How do I get Kindle app to read to me?

What is the Kindle app’s text-to-speech feature?

The Kindle app includes a built-in text-to-speech (TTS) feature that can read Kindle books, documents, and articles aloud. This allows you to listen to the content of your Kindle library while on the go or while multitasking. The text-to-speech feature converts the text on a Kindle page into natural sounding audio using advanced speech synthesis technology.

With TTS, the Kindle app will read the text of whatever book, document, or article you have open aloud to you. You can adjust the voice, speed, volume, and more to customize the experience. The app highlights text as it reads to help you follow along. This can be useful for those with vision impairments or reading disabilities, or anyone who wants to give their eyes a rest.

The text-to-speech feature works on Kindle books, personal documents uploaded to your Kindle library, Kindle Singles, newspapers, magazines, and more. It allows you to access the content of your Kindle hands-free and enhances the accessibility of the Kindle reading experience.

Requirements for using text-to-speech

To use the Kindle app’s text-to-speech feature, you need:

A compatible Kindle device or app
The latest software update

An internet connection (for cloud-based TTS voices)

Text-to-speech is supported on Kindle devices and apps running Fire OS 5 or newer. This includes:

Kindle (7th generation and newer)

Kindle Paperwhite (5th generation and newer)
Kindle Oasis
Kindle Fire tablets

Kindle for Android app
Kindle for PC app (Windows 10)

Text-to-speech is not officially supported on iOS devices or older Kindle e-readers. However, there are some workarounds that may enable limited TTS functionality.

Enabling text-to-speech in Kindle app settings

Enabling the text-to-speech feature in the Kindle app is simple. Just follow these steps:

1. Open the Kindle app on your device and tap on the Settings icon (depicted as a gear). This is usually located in the top right corner.

2. Under “Reading Options,” toggle the switch next to “Text to Speech” to the ON position.

3. You may see a pop-up asking for permissions to access your device’s speech synthesizer. Make sure to allow access.

4. You can customize text-to-speech further in this menu. Options include language, voice (natural or synthetic), speaking rate, etc. Make any adjustments to your preferences.

5. Tap “OK” to save the settings.

That’s it! Text-to-speech should now be enabled in your Kindle app. You can start listening to books by tapping the center of the screen while reading. Select “Text to Speech” from the menu.¹

Using text-to-speech reading controls

The Kindle app provides several controls to customize and control the text-to-speech reading experience.

To pause the text-to-speech narration, tap the pause icon in the lower left corner. Tap the play icon to resume reading. You can also tap anywhere on the page to both pause and resume narration.

To skip back or forward in the text-to-speech narration, tap the 15 second skip back or skip forward icons on the lower left. This allows you to go back or skip ahead 15 seconds at a time.

To speed up or slow down the narration pace, tap the narration speed icon on the lower left. A speed adjustment slider will appear. Drag the slider left to slow down or right to speed up the narration to your desired pace.

The Kindle app also allows you to set a sleep timer for the narration, from 5 to 120 minutes. Tap the sleep timer icon and select your desired time limit.

With these controls, you can easily customize the narration pace and playback to optimize your text-to-speech reading experience.

Selecting natural or synthetic voice

The Kindle app offers both natural and synthetic voice options for reading your books aloud. Natural voices sound more human-like and conversational, while synthetic voices sound more robotic and computerized.

To choose between natural and synthetic voices:

Open the Kindle app and go to Settings.
Tap on “Reading Options.”
Under “Narration,” tap on “Voice.”

You will see options for different natural and synthetic voices. Tap on a voice to select it.

Some of the natural voice options include Amy, Brian, and Joanna. These voices aim to sound more expressive and lifelike.

Synthetic voices like Ivona Amy have a more monotone, electronic sound. While not as natural, these voices can still effectively read books aloud.

Try out both natural and synthetic voices to see which you prefer. The voice you choose may depend on the book genre or your personal tastes. You can change the voice at any time while reading.

Following Along During Text-to-Speech

One useful feature of the Kindle app’s text-to-speech is the ability to follow along with the narration. As the voice reads your book or document aloud, you can choose to have the app turn pages automatically or manually.

To turn pages automatically, simply tap the “Pages” icon in the bottom toolbar during narration. This will toggle page turning to automatic. The page will advance on its own as the narration continues.

