Where do I find my downloaded audiobooks?

Audiobooks have become increasingly popular in recent years. According to Audiobook Statistics, the audiobook industry has seen double digit growth annually, even during the pandemic. Audiobook listeners appreciate the convenience and portability of being able to listen to books on the go. This article will explain where downloaded audiobook files are stored across various devices and platforms. Knowing where your audiobook files are saved can help you easily access and organize your audiobook library. We’ll cover where to find downloaded audiobooks on iPhone, Android, Kindle, Windows, and Mac devices. We’ll also provide some troubleshooting tips in case you can’t locate your downloaded audiobook files.

Where Are Audiobooks Saved?

Downloaded audiobooks are usually saved in the device’s default music or audio app. For example:

On an iPhone, downloaded audiobooks from Audible are stored in the Apple Books app. You can find them by going to the Library tab and looking in the Audiobooks section.

On an Android phone, Audible audiobooks are often stored in the Google Play Books app. Open the app and go to the Library tab to view downloaded audiobooks.
On a Kindle e-reader, audiobooks are stored on the device itself and can be accessed through the Audiobooks section of the Home screen.
On a Windows PC, Audible downloads are saved in the Audible app folder, usually under My Documents > Audible.

On a Mac, Audible audiobooks are stored in the Audible app which can be accessed through Finder > Applications.

So in summary, check the default audio book app on your device to find where your downloaded audiobooks are stored. This is usually the app you used to download the audiobooks originally.

Locating Audiobooks on iPhone

To find downloaded audiobooks in the Apple Books app on an iPhone, open the Books app and tap on the Library tab at the bottom. This will show all of your purchased and downloaded books and audiobooks. Audiobooks can be identified by the headphone icon on their covers.

Tap on the “Sort” button in the top right corner and select “Audiobooks” to group all of your audiobooks together. You can also sort by title, author, or category. Once you have located an audiobook, tap on the cover to open it and start listening.

If you cannot find a downloaded audiobook, go to the Purchased tab at the bottom of the Library section. This will display all books and audiobooks you have purchased from the Apple Books Store. Tap the Cloud icon next to an audiobook to re-download it to your device (source).

Audiobooks downloaded from the Apple Books Store are saved locally on the device. Connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes or the Finder app to locate the audiobook files, which are DRM-protected.

Locating Audiobooks on Android

On Android devices, downloaded audiobooks are usually stored within the audiobook app itself or the associated media library. The most common places to find downloaded audiobooks on Android are:

Google Play Books – Open the Google Play Books app and select the “Library” tab. Then choose the “Audiobooks” section to see your downloaded titles. Tapping on a book will allow you to play it. (source)

Samsung Music – For Galaxy devices, open the Samsung Music app and select “Downloads.” This is where downloaded audiobooks from Audible, Google Play, and other sources are stored. Tap a title to play it.

3rd Party Apps – If you used another app like Audible to download audiobooks, open that app and look for a “Library” or “Downloads” section. This is typically where downloaded content is accessible. You may need to log into your audiobook account to access downloads.

Android File Manager – You can also browse for audiobook files using a file manager app. Downloaded audiobooks are usually saved in the “Music” or “Downloads” folders.

So in summary, check the app you used to download the audiobooks first, then look in media apps like Samsung Music. You can also search your files directly. With the right app, finding downloaded audiobooks on Android is straightforward.

Locating Audiobooks on Kindle

To find your downloaded audiobooks in the Audible app on your Kindle device, first make sure you have the latest version of the Audible app installed. Open the Audible app and tap on the “Library” tab at the bottom of the screen. This will show all of your downloaded Audible audiobooks. If you don’t see your recently downloaded books, try pulling down to refresh the library.

Audiobooks downloaded from Audible will be saved locally on your Kindle device, so you can listen to them anytime without an internet connection. The Audible app organizes your library by categories like Author, Title, Recent, and Finished audiobooks. Use the search bar at the top of the Library screen to quickly find a specific book.

If you bought the audiobook from the Kindle Store rather than Audible, open the “Books” app on your Kindle and look in your library under “Audiobooks.” These will be listed separately from ebooks purchased on Kindle.

Check out this helpful guide for more details on how to listen to audiobooks on your Kindle device: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-listen-to-kindle-audio-books-4801900

Locating Audiobooks on Windows

To find your downloaded audiobooks on a Windows device, you’ll need to open the app or program you used to download them. The most common places to find audiobooks are:

Windows Media Player – Open Windows Media Player and look in your Library under the “Audiobooks” category.

