your iPhone or iPad first and then use AirPlay to stream the audio to the HomePod. Once the book is playing, Siri can control the playback via your voice commands.
Can HomePod mini play Audible?
Yes, but not directly. The HomePod mini functions exactly the same as the original HomePod. It supports AirPlay, Handoff, and the shortcuts methods listed above.
Why does my audiobook stop playing when my iPhone locks?
This is a common AirPlay bug. To fix it, ensure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS. Alternatively, disable Auto-Lock while listening, or ensure the HomePod is selected as the system-wide audio output via Control Center rather than just inside the Audible app.
Will Siri save my place in the book?
If you play Audible through AirPlay, your progress is saved automatically to your Amazon account because the app on your phone is doing the work.
If you use the iTunes conversion method, you need to set it manually: right-click the audiobook file in iTunes, go to Get Info → Options, and check Remember playback position.
The Final Thought
HomePod is quite a great speaker for iOS users for it is smart and capable of Siri command. One of the disadvantages is that it cannot stream Audible books directly. But with the help of AirPlay, Handoff, Shortcuts, or ViWizard Audible Converter, it is never hard for you to play Audible on HomePod anymore.
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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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