Listen to audiobooks on your Google Nest speaker or display or Google streaming device

You can listen to audiobooks from Google Play Books & Audiobooks on your Google Nest, Home speaker or display, or Google streaming device.

Step 1. Buy and download audiobooks

You can purchase audiobooks from the Google Play Books website and sync your purchases to the Google Play Books & Audiobooks app. Note: You can't buy audiobooks directly from the Google Play Books app on iPhone or iPad.

Buy an audiobook from the Google Play website

1. On your iPhone’s mobile browser, open play.google.com/store/books.
2. Sign in to the same Google Account as the one you have on your Google Books & Audiobooks App .
3. Search for an audiobook or browse recommendations.
   • To learn more about an audiobook, tap the cover image.
   • To buy the audiobook, tap the price Buy.
   • To listen to a sample, tap Play Sample.
4. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Play Books & Audiobooks App .
5. Tap Library find your audiobook.

Download using Wi-Fi only

To avoid data charges, you can download audiobooks using Wi-Fi only. To turn this feature on or off:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Google Play Books.
3. Turn the "Cellular data" option on or off.

Step 2. Use your voice to control audiobooks

Make sure you're signed in to the same Google Account you used to buy audiobooks from Google Play.

Other ways to control audiobooks

When an audiobook is playing, you can control it from your speaker, display, Google streaming device, or the Google Home app.

From the Google Nest, Home, or Google streaming device

Google Home and Nest Speakers

Important: Speaker touch controls change the volume of media and Google Assistant only. To change the volume of alarms and timers, use the Google Home app or the Quick settings menu on a Nest display.

Google Home

To do this:	Touch Google Home like this:	Image
Turn up the volume	Swipe clockwise on the top.
Turn down the volume	Swipe counterclockwise on the top. Note: When the volume is set to 0: Media is muted Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume
Start your request	Press and hold on the top.

Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)

Note: The Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) has a wall mount screw slot on the back. If your device doesn’t have a wall mount screw slot, it's a Google Home Mini (1st gen).

To reverse right and left controls, open the Google Home app Tap Favorites or Devices . touch and hold your Nest Mini's tile. Tap Settings Audio Reverse device controls.

To do this:	Touch Google Nest Mini like this:	Image
Pause, resume, or stop media	Tap the center of the Nest Mini.
Turn up the volume	Tap the right side of the Nest Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%.
Turn down the volume	Tap the left side of the Nest Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. Note: When the volume is set to 0: Media is muted Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume

Google Home Mini (1st gen)

To do this:	Touch Google Home Mini like this:	Image
Pause, resume, or stop media	Press and hold either side of the Home Mini.
Turn up the volume	Tap the right side of the Home Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%.
Turn down the volume	Press and hold the left side of the Home Mini. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. Note: When the volume is set to 0: Media is muted Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume

Google Home Max

To do this:	Touch Google Home Max like this:	Image
Pause, resume, or stop media	Horizontal placement: Tap the line on the top. Vertical placement: Tap the line on the right side.
Turn up the volume	Horizontal placement: Swipe from left to right along the line on the top. Vertical placement: Swipe up along the line on the right side.
Turn down the volume	Horizontal placement: Swipe from right to left along the line on the top. Vertical placement: Swipe down along the line on the right side. Note: When the volume is set to 0: Media is muted Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume

Google Nest Audio

To do this:	Touch Google Nest Audio like this:	Image
Pause, resume, or stop media	Tap the center of the Nest Audio.
Turn up the volume	Tap the right side of the Nest Audio. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 5%.
Turn down the volume	Tap the left side of the Nest Audio. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 5%. Note: When the volume is set to 0: Media is muted Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume

Google Nest Wifi point

To do this:	Touch Nest Wifi point like this:	Image
Pause, resume, or stop media	Tap the center of the Nest Wifi point.
Turn up the volume	Tap the right side of the Nest Wifi point. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%.
Turn down the volume	Tap the left side of the Nest Wifi point. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each tap changes the volume by 10%. Note: When the volume is set to 0: Media is muted Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume

Google Nest displays

Important: To control the volume of alarms and timers, use the Quick settings menu. The volume button and media card adjust the volume of media and Google Assistant only.

Use the media card to pause, resume, play the previous or next song, or change the devices that are playing media.

Volume button

To do this:	Touch Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max like this:	Image
Turn up the volume	On the back of the Nest display, press the upper volume button. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each press changes the volume by 5%.
Turn down the volume	On the back of the Nest display, press the lower volume button. The volume ranges from 0-100%. Each press changes the volume by 5%. Note: When the volume is set to 0: Media is muted Google Assistant speaks at 5% volume

Quick settings menu

1. To open the Quick settings menu, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap Volume .
   • Use the main volume control slider for media and Google Assistant.
   • If needed, tap Expand  to open the volume control slider for timers and alarms .
3. To change the volume, swipe the slider left or right.

Media card

1. To find the media card, swipe down from the top tap Media.
   • Note: If the screen shows the media that's playing, tap the screen instead.
2. Use the controls on the card to pause, resume, or play the previous or next song.
3. To open more controls, tap [display name] . You’ll get a list of available devices and a volume control slider for each device that’s currently playing.
   • To start or stop playing media on a device, tap the radio button next to its name.
   • To change the volume on an active device, swipe its slider left or right.

Google Pixel Tablet (Hub Mode)

When you change the volume on your Pixel Tablet while it's docked, the volume on the speaker dock will also change.

Volume button

To do this:	Touch Google Pixel Tablet like this:
Turn up the volume	Press the side button closest to the power button.
Turn down the volume	Press the side button that's farthest from the power button.

Media widget

When media is playing in Hub Mode, you can control playback on your lock and Home screens by touch. A media widget will automatically appear with buttons to control what's playing

Some media apps have widgets you can add to your Home screen for easy touch control. Place the widget on your Home screen, then tap the widget to control the volume, pause playback, skip or change songs or podcasts, change the radio station, and more.

Voice Match and audiobooks

If you've set up Voice Match, you can listen to the audiobooks you've bought. Guests or housemates can listen to audiobooks purchased by the first person who set up Voice Match. Learn more about Voice Match and media.

You can also use Family Library on Play to share audiobooks across family members. To allow others in your household to listen to your audiobooks, set up Family Library. Anyone who's set up Voice Match can listen to shared purchases in the Family Library.

Listen to audiobooks from other providers

Start an audiobook from any provider on your computer or mobile device, and then play it remotely on your speaker or display. Depending on your device and content provider, try one of the following options for remote play:

• Play media from Google Cast-enabled apps
• Cast media from Chrome to your Google Nest speaker or display
• Play Android audio on Google Nest or Home devices
• Play media on your Google Nest speaker or display using Bluetooth

To control your audiobook, use the provider's app or webpage. You can also use voice commands to change the volume on your speaker or display.

Related articles

• Control volume of Google Nest speakers and displays
• Listen to music on Google Nest speakers and displays
• Set and manage sleep timers on your Google Nest speaker or display
• Voice Match and media on shared Google Nest or Home devices