How to Play Audible Audiobooks on Audiobookshelf in 2025

Part 1. Why Choose Audible to Audiobookshelf?

More and more users turn to Audiobookshelf for Audible books playback due to its flexibility and ownership advantages. If you're an audiobook enthusiast, you've probably noticed Audible's limitations, especially when it comes to playback flexibility. Audible audiobooks are stored in the encrypted AA/AAX format, which prevents you from playing them freely on other players. This can be really frustrating for users who want more control over their personal audiobook libraries.

But the emergence of Audiobookshelf makes up for these shortcomings. It's an open-source media server specifically aiming to streaming and managing audiobooks across different devices. Whether you're on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone, Audiobookshelf gives you seamless access to your audiobook collection with advanced features that Audible simply doesn't offer.

Besides, Audiobookshelf features include:

✅ Speed adjustment (0.5x-3x)

✅ Resume playback from last position

✅ Built-in chapter navigation

✅ Bookmarking and progress syncing

Since the books on Audible are encrypted, so you can't upload the books from Audible to Audiobookshelf directly. You have to convert Audible audiobooks to MP3 or M4B format via some Audible tools. After such conversion, combining Audible with Audiobookshelf, by converting and uploading your Audible audiobooks, unlocks a range of benefits that enhance your listening experience in these ways:

• DRM-Free Listening: After removing DRM and converting Audible books to MP3 or M4B, you can play them freely even if you cancel your Audible subscription.
• Cross-Platform Playback: Audiobookshelf supports streaming on web browsers, Android, iOS, giving you freedom to listen on any device.
• Offline Listening: Once imported Audible books to Audiobookshelf, your books are stored locally on your server. You're no longer depend on Audible's cloud system or app availability.

For users who value full control and permanent access to their audiobooks, transitioning from Audible to Audiobookshelf is a smart choice. Up next, we'll show you one of the best Audible tools to download Audible books for Audiobookshelf playback.

Part 2. How to Convert Audible Audiobooks for Audiobookshelf

As Audiobookshelf doesn't support Audible's native AA/AAX format or DRM-protected content, the first essential step is to convert Audible audiobooks into DRM-free formats like MP3 or M4B. This ensures seamless compatibility when uploading to your Audiobookshelf library.

To solve this effectively, we recommend using a professional Audible audiobook converter such as AudFree Audible Converter, which allows you to remove DRM from Audible AA/AAX files and convert them in bulk with lossless audio quality.

AudFree Audible Converter

• Download Audible books at more than 100X faster speed
• Customize Audible output format and related audio parameters
• Split large Audible audiobooks by chapters or time duration
• Convert Audible books to MP3 or M4B that Audiobookshelf-supported formats

Download

Download

How to Convert Audible to Audiobookshelf-Supported Formats via AudFree Audible Converter

Below is a detailed guide to help you convert Audible audiobooks for Audiobookshelf playback:

Step 1Launch AudFree Audible Converter

Download and install the AudFree Audible Converter on your computer. Once installed, sign in to your Audible or Amazon account on the home screen. And if you've already bought a license, remember to activate it through the little people icon on the top.

Step 2Customize Audible Output Format for Audiobookshelf

Click on the menu icon in the upper right, then go to Preferences > Conversion. Here, you can adjust your output parameters, such as file format (MP3 or M4B), audio channel, bitrate and sample rate. You can also choose a preferred file location and keep the ID3 tags.

Note: Use M4B for chapter-based navigation, which is ideal for long novels or multi-part series. But it does not have as good of support as mp3.

Step 3Add Audible Books to Conversion List

Next, find the audiobook you'd like to listen to and click the green '+' button to bring it into the conversion list. Or if you want to add multiple books at once, just add them to your Audible library first. And then click the Library tab > + icon. All selected titles will be imported to the conversion list.

Step 4Start Converting Audible Audiobooks for Audiobookshelf

Navigate to the Conversion list at the middle on the top. You'll see a list of the audiobooks you've added before. You can also choose whether to split your audiobook files by chapter, time duration, or segment average here if needed. Now hit the Convert at the bottom right to start the process.

