GoKawiilKaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Audible is one of the easiest media apps to use, which is probably why so many users never dig much deeper into it. For most people, it really is as simple as purchasing a book and pressing play. Yet after years of using the app, I’ve learned to tailor the experience quite a bit.
I rely on Audible for everything from long walks to laundry, and it’s my go-to fix for the occasional bout of insomnia. Over time, I’ve settled into a handful of settings and features I now adjust before starting almost any audiobook. None of them dramatically change the app, but they do make listening smoother and occasionally enforce more self-control than I’m capable of on my own.
What Audible features do you use? 37 votes Standard timers 16 % End of Chapter timer 14 % Variable playback speed 11 % Page sync 8 % Car Mode 8 % Clipping 5 % Custom player settings 5 % Audible Plus catalog 0 % I mostly just hit play. 32 %
1. Timers
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
If you regularly listen to audiobooks at night, Audible’s Timer function is one of the app’s most useful features, and it lives directly on the playback screen. I usually estimate how long I think I’ll realistically stay awake, then overshoot it by about 15 minutes. That buffer gives me enough time to actually fall asleep, but prevents me from waking up six chapters ahead. I usually still need to rewind a bit at the start of the next listen, but it’s much faster to find my place. In the settings menu, you can also enable the Shake to Extend, which lets you add more time by shaking your phone instead of fumbling around the playback screen. If you shake too aggressively and accidentally launch your phone onto the hardwood floor, however, it may wake and startle your partner. I’ve heard.
2. End of Chapter
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
While Audible’s standard timer is great for bedtime listening, I specifically use the End of Chapter option during the day. Instead of stopping after a set amount of time, Audible waits until the current chapter finishes before ending playback. For me, it’s basically a discipline hack for when I know I’ll want to keep listening while also acknowledging that I do, unfortunately, have other things to do. If I’m cleaning, End of Chapter gives me a firm but satisfying stopping point, and it cuts me off before I find myself sitting on the couch with headphones still in, doing absolutely nothing else.
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