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What is Whispersync?

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Wondering what’s Whispersync? This article will tell you everything you need to know about this Kindle and Audible feature.

Many readers have implemented audiobooks into their daily routines because they can listen to stories on the go. Whether you're travelling across the country or commuting just across town to work, an engaging audiobook is an excellent companion. However, few providers offer features that allow users to sync all their reading devices.

So, if you're listening to an immersive tale on your Android phone or iPad and suddenly switch to your Amazon Kindle, you'll have to find the point where you left off manually. Not only is this inconvenient, but it also negatively affects the quality of your user experience, preventing you from thoroughly enjoying the story and connecting with the characters.

But Amazon Audible users can resolve this issue thanks to Whispersync for Voice. This functionality syncs your reading devices and ensures you can always find your place in audiobooks. We'll discuss the feature in more detail and see how you can use it on your Kindle, Android, iOS, and Windows devices.

The basics of Whispersync

Whispersync for Voice is a feature that essentially creates virtual bookmarks. For example, if you listen to your Amazon Audible audiobook on an iPhone but suddenly take a break, you will stay in your place if you switch devices.

Whispersync offers device synchronization across all your reading devices, and it's also great for those who enjoy combining reading and listening. If you want to rest your ears and read a book without listening to the Audible version, Whispersync's got you covered. You only need to pause your audiobook and open the Kindle eBook, and Amazon's Whispersync will help you find the last page you heard read.

All you need to use this feature is a stable Wi-Fi connection, and Whispersync will manage your notes, bookmarks, and playback positions across all devices. Say goodbye to manually moving the playback position to find the right chapter. Whispersync for Voice will do it for you. It will remember where you're at in the Android Audible app and adjust the playback position accordingly on the iPad app. 

Note that syncing between your Kindle eBook and Audible audiobook is only possible if you have a paired edition, that is, both the eBook and its corresponding audio version. If you only want to sync audiobooks, you don't need to purchase the Kindle edition. Your Whispersync-enabled devices will do all of the hard work. 

Whispersync for Voice is compatible with most operating systems, so users can access it in the Audible app on their Kindle Fire device, Apple Fire Phone, and Windows phone. 

Another intriguing functionality for Audible and Kindle titles is Immersion Reading. The feature lets users read an Amazon Kindle eBook while listening to its Audible edition. Immersion Reading is only available in the Kindle app for IOS and Android devices and on the Amazon Fire Phone and the Amazon Fire Tablet.

How to turn Whispersync on

Whispersync for Voice sounds impressive, but how can you activate it? The process is straightforward, and you don't need to download any space-consuming software. 

Here's what you need to do to enable this feature across all your devices: 

  1. Log into your Amazon account and select "Manage Content and Devices."
  2. Navigate to "Preferences" and tap the "Device Synchronization (Whispersync Settings)" option to activate it. 

Although you can buy a Kindle edition and an Audible version of a book separately, this is a more expensive approach. Adding the audio version to your card when purchasing a Kindle book on Amazon is much more affordable. 

Best of all, you can use the Matchmaker tool to add Whispersync to all books in your Kindle library, which also applies to borrowed books. 

When your book loan expires and a Kindle book leaves your library, you don't have to worry about losing the audio version. It will remain in your Audible Library, and you can revisit the audiobook whenever you like. 

How to sync a non-Amazon book

The best part about Whispersync is that it also works with non-Amazon books. So, if you were thinking, "The books in my library come from Kobo and similar non-Amazon stores, and I can't use Whispersync," you’re wrong.

But there's a catch. Whispersync only works with books that are in a Kindle-supported format. To use the feature, users need to convert their non-Amazon titles into AZW3 or Mobi files. 

Here's how to do it:

  1. Convert your eBook into the appropriate format using a service like Epubor Ultimate. 
  2. Download the book and email it to your reading device. (Make sure you're using the correct send-to-Kindle address.)
  3. Open the book to see whether the conversion was successful. If you've used a Kindle-supported format, you'll have no issue using the Whispersync for Voice feature. 

How to turn Whispersync off

Those who share their account with a family member might want to separate their reading material. 

The simplest way to disable Whispersync is by activating airplane mode on your device. But this may be inconvenient if you want to access other apps on your Android or iOS phone. 

A better solution is to disable syncing on all devices using your Amazon account. 

  1. Log into your Amazon account and select "Manage Content and Devices."
  2. Press "Settings" and tap "Whispersync Device Synchronization."

Speechify - Enjoy your favorite texts in multiple voices

Whispersync and Immersion Reading are handy features, but they only apply to e-books. Wouldn't it be fantastic if you could add Audible narration to all printed and digital texts?

With Speechify, a reliable text-to-speech (TTS) tool, you can do even better and convert any paper document, or essay into studio-quality audio output. The program supports over 20 languages, boasts an impressive selection of narration voices, and is easy to use. It's perfect for speed reading, editing, learning a foreign language, and tackling learning difficulties. 

Try it for free today, and let Speechify read aloud your favorite texts! 

FAQ

Is Kindle Whispersync free?

Kindle and Audible users can use this feature for free.

How do I know if a book is Whispersync?

If you've bought a new book on the Audible app, you can activate the Whispersync feature.

Do all audiobooks have Whispersync?

All audiobooks you've purchased on the audible.com website or through the Audible app have this feature. It also applies to titles on your Kindle e-reader. You can check on your Audible account or Kindle device if you need help determining whether you've activated the feature.

Why does Kindle offer Whispersync?

Amazon uses Whispersync and similar features to connect its services and provide users with a better reading experience.

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.