iPadOS 26
iPadOS 18
iPadOS 17
iPadOS 16
iPadOS 15
iPadOS 14
iPadOS 13
Modifying this control will update this page automatically

Listen to audiobooks in the Books app on iPad

Use the Books app to listen to audiobooks on your iPad.

The audiobook player screen showing, from top to bottom, the audiobook cover, the name of the section that’s playing, the playhead, pause button, and the skip forward and back buttons. At the bottom is the volume slider and below that are buttons for controlling playback speed, setting a sleep timer, choosing a playback destination, and viewing a list of the book’s tracks.

Note: Apple Books isn’t available in all countries or regions. See the Apple Support article Availability of Apple Media Services.

Play an audiobook

  1. Go to the Books app on your iPad.

  2. Navigate to an audiobook, then tap the cover to start playing it.

  3. While the audiobook is playing, do any of the following:

    • Adjust the volume: Drag the slider below the Pause button left or right.

    • Skip forward or back: Tap or touch and hold the rounded arrows next to the Pause button. Or use external controls such as headphones or car controls.

      Note: To change the number of seconds to skip forward or back, go to Settings  > Apps > Books. Below Audiobooks, tap Skip Forward or Skip Back, then tap an option.

    • Go to a specific time: Drag the slider below the audiobook cover left or right.

    • Speed it up or slow it down: Tap 1x in the lower-left corner, then drag the dial up or down to adjust the narration speed. Touch and hold the narration speed to reset it to 1x.

    • Set a sleep timer: Tap the Sleep button, then choose a duration.

    • Play on a different device: Tap the AirPlay button, then choose an available device such as HomePod, Apple TV 4K, or Bluetooth® speakers.

    • Go to a chapter: Tap the Table of Contents button, then tap a chapter.

      Note: Some audiobooks refer to chapters as tracks, or don’t define chapters.

    • Switch to the audiobook mini-player: Swipe down from anywhere on the screen; tap the mini-player at the bottom of the screen to go back to full screen.

    • Close the audiobook player: Swipe down from anywhere on the screen to switch to the mini-player. Touch and hold the mini-player, then tap Close Audio Player.

If a Wi-Fi connection to the internet isn’t available, audiobooks play over your carrier’s cellular network, which may result in additional fees. To manage cellular data usage, see View or change cellular data settings on iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular models).

Find supplemental PDFs

Some audiobooks come with supplemental PDFs. To view the PDF as the audiobook plays, tap the Table of Contents has Supplemental Content button, or do the following:

  1. Go to the Books app on your iPad.

  2. Tap Library, then tap the More button below the audiobook cover.

  3. Tap View PDF Content.

See alsoRead books in the Books app on iPadPlay audio from iPad on HomePod and other wireless speakers
Morty Proxy This is a proxified and sanitized view of the page, visit original site.
Helpful?
Character limit: 250
Maximum character limit is 250.
Thanks for your feedback.
Morty Proxy This is a proxified and sanitized view of the page, visit original site.