To turn pages manually instead, just tap the “Pages” icon again to disable automatic page turning. You can then swipe or tap to advance pages at your own pace. This allows you to linger on pages longer or go back to re-read passages as needed.

The ability to switch between automatic and manual page turning gives flexibility when following along. You can let the app advance pages seamlessly during uninterrupted reading. Or take control and set your own pace if needing more time on a complex page. This helps optimize the text-to-speech experience for your reading speed and comprehension.

For more on configuring text-to-speech reading, see the Kindle support guide at https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201829850.

Adjusting text size, font, etc.

The Kindle app provides various formatting options to optimize the text-to-speech experience. Users can adjust text size, font type, boldness, margins, line spacing and more according to Kindle Reading Customization and Enhanced Typesetting. Larger text sizes and increased spacing between lines can make it easier to follow along with text-to-speech narration.

To adjust text formatting, tap on the “Aa” icon at the top of the Kindle app screen while reading a book. This will open formatting options. Tap on “Reading Settings” to customize text size, font, margins, alignment and more. These settings can be saved for all books. Choose a clean font like Bookerly or Ember for clear pronunciation during text-to-speech. Increase line spacing to help follow along. Reduce margins to fit more text on each page.

Optimizing text formatting for your personal reading preferences can lead to a better text-to-speech experience. Experiment to find an ideal combination of text size, font style, line spacing and margins that enables you to comfortably follow along with the narration.

Using Text-to-Speech with Audiobooks

There are some key differences between listening to a book read by Kindle’s text-to-speech feature versus listening to a professionally narrated audiobook:

Audiobook narration is done by voice actors who add expression, accents, pacing, and emphasis to bring the story to life. Text-to-speech uses a computerized voice that reads the book more flatly and monotonously.

Audiobooks are recorded versions of the printed book. Text-to-speech synthesizes speech from the digital text, so there may be some mispronounced words or other quirks.

Audiobooks have background music and sound effects that enhance immersion. Text-to-speech simply reads the raw text.

That said, Kindle’s synthetic voices have improved greatly over the years. For casual listening or accessibility needs, text-to-speech can be a convenient and inexpensive alternative to buying audiobooks.

Some readers prefer text-to-speech for more technical books where a neutral computerized voice may be less distracting than audiobook narration.

When available, Whispersync for Voice allows seamless switching between Kindle text-to-speech and the Audible audiobook version of a book. So readers have the option to mix and match based on their needs and preferences.

Text-to-speech limitations

While the Kindle app’s text-to-speech feature opens up access to books for many readers, there are some limitations to be aware of:

DRM-protected books may not work with text-to-speech. Since the publisher has set restrictions on text usage, the Kindle app is unable to read the content aloud (source: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201829850).

Image-heavy books like graphic novels, comics, or picture books often don’t translate well to the text-to-speech feature. The app tries reading text embedded in images aloud, but the experience is disjointed (source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8298069).

Foreign language books may not be read back accurately if the pronunciation does not match the written text. Additionally, text-to-speech for some languages is not supported.

Poetry or books with unique formatting lose their effect when listened to instead of read. Rhyme, meter, word placement, and other literary techniques that rely on visual presentation are diminished.

It can be difficult to follow along complex non-fiction books loaded with figures, tables, charts, etc. The text-to-speech feature simply reads the caption or label text aloud which does not fully convey the information.

Additional accessibility features

The Kindle app offers various additional accessibility features beyond just text-to-speech. These options allow people with disabilities like low vision, dyslexia, or mobility limitations customize their reading experience.

Some key features include:

Adjustable fonts and font sizes – Choose from a variety of fonts, sizes, and styles to tailor reading. Can increase text size for easier reading.
Line spacing and margins – Modify line spacing and margins to reduce clutter.
Inverted color modes – Switch to white text on black background for less eye strain.

Compatibility with assistive technologies – Works with screen readers, magnifiers, braille displays, and other AT.
Word Wise – Provides short definitions in text for difficult words.
Dictionary lookup – Instantly look up word definitions while reading.

X-Ray – Lets you explore key ideas/themes/characters without losing your place.

These and other options allow customizable reading tailored to specific needs. With the Kindle app’s range of accessibility options, people with disabilities can read books, magazines, and documents with fewer barriers.