Audible Will NOT Play? Here’s Why (4 Devices Checked)

Audible is one of the most renowned audiobook and podcast streaming services to date and is compatible with a long list of devices, so when it fails to work on yours, it can be highly disappointing.

In this article, we will cover why Audible isn’t playing on your iPhone, Android, iPad, and Apple Watch, and what you can do to quickly solve the problem.

1. Why is Audible Not Playing on my iPhone?

Whether you have been using Audible for a long time on your iPhone and it no longer plays, or you have just downloaded the app and you can’t get it to play, here are the most common reasons why this may be the case and what you can do to resolve it.

Audible is not Playing because their Platform is Down

One of the first things to check is whether the problem lies with your device or on Audible’s end.

Sometimes the streaming service can run into technical issues and everyone using it will encounter issues, not just you.

If this is the case, then unfortunately, there is nothing you can do but wait it out; thankfully, services like Audible will never be down for very long.

Your Audible App is Outdated

An extremely common reason the Audible app isn’t working on your iPhone is that the current version you are running needs to be updated.

Updating your Audible app on your iPhone will help the app run much more smoothly and will ensure your audiobooks play properly.

Just take a look at these steps below and you’ll have Audible up and running in no time:

1. Begin by opening up the App Store on your iPhone.
2. Locate and tap on your profile icon in the top right.
3. Next, swipe down on your screen to make sure the available updates are all fully refreshed.
4. Scroll through and find Audible.
5. Finally, select ‘Update’.

Audible will now begin updating automatically.

It’s worth noting that if you can’t find Audible on the list of available updates, then you are running the most up-to-date version of the app.

Audible is Not Playing because it Needs to be Reinstalled

If you find that when you go to listen to your favorite audiobook on your iPhone and your experience is ruined by a faulty or malfunctioning app, it may be time to delete and reinstall Audible.

Sometimes, when you get a new app, there may be a problem with the downloading process and the app becomes corrupted in some way.

This can happen, for example, when you have an intermittent internet connection at the time of download.

Don’t worry though – deleting and reinstalling Audible is extremely straightforward; just take a look at the steps below.

Before you start, you should try and force close the app to see if this helps with your issue.

If not, then move on to follow the steps outlined here:

1. Press and hold down on the Audible icon from your iPhone’s home screen.
2. Tap on the x and choose the option to ‘delete’ on the menu that appears.
3. Now that Audible is uninstalled, simply revisit the App Store and type Audible into the search bar.
4. Next to the icon, tap ‘Get’ or the cloud icon.

Once Audible has fully downloaded just log in, and you should find that the app should be playing audiobooks just fine.

Audible is Not Playing because the Download is Corrupted

Another straightforward solution when Audible isn’t playing on your iPhone is to delete the audiobook and download it again.

Sometimes titles can become corrupted in the download process due to an intermittent internet connection or interruptions due to your device losing power.

Check out our article on reasons why Audible removes book titles.

2. Why is Audible not Playing on my Android?

Audible is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Android phones.

However, if you are encountering any issues with the playback of your titles or the operation of the Audible app then take a look below at the most common causes and solutions.

Your Audible App needs to be Updated

Similar to iOS devices, one of the first things to check when Audible isn’t playing properly on your Android device is whether you are running the most up-to-date version of the app.

Here’s how to update Audible on your Android device:

1. Begin by opening the Google Play Store.
2. Tap on your profile icon located on the top right-hand side of your screen.
3. Next, go to ‘My Apps & Games’
4. Scroll down until you find Audible.
   • If an update is available, you will be able to see it under the ‘Updates pending’ section.
5. Finally, select ‘Update’.

Audible will now automatically update. Once this is complete, try reopening the app and see if your problem has been resolved.

Your Android’s Spotify Cache is Overloaded

Another common reason Audible subscribers have problems with the platform not playing audiobooks on their Android devices is that their cache storage is full.

Audible stores temporary data in its cache folder, which is designed to aid with the smooth playback of titles, but when the cache is full, it can be a hindrance.

Follow these steps to clear Audible’s cache and data on your Android device:

1. From your device’s home screen, tap on ‘Settings’.
2. Tap on ‘Apps’.
3. Scroll through and find Audible in your list of downloaded applications.
4. Next, tap on ‘Storage’.
5. From here you can choose to ‘clear data’ to restore Audible to its default settings and clear its temporary data files.

Your Android Device Needs to be Restarted

Sometimes the tried and tested method of turning a device off and then back on again really does do the trick.

