How to play downloaded audiobooks on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

1. Find the book and keep its parts together

Use accessible audio files in Files, Finder, or iCloud Drive. Protected downloads inside another service need its supported player.

On iPhone or iPad, look in Files › Downloads, On My iPhone, On My iPad, or iCloud Drive. On Mac, use Finder. Keep each book in its own folder, for example:

• Audiobooks/Author/Book title/Book title.m4b
• Audiobooks/Author/Book title/01 - Opening.mp3
• Audiobooks/Author/Book title/02 - The journey.mp3

There is no need to convert a working MP3 book to M4B. See MP3 and M4B audiobooks for parts, chapter markers, and file ordering.

2. Add the audiobook folder

• iPhone or iPad: open Settings › Library › Add folder, then select the folder through Files.
• Mac: open Audely › Settings › Library › Add folder, then select the folder.

Choose Audiobooks for a book-only folder. For a mixed folder, choose Audiobooks and podcasts, then mark the audiobook files. Unselected audio in that mixed-folder review is treated as podcasts.

Audely scans the folder and its subfolders without moving or rewriting your audio. If the files are still on another device, follow the Files transfer guide first.

3. Review the book and start listening

Open Library › Audiobooks › Books. Check the title, artwork, and part order. A single M4B can be one part with many embedded chapters. A folder of MP3s may become several ordered parts.

Use Book settings or Part settings for corrections. These change Audely’s library, not the original files. See Edit details for the full workflow, including Mac bulk editing.

Audely remembers your part and position across the complete book. Playback speed, chapters, a sleep timer, notes, and queueing are available with the unrestricted free local library.

4. Check offline playback before travelling

An iCloud Drive item may still be a placeholder. Download every part to the listening device, then test the beginning and a later part while offline.

Each device needs its own folder permission. Audely Pro sync carries supported library data and listening progress, not the source audio. See the Mac guide or iPhone and iPad overview for device-specific details.

Add or remove books later

Put new audio in the linked folder, then choose Scan folder from its options on iPhone or iPad, or Scan all folders on Mac.

Removing a book from Audely preserves the source audio and excludes it from later scans. Choose Allow reimport in Folder information to bring it back. Actual file deletion is a separate action in Files or Finder.

Still choosing a player? Compare apps for downloaded audiobooks. Still choosing a source? Compare stores with downloadable files.