Learn About The Methods On How To Play Audible Books

Written By Robert Fabry Last updated: April 22, 2022

Audible, known as the most popular source of the best audiobooks in town, is offering a lot of ways on how to play the files offline and online. All you have to do is to study each method in order to select the perfect way to utilize. Also, the audiobooks are encoded in different Audible file format. It is best if you can gain as well some information about it.

This article will be tackling about the Audible file format and the ways on how you can easily stream the items from Audible. Know and select whichever method will work the best on your device.

Contents Guide Part 1. What Is The Audible File Format?Part 2. How To Listen To Audible Files?Part 3. Bonus: How To Convert Audible Files To MP3?Part 4. Conclusion

Part 1. What Is The Audible File Format?

Availing a subscription in Audible and getting a membership will enable you to access the entire library and catalogue of Audible. This will even allow you to buy any title and download them on your device. In streaming the audiobooks, you can either have it played online or directly download it before playing. So, if you wish to play it right away, just tap on the button of “Listen Now”. In this case, you will be utilizing then the Cloud player of Audible. It will play upon clicking the button. Whereas, tap the Download button if you wish to enjoy it right after having it stored on your device. The Audible file format is either AA or AAX. AA format comes with Format 2, 3 and 4 whereas AAX is often referred to as the Enhanced format.

Comparing the two formats, an audiobook downloaded in the format of AAX are often not compressed resulting to a bigger audio file and a bigger space that would be taken up from your storage space. On the other hand, AA format is the opposite one, which is the compressed version of the file. This means that it may take up only a little space on your device. This would be a better choice if you are planning to convert the files and save them instead in MP3 music players permanently.

If you will try downloading the Audible files, the files will automatically be saved in the format of AAX. If you are planning to change the format instead, you may follow the steps below.

  1. Have your browser opened and then navigate to the website of Audible.
  2. Among the menu tabs above, click the Library tab.
  3. Take a look at the upper right part of your screen in order to see the Audio quality menu selection.
  4. Upon clicking on it, you will see different options. Select whichever format you want to have.

AA Audible file format is actually an old output format that has been removed in the market before. So, if you have downloaded Audible files before that are encoded in AA Audible file format, you can download them once again using the new format. Comparing AA Audible file format with AAX Audible file format, AAX is surely better. Audible aims to provide the users the best output quality and this could be one reason why Audible has made AA format not available in the market anymore. The quality of AAX can be compared to a CD’s audio quality amounting to about 64-kbps.

AAX Audible file format is very good when it comes to the quality, however, it would be difficult for you to access it in some other devices except the authorized ones. This is because of the DRM copy protection that was encrypted into the audiobook files. Later on, Audible has issued that the audiobooks to be downloaded in the future will now be saved in AAXC format. This is to allow the users to easily convert the files into MP3 format.

Part 2. How To Listen To Audible Files?

In listening to Audible files, there are so many ways on how to stream the audiobooks. In the discussion below, you will be seeing the general methods on how to listen to Audible files.

Play Audible Books Using The Audible App On Windows 10, Android And iOS Devices

In whatever Audible file format the files are encoded into, you may use the Audible application in streaming them for it is supported in devices including Windows 10, iOS and Android. Once the audiobooks are downloaded on your collection, you would be able to enjoy them even without an internet connection.

In order to listen, you have to download the Audible application for iOS, for Windows and for Android. Download the respective application based on the device that you are using. Let us have below the detailed steps on how to listen to Audible using the Audible application itself.

  1. Download the Audible application on your device and then install it right after.
  2. In the application, click the Library tab.
  3. Within a few seconds, you will be shown all the audiobook titles that you have saved so far. Select any audiobook title cover you wish to download.
  4. After some minutes, the file would be downloaded already. Just tap on it in order to stream offline.

The procedure on how to listen to Audible is just the same in most devices. You may use this procedure as your guideline in downloading more audiobooks.

Play Audible Books Using Audible Manager, Windows Media Player And iTunes On Windows Computer

The second method that you may try in order to listen to audiobook files is through the help of Audible Manager, Windows Media Player and iTunes. After saving the audiobooks on your device, you are free to import them in any of the applications mentioned just now.

Using Audible Manager

Follow the steps below.

  1. Go to Microsoft Store and then get the application of Audible Manager.
  2. After doing so, open the launched application and then tap the File tab that is usually located at the top of your screen.
  3. From the pop-up window that will be shown next upon clicking on File, choose “Add Audio Files”.
  4. Right after doing this, you will be directed to the list of your saved audiobook files.
  5. Among the titles, select one that you plan on streaming right at the moment.