Microsoft Store – Open the Microsoft Store app and go to the “Library” section. Audiobooks will be listed there.
Audible – If you used the Audible app, open it and select “Library.” Your downloaded audiobooks will be shown.
OverDrive – Open the OverDrive app and go to “My Books.” Tap on “Audiobooks” to see your downloads.

File Explorer – You can search File Explorer for audio file types like .mp3 or .m4b to locate audiobook files.

If you don’t see your audiobooks in any of these apps, try searching your computer by filename or author. You may find them saved in your Documents or Downloads folder if you transferred them from another device.

If you still can’t locate your downloaded audiobooks on your Windows device, check your account with the website or app you used to download them. You may need to re-download any missing titles.

Locating Audiobooks on Mac

To find downloaded audiobooks on a Mac computer, you will need to access the Books app. The Books app is where all purchased and downloaded audiobooks are stored on Mac devices. Here are the steps to locate your audiobook files in the Books app on a Mac:

Open the Books app on your Mac. The Books app icon looks like an open book with a blue cover.
In the Books app, click on the Library tab at the top of the screen. This will show you all of your purchased and downloaded books and audiobooks.

To only view audiobooks, click on the Filter icon at the top left of the library screen and select “Audiobooks.” This will filter the library to show only audiobook content.
You can also sort your audiobook library by title, author, category, or release date to find a specific audiobook file easier.
Once you have located the audiobook you want, you can right-click on it and choose “Reveal in Finder” to open the folder containing the audiobook files on your Mac.

Audiobook files purchased through the Books app are stored in the user library folder under ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.BKAgentService/Data/Documents/iBooks/Books (https://cleanmymac.com/blog/where-ibooks-stores-files). The files use .m4b or .m4a audio formats. Knowing the file path location can help troubleshoot if an audiobook seems to be missing from your Books library.

Using Audiobook Libraries

Most audiobook apps organize downloaded books into digital libraries that allow you to easily browse and access your titles. Rather than having audiobook files scattered across your device’s storage, they are consolidated within the app’s library system.

The libraries are typically organized into sections like “Downloaded,” “Currently Reading,” “Finished,” and “Favorites.” This makes it easy to pick up where you left off or find a book you want to listen to again. Many apps also have search functions to quickly lookup a title or author.

Within your library, books are displayed with cover art and info like author, runtime, and progress. Tapping a book will open it to the latest chapter or page you were on. You can usually also view details, read summaries, adjust playback speed, bookmark your place, download new chapters, and more.

Overall, digital audiobook libraries create a user-friendly experience for browsing your collection and continuing playback across devices. They keep your audiobooks neatly organized rather than mixed in with other media files. With robust sorting and search tools, you can swiftly find the next title you want to enjoy.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are having trouble locating your downloaded audiobooks, here are some tips that may help:

Check that the audiobook has finished downloading completely before looking for it. Sometimes a book will show in your library before the download is 100% complete.
Make sure you are logged into the correct account on the app or device where you downloaded the audiobook. It will only show up in the library of the account it was purchased under.
Try searching your audiobook library by title or author rather than browsing. The search function is sometimes more reliable for finding specific books.

Check that you have an internet connection on your device. Many apps need to sync with their servers before newly downloaded books will show in your library.
Restart the audiobook app and try refreshing your library to force it to sync again. This can often resolve missing book issues.
Check that you have enough storage space on your device. If your device is full, it may have trouble downloading new audiobooks.

If you recently switched devices, make sure the audiobook was transferred over. You may need to manually download it again on the new device.
As a last resort, try deleting and re-downloading the audiobook. This is effective if your downloaded file was corrupted or improperly saved.

If you continue to have issues finding a missing audiobook, you may need to contact customer support for the audiobook service you used.

Conclusion

In summary, downloaded audiobooks are usually saved automatically to the native audiobook apps on each device or platform. On an iPhone or iPad, check the Apple Books app for your downloaded audiobooks. On an Android device, find them in the Google Play Books app. For Kindle users, audiobooks are stored in the Audiobooks section of the Kindle app. Windows users can access downloads in the Windows Media Player, while Mac users will find them in the Books app.

If you use a third-party audiobook app, your downloads will be located within the library of that app instead. You can also check your device or account storage to browse the folders where audiobook files are saved. If you have trouble finding a specific download, try searching your app libraries by title or author.

The key is knowing where your device or app stores audiobooks by default. Once you locate the right library, you’ll have quick and easy access to all your downloaded audiobook content.