"I enjoy listening to Audible audiobooks when I am running because it lets me acquire knowledge easily. And I just bought a Fitbit Versa smartwatch to replace my old iPod. Anyone has ideas on how to play Audible audiobooks on Fitbit Versa?"— From the Fitbit forum
Audiobooks are a great way to stay motivated during workouts, which is why many runners choose Fitbit smartwatches to leave their bulky phones behind. However, due to Fitbit's closed ecosystem and limited third-party support, Audible is not available directly on the device. Fortunately, there are still practical methods that make it possible to listen to Audible audiobooks on Fitbit.
Part 1. Is There an Official Audible App for Fitbit
No. Fitbit does not offer an official Audible app for its wearable devices.
In fact, the broader audio ecosystem on Fitbit smartwatches has become highly restricted. Recent Fitbit models do not support on-device music storage or third-party streaming apps at all. Major streaming services like Audible and Apple Music are not supported, and it even ended its existing support for Pandora and Deezer in early 2023.
Even previous local workarounds have been completely shut down. In the past, you could bypass this limitation by transferring downloaded audio files directly to your watch's local storage. However, Fitbit officially removed the local music transfer feature and discontinued the Fitbit Connect app in late 2022. This means you can no longer store audiobook files directly on your Fitbit Versa or Sense devices.
Part 2. Workarounds to Play Audiobooks on Your Fitbit
While Fitbit's restrictive ecosystem may seem limiting, you can still enjoy your favorite audiobooks using a simple Bluetooth workaround and an audio conversion tool. Although Fitbit models no longer support local audio storage, you can pair your watch with your smartphone and control playback directly from your wrist. By keeping your devices connected, you can still listen to your Audible library conveniently.
Control Audible on Fitbit via Bluetooth
The most reliable way to enjoy your audiobooks is to use your Fitbit as a remote control for your smartphone. This method works perfectly for modern devices like the Versa 3, Versa 4, and Fitbit Sense. Your phone will handle the actual audio playback, while your watch allows you to manage the experience right from your wrist.
Note:
Before setting up Bluetooth controls, it is important to check if your specific model supports this feature. While most legacy Fitbits work perfectly as remote controls, Google has notably removed these capabilities from several newer releases. This Bluetooth workaround is not available on the following models: Fitbit Sense 2, Fitbit Versa 4, Fitbit Versa Lite Edition.
Step 1. Connect your Fitbit to Your Smartphone: Open the Fitbit app, tap the devices icon, and select "Add Device" to pair your watch. Ensure your phone's Bluetooth is turned on. And you may need to enable "Bluetooth Classic" in the settings on Android.
Step 2. Access the Music Controls on Your Watch: The navigation gesture varies depending on your device’s hardware and software version. Most Fitbit models utilize one of the following three methods:
- Shortcut: Quickly double-press the side button or swipe right from the clock face to view your shortcuts, then tap the "Music" icon.
- Control Center: Swipe down from the top of the clock face to open your notifications, then swipe down again to access the Control Center. From there, tap the "Music Controls" icon.
- The Physical Button: If your device has multiple physical buttons, press and hold the Back (Left) button for about two seconds. This will immediately bring up the music control overlay regardless of what app you are currently in.
Step 3. Select Your Audio Source on Fitbit: On the watch's music screen, tap the small source icon (often represented by three dots or a device symbol) and ensure it is set to "Mobile" or shows a phone icon. This tells your Fitbit to control the connected smartphone rather than searching for local files.
Step 4. Manage the Audiobook from Your Fitbit: Launch the Audible app on your phone, then select the audiobook you want to listen to. You can now leave your phone in your pocket. Use your Fitbit screen to pause, resume, skip forward or backward, and adjust the volume on the go.
Bonus Tips: Convert Audible for Smooth Offline Listening
If you want to avoid Audible's background playback interruptions, creating a DRM-free backup is the most reliable solution. Converting your Audible books into standard audio files lets you play them through your phone's native music player and control playback smoothly from your Fitbit. Tools like DRmare Audible Converter can convert AA and AAX files to common formats while preserving original audio quality, ensuring more stable and uninterrupted listening during workouts.
Step 1. Launch the DRmare Audible Converter and log in via the built-in web player. Browse your library and simply tap the "Add" and "Add to List" button on any audiobook to move it into your download queue.
Step 2. Navigate to "Preferences > Conversion" within the menu. Select MP3 as your output format to ensure maximum compatibility with all smartphone music players. You can also use the "Split" icon here to break long audiobooks into smaller chapters.
Step 3. Click the "Convert" button to begin the process. It will efficiently strip the DRM protection from Audible and save the files to your computer at 100X speed. Once finished, transfer these audio files to your phone to enjoy uninterrupted listening that you can control right from your wrist.
Part 3. FAQs about Audible on Fitbit
Can I skip specific chapters using my Fitbit?
Yes. When your Fitbit is correctly synced as a remote control, you can navigate your audiobook right from your wrist. Tapping the "Skip Forward" or "Skip Backward" icons on your watch screen will typically jump to the next or previous chapter markers within the Audible app.
Why isn't control feature working on my Fitbit device?
This is usually due to one of two reasons. First, ensure your Audio Source is set to "Mobile" or "Phone" rather than "Watch" in your device's music settings. Second, check your model's compatibility. Google has officially removed the Music Control feature from newer models, including the Fitbit Sense 2, Versa 4, and Versa Lite. If you have one of these devices, the hardware simply does not support this function.
Can I download Audible books directly to my Fitbit for phone-free listening?
No. Modern Fitbit devices, including the Sense 2 and Versa 4, no longer support local music storage. There is no internal space allocated for user-transferred audio files. To enjoy Audible on these devices, you must keep your phone nearby and use your watch as a controller, or convert your books with DRmare to play them through more stable native mobile apps.
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