Play Audible Books Using Audible Manager

Using iTunes And Windows Media Player

Since you are to use these two applications, you have to import the files first into them. So, in order to do that, you will have to utilize the application of Audible Download Manager.

  1. Download, install and run the application of Audible Download Manager on your device.
  2. At the main interface of the application, click the Options menu and then select the “Activate PC” option among the menu list.
  3. In here, you will be required to fill in the needed details in relation to your Audible account.
  4. Once done, you will be notified that the device activation is complete and done.
  5. Now, you have to re-open the Audible Download Manager app once again and then tap on the Options tab. After that, select Import Audible Titles option.
  6. There will be a new window where you will be able to see the options that you may use in streaming Audible files. From there, mark the boxes before “Import into iTunes” and “Import into Windows Media Player Library”.
  7. At the bottom part of the window, there is an OK button which you need to select to save all the settings made.

After a few minutes, all your saved audiobook files will then be transferred into your iTunes and Windows Media Player application. Once this is complete, you may then play and listen to the Audible files anytime and anywhere you go.

Play Audible Books Using iTunes Or iBooks On Mac Computer

Just like on how you can be able to use iTunes on Windows, you can use it as well on Mac computer. Aside from that, you can open the audiobooks as well with the Apple Books application, more particularly those who own a Mac Catalina 10.15.

See the steps below.

  1. On your Mac, select any audiobook you want. Do not forget to do a right click on your selected title.
  2. After doing so, there will be a pop-up window wherein new options will be shown. Among them, choose “Open with Books”.
  3. Before proceeding, you will still have to authorize your device. Just tap on the Yes button in order to proceed. But you have to fill in all the details needed including your account email and password.
  4. Once done, just tap on the “Activate Now” button.

Once the steps are complete, the audiobooks will then be available on the Apple Books application. They will automatically be added in here and it will be easy for you now to select the title that you want.

Play Audible Books Using The Cloud Player On Mac And Windows Computer

Another way to stream Audible books is through the help of the Cloud player which you can utilize online. All you have to do is to proceed to Audible’s official website and then log in with your Amazon Audible account. After doing so, you will just navigate then to the Library tab. From there, you will be shown the list of audiobooks in which you have to click the Play button in order to listen to them.

One of the advantages of using the Cloud player is that you are allowed to add bookmarks in between the chapters that you are reading or listening to. In addition to that, you could even choose a specific chapter where you wish to start and lastly, you can adjust the speed of the audiobook playing.

But of course, there is no perfect application. It has drawbacks as well and to name some, see the list below.

  1. Since the purpose of using Audible Cloud Player is to be capable of streaming the songs online, you are not allowed to download them.
  2. Of course, you will be in need of a fast speed internet connection. So, if you have a slow connection, expect that there will be occurring errors while playing them. You might have to wait a little longer until they play.
  3. Lastly, if you have a poor internet connection, the sound quality is surely bad.

Part 3. Bonus: How To Convert Audible Files To MP3?

It was already mentioned many times above that Audible books are encoded in AA/AAX format which are both not supported in devices that are not authorized by Amazon Audible. In addition to that, they are DRM-protected. So, is it still possible to convert them into another format such as MP3?

The process of conversion and DRM removal from Audible books are both possible through the help of AMusicSoft Audible Converter. This tool can convert the files not only to MP3 format but also to AAC, FLAC, WAV and M4A. It can even retain the original quality of the files even after the conversion and download process. Here is how to use AMsuicSoft in converting Audible files into MP3 format.

  • Get the application of AMusicSoft Audible Converter from the official website of AMusicSoft and then install it on your device.
  • Open the application and start with the uploading of files into it. To do this, just drag and drop the selected files in to the converter.

Choose the Music Tracks


  • Next is to select the MP3 format among the options available. Allot an output folder as well.

Select the Output Format


  • Tap the Convert button and wait for a few minutes until the process was done.

Convert the Music


  • Lastly, click the Completed tab and see the converted audiobooks.

Part 4. Conclusion

All the audiobooks that are downloaded from Audible could be played using the Audible app in most devices. However, if you are to use the Audible app, iTunes, Apple Books and the rest, you are surely to face some limitations. As mentioned a while ago, this is mainly because Audible books are encoded in AA and AAX Audible file format which are know to be protected with DRM. So, in order to play the audiobooks without any problem, you will have to convert them into compatible audio formats that are supported in most devices. This would be possible through the use of AMusicSoft Audible Converter that can make any audiobook file as DRM free.

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