How to use Kindle text to speech on every device in 2026

We’re now nearly two decades past the 2007 release of the Amazon Kindle. Since then, the Kindle has taken the world by storm, revolutionizing how people read. One of the reasons it’s remained so central to the e-reading market is because it does much more than simply displaying text. Kindle text to speech (TTS) turns any supported book into an auditory experience. 

Whether you’re commuting or simply want to give your eyes a break, using the TTS feature on a Kindle can change how you interact with your portable reader. However, Amazon has rebuilt their TTS capabilities several times over the years, meaning that how it works on the current Kindle Paperwhite is not the same as the Kindle app on your phone.

In this article, we'll discuss how to enable Kindle text to speech on your device. And if your book doesn't support Kindle's TTS, or you want narration that actually sounds human, we'll also cover how ElevenReader lets you listen to the Kindle books you already have.

Summary

• Kindle’s Text to Speech setup is different depending on your device: newer e-readers and the Kindle app use Amazon’s Assistive Reader, while older e-readers use VoiceView.
• Not every book on Kindle supports Text to Speech natively.
• Kindle Cloud Reader, the browser version, has no built-in Text to Speech option.
• ElevenReader lets you listen to Kindle books you already have access to in natural-sounding voices, live in the app (iOS first). For your own files, ElevenReader also reads any PDF, ePub, or document aloud.

What is Kindle?

Kindle is Amazon’s line of dedicated e-readers, offering users a built-in e-ink display that mimics reading on a real page. With no glare outdoors and weeks of battery life, Kindle quickly became the go-to device to make reading as convenient as possible.

Since the first release in 2007, Kindle has evolved across several iterations. Today, it spans the entry-level Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite and its Signature Edition, Kindle Kids, Kindle Scribe (which adds a stylus for note-taking), and Kindle Colorsoft, which marked Amazon’s first e-reader with a full color display.

Kindle text to speech support varies across this range of devices, largely being consolidated into access through a few methods:

• Assistive Reader: Amazon’s newest TTS feature iteration provides a more traditional Kindle text to speech experience. It allows users to listen to Kindle books with play and pause control, as well as some configurations like adjusting reading speed or rewinding. However, Amazon’s TTS capabilities are limited to English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German. 
• VoiceView Screen Reader: VoiceView was Amazon’s original accessibility screen reader, which requires navigating the Kindle as it reads the entire screen contents aloud. This is a TTS accessibility feature that’s available for all devices and is aimed at visually impaired customers.
• OS-level TTS engines in the Kindle App: Both phones and tablets that download the Kindle app can use the device’s own built-in TTS reader instead of the Kindle-specific one. You can use iOS VoiceOver or Android’s TTS to have the app read any text aloud. However, OS-level TTS engines are notoriously monotone and robotic, which leads to a sub-par listening experience.

If you’re not sure which options are available on your device, here’s a table you can reference.

Remember that even if your Kindle device is able to use Assistive Reader, that doesn’t guarantee that you can use its TTS functionality within a book. Assistive Reader only works for books with Enhanced Typesetting enabled. If you’re sending titles to your Kindle via Send-to-Kindle email, you won’t be able to access TTS natively.

The advantages of Kindle text to speech

Once you enable Kindle TTS on a supported book, it instantly allows you to read without needing your hands or eyes. 

The exact benefits of that functionality depend on why a user wants to use it. For busy readers who are looking to get through more titles, Kindle TTS might mean reading on the go. For visually impaired readers or those who suffer from eye strain and want to give their eyes a break, this accessibility feature represents an easier way of interacting with books.

Here are the main benefits of Kindle text to speech:

• Increased accessibility
• Improved reading convenience 
• Enhanced language learning support
• Reduced reading fatigue 
• Customizable listening experience

Let’s explore some of the key benefits below in more detail.

Accessibility

One of the main advantages of text to speech lies in its accessibility. TTS helps literature enthusiasts with visual impairments or reading difficulties access and enjoy books in a format that suits their requirements. 

Convenience

An ideal option for busy readers or serial multitaskers, the TTS functionality allows users to listen to books while performing other tasks, such as daily chores, work commutes, cooking, and exercising. Likewise, it’s also a perfect option for users who tend to feel nauseous when reading while traveling but would still like to continue with their book during a long road trip or commute.

