Need the Kindle app to read aloud to you? Here's what to do on iPhone and Android

As text-to-speech (TTS) technology gets better by the day, it's easy to assume that the Kindle app has one obvious button that magically turns every book into audio. 

Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple. 

While Amazon does have built-in Assistive Reader, many people are surprised to find out it only works with compatible Kindle titles. And because it relies on your device's text-to-speech engine, the quality of the voice and narration doesn't always make for the most enjoyable listening experience. 

So if you're trying to figure out the best way to listen to your Kindle books, or wondering why the built-in feature isn't working, you're in the right place. 

Read on for everything you need to know about how to turn on Amazon's Assistive Reader, what to do if your Kindle book doesn't support it, and the built-in options available on iPhone and Android. We'll also introduce you to ElevenReader, which lets you listen to supported web content you already have access to (including Kindle books) with high-quality AI narration that really brings the text to life. 

Summary:

• Kindle's built-in Assistive Reader can read compatible Kindle books aloud, but it only works with titles that support Enhanced Typesetting.
• If Assistive Reader isn't available, Speak Screen on iPhone and Select to Speak on Android are useful alternatives.
• Assistive Reader, Speak Screen, and Select to Speak rely on your device's text-to-speech engine, so the listening experience can vary. 
• For the most natural, easy-to-listen-to narration, it’s also worth using an app like ElevenReader to read your Kindle books out loud. 

Can the Kindle app read to you?

Yes, but with a few important limitations.

The Kindle app includes Amazon's Assistive Reader, which can read certain ebooks aloud using your phone or tablet's built-in text-to-speech engine. As it reads, the app also highlights the text on screen so you can follow along.

The reason people get confused is that the Assistive Reader feature isn't available for every Kindle book. To use it, the title must support Enhanced Typesetting, and Assistive Reader needs to be enabled for that book. Compatibility can also vary depending on the book's language, since the feature relies on the languages supported by your device's text-to-speech system. 

How to turn on Assistive Reader in the Kindle app

If your Kindle book supports Assistive Reader, here's how you can turn it on in the Kindle app. 

1. Start by opening the Kindle app on your iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, or Fire tablet. 
2. Open a book that supports Enhanced Typesetting, then tap the upper center of the screen to reveal Kindle controls. 
3. Select the Aa reading settings icon, open "More," and turn on Assistive Reader. 
4. Tap the page again when you want the player controls to appear. 

If you can't find the Assistive Reader setting, it's worth checking the book's Kindle Store listing for "Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled." If the book doesn't support it, the setting simply won't appear, so you'll need to use one of your device's built-in accessibility tools instead. 

What to do if your Kindle book doesn't support Assisted Reader

Assistive Reader not supported for your book? No problem. Android and iPhone both offer built-in accessibility features that can read text aloud. Here's how to use them. 

If you have an Android device, use Select to Speak

Android has a built-in accessibility feature called Select to Speak, which can read on-screen text aloud, including text in many Kindle books. It also includes playback controls for pausing, skipping, and adjusting the reading speed. Most features are available on Android 11 and later, although the exact options may vary depending on your device.

To turn it on, open Settings > Accessibility > Select to Speak and enable the shortcut. 

If you don't see the option, Google recommends updating the Android Accessibility Suite from Google Play. Once it's set up, you can then launch Select to Speak using the accessibility button or gesture, then open the Kindle app and tap the text (or use the player) to start listening.

If you have an iPhone, use Speak Screen

iPhone users can use Speak Screen, Apple's built-in accessibility feature for reading on-screen text aloud. It works with many apps, including the Kindle app, and unlike VoiceOver, you don't have to change the way you navigate your phone to use it.

To turn it on:

1. Open Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak.
2. Turn on Speak Screen. (On older versions of iOS, this setting may be called Spoken Content.)

Once Speak Screen is enabled, you can then open the Kindle app and swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers to start reading. You can also use the playback controls to pause, adjust the reading speed, or skip forward and back as you listen.

What to expect from Amazon's Assistive Reader, Android's Select to Speak, and Apple's Speak Screen

All three tools make it possible to have Kindle books read aloud, but they're designed primarily as basic text-to-speech and accessibility features, not audiobook players.

