How else do you expect to hear an audiobook?
Most people don’t think about Bluetooth when they first turn on a Kindle e-reader. After all, most of what a Kindle does is fetch new books to add to its internal storage, and they can do that over Wi-Fi or a wired connection to your computer. An Internet connection lets you read Wikipedia entries, get more books, and sync progress across devices. Why then do many Kindles support Bluetooth?
Keep in mind that only Kindles released in 2016 or later have Bluetooth connectivity. This feature allows you to connect the e-reader to wireless headphones or speakers to listen to audiobooks, or simply to read text aloud, as Amazon’s newer e-readers do not have built-in speakers or headphone jacks.
Bluetooth also makes for a great accessibility feature alongside Kindle’s VoiceView, which can read text from the on-screen interface and help visually impaired users navigate menus. Here’s how to configure your Kindle to take advantage of this feature.
How do I get Bluetooth on my Kindle?
As mentioned, if your Kindle was manufactured after 2016, it will already have Bluetooth connectivity. Pairing a Bluetooth audio device with your Kindle to listen to an audiobook is pretty simple. Here’s what you should do:
- From the Home screen, tap the Library text, then tap Downloaded. This will bring up all the content on your Kindle.
- Tap the audiobook you want to listen to. Pressing Play will prompt you to pair a Bluetooth device.
- Enable pairing mode for your Bluetooth device. This might mean pressing a dedicated button or holding down a combination of buttons for a few seconds.
- On your Kindle, tap the name of the device you want to use. Once paired, the audiobook will play.
You can go back or forward, adjust the speed, and switch between chapters on the Audible screen. To change the volume, open the Quick Actions panel by tapping the down arrow at the top of the screen. If you can’t pair your regular Kindle or Paperwhite model to an audio device, try restarting it or updating it to the latest software version.
Is there a Bluetooth page turner for Kindle?
No, Kindles do not offer page turning functionality via Bluetooth. This would have been very handy for people who have trouble touching the screen or pressing device buttons on the Kindle Oasis.
If you’re wondering how third-party page turners work with Amazon’s e-readers, they attach a clip to the screen that mimics the touch of a finger using radio frequency (RF) technology. The clip is controlled by a wireless remote control. This is a nice workaround, although Amazon hasn’t attempted to offer a first-party alternative. You also can’t use Bluetooth to connect a keyboard or transfer files between your Kindle and your smartphone.
In addition to audiobooks, your Kindle can also use an audio device for its Assistive Reader text-to-speech feature that supports books obtained from the Kindle Store. Its Bluetooth functionality may not let you turn pages right now, but it’s still useful when you want to listen to an audiobook on Audible or have it read a book for you.
