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Listen to audiobooks on your Google Nest speaker or display

You can listen to audiobooks from Google Play Books on your Google Nest or Home speaker or display.

Step 1. Buy and download audiobooks

You can explore and buy available audiobooks to listen to on your speaker or display.

  1. Open the Google Play Books App Play Books.
  2. Tap Shop and then search for an audiobook.
  3. To learn more about an audiobook, tap the cover image.
  4. To buy the audiobook, tap the price and then Buy 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 Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play Books app Play Books.
  2. At the top left, tap Menu Menu and then Settings and then Download over Wi-Fi only.

Listen to a sample and buy

If you don't own an audiobook yet, you can play a sample on your speaker or display. At the end of the sample, you'll have the option to buy it.

  1. Set up a payment method if you haven't already.
  2. To start the sample, say "Read [audiobook title].”
  3. At the end of the sample, Google Assistant will ask if you want to buy the audiobook.
  4. To buy the book, say "Yes" and then Google Assistant will help you complete your purchase.

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.

To do this: Say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google,"then:
Continue to play most recently listened to audiobook "Read my book”
Request an audiobook from your Library "Read [audiobook title]"
Pause "Pause"
Resume "Resume" or "Continue"
Stop "Stop"
Skip ahead "Skip [amount of time]"
Skip back "Go back [amount of time]"
Play previous chapter "Previous chapter"
Play next chapter "Next chapter"
Change the playback speed "Play at 2x speed"
"Play slower"
"Play twice as fast"
"Play at half the speed"
How much time is left in the book "How much time is left?"
Find out the author "Who wrote this?"
Control volume "Louder"
"Set volume to 40%"
Play audiobooks on devices linked with Chromecast "Read my book on living room TV"
"Read [audiobook title] on Chromecast”

Other ways to control audiobooks

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

From the Google Nest or Home 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 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.

Googel Nest Mini 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.

Google Nest Mini center tap

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%.

Google Nest Mini volume up

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 Nest Mini volume down

Google Home Mini 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 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 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

Nest Wifi point 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. Nest Wifi center tap

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%.

Nest Wifi point volume up

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
Nest Wifi point volume down

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 and then tap Media.
    • Note: If the screen shows the media that's playing, you can 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.

Volume up

Turn down the volume

Press the side button that's farthest from the power button.

Volume down

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.

From the Google Home app

  1. Make sure your mobile device or tablet is linked to the same account as your speaker or display.
  2. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  3. Tap Favorites .
  4. Tap the current media session for:
    • Playback controls
    • Volume control (media and Google Assistant)
    • Playback device selection

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:

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

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