With Amazon's Assistive Reader, the biggest limitation is availability. It only works with compatible Kindle books, so you may find that one title supports it while another doesn't. Select to Speak and Speak Screen are more widely available because they work at the operating-system level, but they can require a little more interaction as you move through longer books.

The listening experience is another tradeoff. All three features rely on your device's built-in text-to-speech engine, so the voices are designed for clarity and accessibility rather than performance. The words are there, but much of the emotion, personality, and atmosphere can get lost, especially when it comes to dialogue, humor, emotional scenes, and character voices. 

A better way to listen to Kindle books

If you've reached the point where built-in text-to-speech just isn't cutting it, it’s worth using a third-party text-to-speech app like ElevenReader, which allows you to listen to supported web content you already have access to (including Kindle books) using natural-sounding AI voices. 

Want to hear it for yourself?

You can use ElevenReader for free with up to 10 hours of text-to-audio each month, which is roughly enough to listen to a 400-page book. And if you want even more listening time, you can start a free trial or upgrade for $11 per month for unlimited text-to-audio, custom AI narrators, and a library of 200,000+ premium audiobooks.

How to listen to Kindle online with ElevenReader

After downloading the ElevenReader app, it only takes a minute to start listening to your Kindle books: 

1. Open ElevenReader and launch the built-in browser.
2. Choose Kindle from the list of supported websites.
3. Sign in to your Amazon account.
4. Open the Kindle book you already have access to.
5. Press Play to start listening.

It's important to note here that ElevenReader doesn't import, download, or store your Kindle books. It simply reads the text that's currently on your screen while you view it. 

ElevenReader isn't just for Kindle, either. You can also use it with supported websites like Google Docs, Google Drive, Wikipedia, X, Archive of Our Own (AO3), Substack, Wattpad, and WebNovel, making it easy to switch between books, articles, documents, and other online content without having to change apps.

Why ElevenReader sounds more like an audiobook than a TTS tool

ElevenReader was built not only to read words accurately, but to make sure those words are genuinely easy and enjoyable to listen to.

Thanks to its AI-powered voices, ElevenReader can handle pacing, dialogue, and emotion in a way that feels much closer to the narration you'll find in an audiobook app. For people with dyslexia, ADHD, visual impairments, or screen fatigue, that can make consuming written content more accessible. And for everyone else, it's simply a more enjoyable way to listen while cooking, commuting, walking the dog, or getting through the day's reading.

Which Kindle read aloud option is right for you?

So, what's the best way to listen to Kindle books on your phone or tablet? The answer depends on your device, your book, and the kind of listening experience you're after. Here's a quick recap of your main options.

Take your Kindle books to the next level with ElevenReader

If your Kindle book doesn't support Assistive Reader, or you're looking for something that sounds closer to an audiobook, ElevenReader offers a modern, flexible alternative. You can enjoy your Kindle books and other web content with expressive AI voices, all without having to download, import, or copy/paste your content.

Sign up for ElevenReader today to start listening to your Kindle books, articles, and PDFs for free! 

Frequently asked questions about how to have the Kindle app read to you

Can the Kindle app read to you without an audiobook?

Yes. If your Kindle book supports Amazon's Assistive Reader, the Kindle app can read it aloud using your phone or tablet's built-in text-to-speech engine. 

If Assistive Reader isn't available for your book, you can also use your device's built-in accessibility features, such as Speak Screen on iPhone or Select to Speak on Android. You can also use platforms like ElevenReader to listen to Kindle and other web content with natural, human-sounding AI narration.

Does Kindle text-to-speech on iPhone work with every book?

No. Kindle's built-in TTS tool, Assistive Reader, only works with compatible Kindle books that support Enhanced Typesetting. If a title isn't supported, the Assistive Reader option won't appear. In that case, you can use Speak Screen to read the text that's visible on your screen or try ElevenReader for a more natural listening experience.

Can the Kindle app’s text-to-speech tool work on Android?

Yes. If your Kindle book supports Assistive Reader, you can use that directly within the Kindle app. If it doesn't, Android's built-in Select to Speak feature can read much of the text displayed in the Kindle app aloud. 

Does ElevenReader save my Kindle book or make an audio file?

No. ElevenReader works while you are viewing supported web content that you already have access to. It does not import Kindle books, save a copy of the page, add the page to your library, or create a downloadable audio file.