Over the past couple months I’ve seen a number of reports of people saying the Kindle apps for Android and iOS now support text-to-speech through a new “Assistive Reader” feature that Amazon has quietly added without saying anything about it.
In fact, someone left a comment here two months ago about the new Assistive Reader feature so I’ve been wiating for it to show up on my devices, but it still isn’t available on my Android phone or iPad, even though the Kindle app has been updated to the latest version on both, so apparently it’s device dependant and some older models aren’t getting this new feature for some reason.
You can check if your device has the Assistive Reader function by tapping the Aa button on the top menu within a book and then selecting More.
You also have the option to turn real-time text highlighting on and off so you can listen to text-to-speech while reading along with highlighted text if you want to, like the Immersive Reading feature that’s available when you own both the ebook and the Audible audiobook.
Keep in mind, not all Kindle ebooks support text-to-speech so it might not be available with certain titles. You can check the product page at Amazon for each book and in the details section it says if TTS in enabled or not.
It’s weird how Amazon doesn’t mention the new feature anywhere. The app update history doesn’t say anything about it on Android or iOS, but maybe it’s because the feature isn’t available on all devices. Amazon has a tendency to leave out these kinds of details in release notes with Kindles and Kindles apps so you never really know what new features you’re going to find after an update.
If you’ve tried the new Assistive Reader feature let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Interesting! I did not know about this. I checked on my iPhone SE (2nd Gen) and iPad (8th Gen) and both devices have this. I’m not sure if it’s something I’d use, but it’s good to see that it is available in the apps.
This is something I definitely want in my android kindle apps. But don’t have yet.
They basically just allowed the built-in TTS that the phone already has. I tried it and hated it. It is not Voiceview that you find on the kindle devices. Voiceview on the devices is so much better than what other devices offer.
Sucks!!! I listen to books while I’m at work. Can’t close the tablet cover like usual have it leave it open. When kindle “sleeps” the reading stops. This change just started in the middle of reading a book. Horrible feature
So true! This will greatly hurt book sales!!
Secret is:
Step 1: Download a book to Kindle via Amazon or your local library app, Libby
Step 2: Close Kindle app, Open Alexa app
Step 3: Ask Alexa to read your book
Now you can tilt, tip, or close the fire and the reading will continue.
I absolutely hate this. Give me back my old text to speech. I can’t imagine why anyone would think this is an improvement. Having to keep the screen open while your Kindle is reading to you makes no sense. I am now searching for an alternative reader after being a loyal Kindle owner (nine purchased) for many years.
I hate it. I listen to books while I am working. I can not close my fire because the additive reader shuts off. I am 75 and TTS is a blessing. Very upset.
Just discovered my kindle fire has now got Assistive Reader on it. It’s awful!!!
Bring back Text to speech. Why not allow the listener to choose which way they want to listen!!
I agree!! This is how I got around it. Mind you I pretty much only use the tablet for kindles text to speech, so I don’t really have alot to lose if I did a factory rest. So if you have you stuff backed up on another device factory reset it. It will be like brand new in the box, which has the old version of kindle with the original TTS. It takes amazon a while to see that your our of date and forces a update. Also important is to turn off automatic updates, like it updates while you sleep. So I open the kindle app put my login info in it syncs your library and all open books even from previous version before the reset that is stored on Amazon servers not your device. I know I’m saying obvious stuff to most of you just info for the rest. After this is done you go to the pull down window and turn on airplane mode. It will turn off the wifi and Bluetooth but Bluetooth works in airplane mode so just turn it back on. There is a few extra steps to add new books because wifi will not be available in airplane mode. When you want a book you can turn off wifi and look on kindle** this had never happened to me so far so if it does just repeat the steps but they will not update the app while your in use of it** so find your book download it to your kindle .Also if you have a phone with kindle some times it easier to search for a book on ther and download it, once its in your library you can turn on the wifi download the book then turn airplane back on IMPORTANT you need to make sure it’s back in airplane mode, Amazon can’t connect with your device in this mode so there is no update. This is how I do it im sure there are easier ways but for those that would like to have it now. As always this is a do at your own risk I am not responsible for any devices that won’t work if done improperly. Happy reading
This feature appeared on my Kindle and so far has ruined it for how I use text to speech. I used to be able to start playing text to speech then turn the screen off and carry the kindle around.. It now stops as soon as I turn the screen off. I hope to find a work around but so far have not. I wish they had left my kindle alone.
Same complaint that everybody else has about not being able to close my Fire, which is annoying and eats my battery. The other sneaky thing they have done is take away the ability to have docs read. I use to be a reviewer and have a lot of ARCs. With TTS I’ve never had an issue having a doc read. I’ve read the directions Amazon provides for AR and they do seem to drill the point about Kindle books.
This feature is massively intrusive and a serious pain in the you-know-what. The kindle app on my phone is defaulting to it when I’m listening to an audio book, despite it being supposed to not work where Audible already provides narration. Is there any way to simply turn it off?
I’m in the minority here, but to be honest I wasn’t using TTS on my phone (I can’t seem to change the voice from male to female.
I have however been able to use it, very successfully, on my Amazon Echo Dot. I have changed the voice to female anyway. English speaker. I was also able to slow the narration speed to 90%. This suits me really well. I much prefer audiobooks, but not all Kindle books are available in that format, so this has been to my immense satisfaction.
Additionally, I have found an author who narrates her own books. She. Is. Awful! I have now stopped purchasing her titles in Audible and because the ebooks are part of Kindle Unlimited, I can obtain them, without additional cost and to my relief (but not surprise), the Kindle Assisted Reader is far superior to the author’s narration.
I haven’t had the same experience with the App, so I understand the aversion.
Trying to figure out WHY Amazon did this change. I’m assuming that they wanted to discourage folks from just listening to books everyday because each book costs Amazon some money. By making it inconvenient to listen due to “assistive reading”, they discourage folks from using Kindle Unlimited and listening to 5 books a week. Hard to price that into their “unlimited” kindle option. That said, I’ll make sure I check out at least 3-5 books every week on my Kindle Unlimited, regardless of whether I read them or not. Pretty sure Amazon will need to pay the Royalty charge regardless if I read every page or not.
I have new iPhone 15, but nothing happens when I double-finger swipe. [I had an easy
short-cut on my ipone8. ] very frustrating.
But how do I turn it off?
Fire Gen 11. Text-to-Speech gone in native preinstalled Kindle app. Automatically replaced with Assistive Reader. Horrible.
Used to be able to turn T2S Off and on, one would do so st the bottom of the screen. Mine, st least, no longer has that feature.
Help! Thanks.
Sorry but I haven’t used a Fire in ages. Maybe someone else will chime in.