Language learning

For language learners, hearing a book in its original language can help reinforce pronunciation and rhythm. It’s a great way of building up fluency and getting in more practice.

However, the TTS function on Kindle is limited to a select handful of languages. You may have to use a third-party TTS software system if you’re looking for realistic voice audio in other languages. With ElevenReader, you can upload any article, PDF, or eBook and hear highly realistic audio across an enormous variety of voices.

Fatigue reduction

It’s no secret that many people spend their working hours in front of a computer screen, leaving them too exhausted to read. TTS allows readers to reclaim their hobby without having to worry about eye strain or migraines.

Customization

Kindle TTS includes many customization options tailored to suit individual readers’ needs. You can select a different reading speed or choose from a range of narrators to find one who you like.

How to enable Kindle text to speech by device

The exact steps to follow to turn on Kindle TTS will depend on the device you’re using and how old it is. Many of the modern iterations of Kindle (post 11th generation) use Assistive Reader, but older devices may work differently.

Here’s how to enable Kindle text to speech on your device.

Kindle e-reader (11th generation and later, Scribe, Colorsoft)

All of these devices use Assistive Reader, allowing you to read any book with Enhanced Typesetting aloud. 

To enable Assistive Reader on your Kindle device:

1. Find the book: Navigate to the book you want to read aloud from your Kindle library.
2. Tap “Aa”: Tap your screen and select the “Aa” reading settings icon at the top of your screen.
3. Navigate to “More”: Click on “More” and the option to turn on Assistive Reader will be available for you to take a look at.
4. Return to the book: Tap the book to get back to the page and then tap the play button at the bottom of your screen to begin.
5. Hop around the page: If you want to start from a specific point, long-press a word and then hit Play.

Remember that only books with Enhanced Typesetting offer assistive reader capabilities. When purchasing a book on the Kindle Store, you can check in the product’s description to see if it’s an option. 

Older Kindle e-readers (pre-11th generation)

Most of the older Kindle models use VoiceView instead of Assistive Reader, which is a screen reader technology. That means it’ll read out menus and settings aloud as well as book text, meaning it’s less than ideal for a pleasant reading experience.

VoiceView is purely an accessibility technology, rather than one to produce audio versions of your books. If that’s what you’re looking for, here’s how to turn it on:

1. Open the book: Navigate to the book you want to read aloud from your Kindle library.
2. Access settings: Press the "Menu" button and navigate to "Settings."
3. Turn on VoiceView: Select "VoiceView" from the settings menu and turn it on.
4. Pair Bluetooth audio: Connect your Bluetooth headphones or speaker, if you haven't already.
5. Start narration: Press and hold the "Play/Pause" button to start or stop reading.
6. Exit VoiceView: Return to the "Settings" menu and disable VoiceView when you're done.

From there, your device will then read out your entire screen via your Bluetooth speaker or headphones.

Kindle app on iPhone and iPad

The Kindle app supports Assistive Reader on iOS using the same steps as above. Find the book you want to read, open “Aa” settings at the top, tap “More,” and turn on Assistive Reader.

If Assistive Reader isn’t available on your device, you can use Apple’s built-in VoiceOver function:

1. Open Settings: Navigate to Settings and click on the “Accessibility” tab.
2. Enable VoiceOver: From the list, click on “VoiceOver” and then turn it on.
3. Navigate to Kindle: Open the Kindle app and click on the book you want to read. VoiceOver will then read the screen content out loud.

These steps will help you access text content via audio on your iPad or iPhone devices. If you’re using an Amazon Fire (Kindle Fire) tablet, you’ll be able to use the same process above to enable TTS on your device.

Kindle app on Android

The Kindle app on Android has the exact same Assistive Reader process, activated through the “Aa” menu at the top of your device. If your device doesn’t support this functionality, then you can instead use Android’s TalkBack accessibility feature.

However, TalkBack is a screen reader, rather than a text to speech system for reading. That means it’ll read absolutely everything on your screen, including menus and navigation bars, as well as each page.

