How to listen to PDFs on iPhone

Got a PDF sitting on your iPhone that you keep meaning to read… but never seem to find the time for?

Listening could be the answer! Instead of scrolling through every page, you can have the document read aloud while you make dinner, take a walk, or settle in for your commute. 

Helping you fit more reading into your day is something we’re super passionate about here at ElevenReader. And in this guide, we’ll show you how to listen to PDFs on iPhone using our app that has some of the most natural-sounding voices around. We’ll also show you what Apple’s built-in text to speech tools can do for you, too. 

Summary

• You can listen to PDFs on iPhone using a dedicated app like ElevenReader or Apple’s built-in read-aloud tools.
• Text-based PDFs are usually ready to listen to, while image-only scans need OCR to recognize the words.
• ElevenReader offers natural-sounding AI voices, follow-along highlighting, and bookmarks to help you get through longer PDFs. 
• Apple’s Speak Selection and Speak Screen are free alternatives for compatible PDFs, though you may prefer a dedicated app for longer listening sessions. 

What do you need to listen to a PDF on your iPhone?

First, you’ll need the PDF you want to listen to. It might already be in Files, waiting in your inbox, or open in Safari. Saving it to Files keeps it easy to find for the next steps.

Then you’ll need a way to read it aloud. You can use a dedicated listening app like ElevenReader or try your iPhone’s built-in text to speech tools.

How easily you can get started also depends on the document. A PDF with readable text is usually more straightforward than one made up of scanned pages.

Here’s a quick look at the difference between the two and how to check your file.

Text-based PDFs vs. scanned PDFs

Text-based PDFs already contain text the app can work with. Scanned PDFs sometimes contain only pictures of the pages, so they need an extra step called optical character recognition (OCR). This recognizes the words in those pictures and turns them into readable text.

If you’re not sure which type of PDF you have, try pressing and holding a sentence in your PDF. If you can select and copy the words, it probably contains readable text. If you can’t, it may be a scan, although your viewing app or the file’s restrictions could also prevent selection.

How to listen to PDFs on iPhone with ElevenReader

Once you’ve checked your PDF and saved it somewhere handy, you’re ready to choose how you’d like to listen. 

Let’s start with ElevenReader.

Here’s how to listen to PDFs on an iPhone with ElevenReader in six easy steps.  

1. Download ElevenReader and sign in

Download ElevenReader from the App Store, then open it and follow the prompts to create an account or sign in.

The free plan includes ten hours of text-to-audio per month, with more than 1,000 natural AI voices to choose from. You can try it with your own PDFs before deciding if you need a paid plan.

If you've already used ElevenReader on the web, sign in with the same account so your library syncs to your iPhone.

2. Find the PDF you want to hear

Start by finding where your document is saved.

• In Files: Open the Files app and check Recents, Downloads, or the folder where you saved it.
• In an email: Open the attachment and use the sharing options to save a copy to Files.
• In Safari: Open the PDF, tap the Share button, choose Save to Files, and select a folder. If you’re not sure how to save a PDF in Safari, Apple’s guide to downloading a PDF can help. 

Pro Tip: Give your PDF a name you’ll recognize before saving it. Your future self will thank you! 

3. Import your PDF into ElevenReader

Next, open ElevenReader and find the option to add content. Choose Upload a file, then browse to your saved PDF and select it.

Give the app a moment to process the document. Longer files or scans may take more time than a short text-based PDF.

Once it's ready, open the imported document and check the first few paragraphs. Make sure the text starts where you expect and that the sentences appear in the right order.

4. Choose a voice and press play

Now it’s time to choose a narrator. 

Open the voice options and preview a few narrators. You might prefer a clear, steady voice for a report or a warmer delivery for an ebook.

Try a short section of your document with the voice you've chosen, then press play to continue. If it doesn't feel like the right fit, try another. You're going to be spending time with this narrator, so it’s worth spending some time picking one you’ll actually enjoy listening to.

5. Adjust the speed and follow along

Once your PDF is playing, start at normal speed and see how it feels. You can always turn it up or down as you go.

If you already know the topic, a slightly faster pace might suit you. For a paper or report packed with technical terms, try slowing things down so you have time to take it in, especially if you’re making notes.

ElevenReader supports playback speeds of up to 4.0x, but there’s no need to rush! You can follow the highlighted words on screen whenever you want to check a phrase, and bookmark useful passages to come back to later.