Once finished, you can find the converted Audible books and edit the ID3 tag on the Converted list. And you can navigate the save folder you preset to find the converted books.

Part 3. How to Upload Audible Audiobooks to Audiobookshelf

Once you've converted your Audible audiobooks into MP3 or M4B files successfully, it's time to upload them to Audiobookshelf for a flexible and DRM-free listening. Unlike Audible's cloud-limited system, Audiobookshelf lets you fully control and stream your audiobooks across all devices through a personal media server. This step is essential to make the books accessible across devices.

Please follow these steps to upload Audible books to Audiobookshelf:

Step 1. Prepare the Converted Audible Files
Make sure the converted files from AudFree Audible Converter are located in the folder you selected earlier. If you chose to split by chapter or time, your files may appear as multiple segments. You can organize or rename them before uploading the files.

Step 2. Set Up Your Audiobookshelf Server
If you haven't installed Audiobookshelf yet, you can go to Audiobookshelf.org and follow the official guide to deploy the server on your PC, NAS, or a cloud host. It supports Docker, Linux, Windows, macOS and has a mobile app.

Step 3. Upload Files to the Audiobookshelf Library Path
Depending on how you've installed Audiobookshelf (via Docker, Node.js, or native app), you'll need to move your audiobook folders to the designated media directory:

• For Docker: /audiobooks/
• For local install: the folder path you mapped during setup

You can simply copy and paste or drag your organized folders into this location.

Step 4. Scan the Library in Audiobookshelf
Log into your Audiobookshelf admin dashboard and go to Libraries > + > Scan. Audiobookshelf will now scan for new content, extract metadata, and populate your library with the newly added Audible audiobook files.

Once this process is complete, you'll be able to see your converted titles beautifully displayed with cover art, chapters, playback history, etc.

Part 4. How to Listen to Audible on Audiobookshelf (PC/Phone)

After uploading your converted Audible books to Audiobookshelf, you can now enjoy full control over your playback experience. Unlike the Audible app, Audiobookshelf gives you cross-platform audiobook playback with far more customization.

Here's how to listen to Audible books on Audiobookshelf across platforms:

Play Audible on Audiobookshelf via Web Browser (Windows/Mac/Linux):

Step 1. Open a browser on your pc and enter your Audiobookshelf server address (e.g., http://localhost:13378:80).

Step 2. Log in to your user account and navigate your library.

Step 3. Click on any title to start streaming. You can also adjust playback speed, sleep timer, and track progress.

Play Audible on Audiobookshelf via Mobile App (iOS/Android)

Step 1. Download the Audiobookshelf mobile app from the TestFlight or Google Play.

Note: For ios users, since the mobile app is not available in the Apple Store yet, it can only be downloaded through TestFlight.

Step 2. Enter your Audiobookshelf server URL and login.

Step 3. Navigate your library or filter by series, author, or recent uploads.

Step 4. Tap one of books in your library to stream online or download it for offline playback.

You'll enjoy a native audiobook player interface with smart progress syncing, offline mode, and detailed chapter support for M4B-formatted books on the Audiobookshelf mobile app.

In Summary

To play Audible audiobooks on Audiobookshelf, you need to convert them from the protected AA/AAX format to a Audiobookshelf-compatible format like MP3 or M4B. By using a powerful tool like AudFree Audible Converter, you can easily DRM-free Audible audiobooks. Once converted, it's just a matter of organizing and uploading your Audible books to the Audiobookshelf library, allowing you to stream or download them on any device via browser or mobile app.

With this setup, you're no longer tied to the Audible app or subscription. Instead, you gain permanent access to your audiobook collection, enhanced playback features, and full control over your digital library.

If you're ready to take ownership of your audiobooks and enjoy cross-platform, DRM-free listening, then moving Audible to Audiobookshelf is the best step forward.