Kindle Cloud Reader

Kindle Cloud Reader, the browser-based version of Kindle, doesn't support any built-in text to speech function. This is where ElevenReader comes in: open your Kindle books in the ElevenReader app, sign in, and press play to listen in natural-sounding voices. On desktop, the ElevenReader Chrome Extension covers your browser reading.

Troubleshooting Kindle text to speech: Why isn’t Assistive Reader working?

There are three common problems that you’re likely to run into when using one of the Kindle TTS options.

Here is each problem and how to fix them:

• Text to speech won’t turn on or the play button is missing on Kindle: If the button for text to speech is missing on your ebook, it’s likely that the publisher has disabled it as an option. In that case, ElevenReader lets you listen anyway: open the book you already own in the app and press play, no publisher toggle required.
• Assistive Reader doesn’t appear in the menu: Be sure to confirm that your Kindle app is updated to the most recent version. Assistive Reader was rolled out gradually across devices, so you may have an earlier version that doesn’t yet have it as a feature. Update your device and then double check that the book you’re reading supports Enhanced Typesetting.
• The Kindle TTS voice stops when you lock the screen or switch apps: Currently, this is a known issue with Kindle TTS, as they automatically pause when you leave the reading view. To get around that, you can use the ElevenReader application to listen to your books even when the text isn’t on the screen.

These three issues are by far the most frequent problems that Kindle users face when trying to enable Assistive Reader.

How to listen to Kindle books with ElevenReader 

ElevenReader lets you listen to the Kindle books you already own or subscribe to. There’s no uploading, importing, or copying involved: you open your book in the app and it reads what’s on the page, live.

Here’s how it works in practice:

1. Open ElevenReader: Download the free ElevenReader app on iOS or Android and tap the “+” button at the bottom
2. Select “Open a webpage”: This allows you to select various publicly accessible websites to log into and to access your own listening content from the web.
3. Sign in to Kindle: Open Kindle from the supported sites list and sign in to your Amazon account to view your books.
4. Press play: Choose from over 1,000 natural-sounding voices and start listening from any page.

Because ElevenReader reads the page live, your books stay exactly where they are. Nothing is saved to your ElevenReader library or stored as a separate file. If you want to listen again, return to the page and press play.

This system works well beyond Kindle: the same play button covers Wikipedia, Google Docs, Substacks, web novels on AO3, and more. 

How to listen to your own files with ElevenReader

For content you own outright, like PDFs, manuscripts, DRM-free ePubs, or pasted text, ElevenReader also works as a full listening app.

Here’s how you can get any book listening-ready with ElevenReader:

1. Upload your book: Navigate to ElevenReader and upload the file you want to listen to. You can either paste a link from a URL, upload an .epub, .pdf, .txt, .html, or .docx file, or paste text directly into the window.
2. Select your voice: Pick from over 1,000 natural-sounding voices, including recommended options based on your device’s language. Alternatively, those with ElevenReader Ultra can create a new voice with Voice Design, where you write in natural language what you want the voice to sound like and watch as ElevenLabs brings it to life.
3. Press play: Hit the play button and listen to your book absolutely everywhere. ElevenReader syncs between web and mobile, letting you pick up across devices with ease.

With ElevenReader Ultra, you can download titles for offline listening, perfect for a long journey or commuting where your signal might be unreliable. Alongside your own books and documents, you’ll also have access to over 200,000 premium audiobooks.

Kindle’s built-in text to speech vs. ElevenLabs

While Kindle’s built-in features are convenient, their inconsistent coverage means that many readers may be left without an accessible way of listening to their books. For a more natural reading experience, ElevenLabs offers an AI voice tool that can create entire audiobooks out of your texts.

Here’s a quick comparison between the two options:

Listen to any book with ElevenReader

If you want a better listening experience than a screen reader provides, ElevenReader turns any book into narration that sounds like a person, not a robot. 

Getting started is simple: sign up for free, open a Kindle book with ElevenReader or upload a PDF or ePub of your own, then choose from over 1,000 natural-sounding voices and press play.

Learn more about Eleven v3, our most expressive Text to Speech model yet, or sign up to ElevenReader to get started today.

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