You can also keep listening with your screen locked. That makes it handy for walks or chores when you want your phone tucked away.

6. Download your PDF for offline listening

If you’re taking your PDF somewhere with little or no signal, you can download it before you leave so it’s ready to play when you need it. All you have to do is open your document, select the download option, and wait until it’s ready before heading out. 

One thing to keep in mind is that your downloads will stay inside ElevenReader for offline listening. That means you won’t be able to move the audio into another player as an MP3 or WAV file. If this is what you’re after, take a look at ElevenLabs Studio for creating downloadable narration.

Please note that downloading content for offline listening is only available with ElevenReader Ultra on mobile, and you’ll need an internet connection while the download completes. 

How to listen to PDFs with your iPhone's built-in tools

Want to give PDF listening a try without downloading another app? Your iPhone already has accessibility tools that can read text and PDFs out loud. 

How well they work depends on your PDF and the app you open it in. Try a page or two first to check that the text can be read and playback continues as you’d expect, especially before settling into a longer document.

Turn on the spoken-content controls

To get started, open Settings, tap Accessibility, then choose Read & Speak. If you’re using an older version of iOS, this may be called Spoken Content instead.

Here, you can turn on Speak Selection, Speak Screen, or both. Speak Selection reads text you’ve highlighted, while Speak Screen reads accessible text on your screen. You can also choose a voice and adjust the speaking rate until it feels comfortable.

If you need a hand finding the settings, Apple’s guide to hearing onscreen text explains the controls available on your version of iOS.

Open your PDF and start playback

Next, open the PDF in Files or another compatible viewer.

For Speak Selection, select a passage and tap Speak in the text menu.

For Speak Screen, swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen. The playback controls let you pause and change the pace.

If nothing plays, the viewer may not expose the text, or the PDF may need OCR.

When a dedicated PDF listening app may be more useful

Apple's tools are useful for trying a passage or hearing accessible text that's already open on your phone. However, if you regularly listen to longer PDFs, a dedicated text to speech app (like ElevenReader) gives you one organized place to keep them together. 

Voice quality can also vary depending on your iPhone, iOS version, and any additional voices you’ve downloaded. Try a few to see how they sound with your PDF, especially if you’re planning a longer listen. If you find the narration a little flat, you might prefer the more natural-sounding voices available in a dedicated app that puts voice quality at the heart of the listening experience. 

What if your iPhone won't read the PDF properly?

If your PDF isn’t playing as expected, don’t worry. Here are a few common problems, what might be causing them, and simple fixes to try.

Less scrolling, more listening with ElevenReader 

That PDF you’ve been meaning to read doesn’t have to stay in your iPhone’s downloads folder forever! Add it to ElevenReader, choose a narrator you like, and start listening on your next walk or commute. 

Getting started is super easy, with up to ten free hours of listening each month. 

Ready to finally make a dent in your reading list? Try reading your next PDF with ElevenReader for free today! 

Frequently asked questions about how to listen to PDFs on iPhone

Can my iPhone read a PDF aloud without an extra app?

Yes, as long as the PDF contains readable text and the app you open it in lets your iPhone access that text. Turn on Apple’s Speak Selection or Speak Screen in your Accessibility settings, then try a short passage to see how it works with your document.

Can I listen to PDFs on my iPhone for free?

Yes! You can try Apple’s built-in read-aloud tools without paying anything. ElevenReader also includes ten hours of text-to-audio each month on its free plan, so you can give your own PDFs a listen before deciding if you want a paid subscription.

Can I use my iPhone to listen to a scanned PDF?

Yes, but image-only scans need OCR to make the words readable. Your iPhone’s Live Text can recognize text in photos or screenshots. For a whole PDF, it’s worth using a dedicated text to speech tool with OCR, like ElevenReader. 

Can I listen to PDFs offline in ElevenReader?

Yes, with ElevenReader Ultra. Download your PDF’s narration in the mobile app while you’re connected to the internet, then listen inside ElevenReader when you’re offline. 

Can I use ElevenReader to create an MP3 file?

ElevenReader doesn’t export your uploaded PDFs as MP3 files. Its downloads stay inside the app for offline listening.

If you’d like a separate MP3 or WAV file to play elsewhere, take a look at ElevenLabs Studio for creating downloadable narration.