This is probably one of the quickest methods to help fix any issues you may be having on your Android with the Audible app not playing.

Simply power down your device, wait a few seconds, then power it back up again. You may find that this is all you needed to do to fix your problem with Audible or any other app for that matter.

3. Why is Audible Not Playing on my iPad?

There’s nothing worse than being fully immersed in a thrilling audiobook or podcast on Audible only to find that the app keeps crashing, glitching out, or pausing for what seems like no reason at all.

We covered why Audible may not be working on iPhones in detail above, so it’s worth reading through this first, as iPads run on the same iOS system as iPhones.

To summarise, try these solutions before continuing:

• Update your Audible app.
• Delete and re-download your audiobook.
• Reinstall Audible.

Below are also some other common causes and solutions for the Audible app not playing on your iPad.

Your iPad Needs an Update

If you find that your Audible app isn’t working on your iPad, a common reason could be that your iPad needs to be updated.

Even if you are running an updated version of Audible, if your iOS system needs updating, you may experience issues with all of your apps, not just Audible.

Thankfully updating your iPad is straightforward. It’s worth noting that Apple recommends that you back up your iPad either by using iCloud or a desktop computer.

To update your iPad, just follow these steps:

1. Begin by ensuring your iPad is plugged in and connected to WiFi.
2. Open up ‘Settings’ then tap on ‘General’
3. Tap on ‘Software update’
4. From here, you can select ‘Download and Install’ on the update that you want to do.
   • You can also choose to enable ‘Automatic Updates’ so that you don’t have to do it manually.

Once your iPad has updated, try opening the Audible app and playing an audiobook or podcast. You should find the update has definitely helped.

You Cannot Play your Audiobook because the Library Needs to be Refreshed

If you have recently purchased a new audiobook on Audible, but you can’t seem to locate it within the Audible app on your iPad, then try some of these simple solutions.

Purchases are not always instantaneous, so it’s no cause for alarm if they don’t appear to show up in your library straight away.

To refresh your Audible library on your iPad, follow these steps:

1. Open the Audible app on your iPad.
2. Navigate to your profile, then tap on the gear icon in the top right.
3. Select ‘Data & Storage’
4. Now tap ‘Refresh Library’
5. Tap on ‘Library’ located at the bottom.
6. Finally, tap ‘Titles’ then ‘All Titles’.

Once you have done this, just wait a few moments until your library is fully refreshed, and you should see your most recently purchased title visible and ready to play.

Audible is Not Playing because of the Download Format

Another reason that you may be experiencing playback issues when using the Audible app is that you need to change the format in which you are downloading titles.

To change the format to ‘download in parts’, simply follow these steps:

1. Launch Audible on your iPad.
2. Navigate to your profile, then tap the gear icon in the top right of your screen.
3. Next, tap on ‘Data & Storage’
4. Finally, under the option to ‘Download by parts’, choose either:
   • Single-part download.
   • Multi-part download.

Please also read our easy answer guide to Audible and login issues!

4. Why is Audible Not Playing on my Apple Watch?

Apple watches are great smartwatches that enable wearers to perform a variety of different things, including listening to Audible on the go.

However, if you find that you’re unable to play any of your audiobooks whilst connected to your Apple Watch, then look no further.

Before proceeding, try these simple solutions:

• Restart your Apple Watch and iPhone.
• Delete and Reinstall the Audible app.
• Delete and re-download the specific audiobooks you are having problems with.

If these don’t work in resolving your playback issues, then take a look at the solutions below to get you back listening to your audiobook in no time.

Pairing Issues Between your Apple Watch and your iPhone are Preventing Playback

If there are problems between your Apple Watch and your iPhone, then you will be unable to access and listen to any Audible audiobooks.

All you have to do is unpair your Apple watch from your iPhone and then proceed to pair them again.

To pair your Apple Watch, follow these steps:

1. Start with both devices placed near each other.
2. Once the pairing screen appears on your iPhone, select ‘Continue’.
3. Alternatively, open the Apple Watch app and choose ‘Pair New Watch’
4. Next, tap ‘Set up for Myself’
5. Position your Apple Watch, so it appears in the viewfinder on your iPhone.

Now your devices will be fully paired.

Update your iPhone, Apple Watch & Audible app

To make sure that the Audible app runs smoothly and is able to play audiobooks without any issues, it’s imperative that both your iPhone and your Apple Watch are up to date.

It’s also important to ensure you are running the most current version of the Audible app, so visit the App Store and check for any available updates.

Sources

How can I Update the Audible App

Set up and pair your Apple Watch with iPhone