Amazon has rolled out a new software update for its Kindle range of e-reader devices. Interestingly, the latest software update, version 5.18.4.0.1, has brought back features that briefly appeared and then disappeared with the previous 5.18.4 release. The update, as has been the case for a while now, is applicable to the 11th and 12th-generation Kindle models, along with the Kindle Scribe and Kindle Colorsoft.
Assistive Reader is Back
One of the biggest highlights of the latest update is the return of the Assistive Reader. The feature, however, will only work with those titles that have enhanced typesetting enabled. It allows supported Kindle books to be read aloud using a synthetic voice. A nice thing here is that the particular word that is spoken also gets underlined in real-time. This makes it easier for the reader to follow along.
To enable Assistive Reader:
- Open a book and tap the Aa menu.
- Select More. The feature should be there, right at the top.
- Connect Bluetooth headphones or speakers and start listening.
There is going to be a small speaker icon shown at the bottom of the page layout once the feature has been activated. Tap on it for quick access to the playback controls.
The Assistive Reader feature was first introduced in 2024 on the Kindle app for iOS. The 5.18.4 update included Assistive Reader and marked the first time the feature was introduced to the Kindle e-reader. Intriguingly, the feature was abruptly disabled on Kindle e-readers within just days after its July debut. With this update, it’s officially back and functional once again. Currently, it supports multiple languages, which include English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian.
However, it is worth noting that Amazon has yet to officially document the feature in its release notes. The same happened with the previous update as well. That leaves the feature vulnerable to being remotely disabled by Amazon at any time. It was previously removed as it was suspected of having bugs. To avoid this risk, you might consider switching on airplane mode once you have installed the latest update to prevent Amazon from disabling the feature.
Larger Font Accessibility
Another improvement the latest update brings along is the introduction of an extra-large font size. This applies to any text across the Kindle interface. This shouldn’t be confused with the regular book font adjustment setting, which applies to only the text within the book. Rather, the new, larger font accessibility feature applies globally to the device. That includes the menus, the Kindle Store, along with every other UI element. All texts are going to be displayed in the oversized text.
The setting can be found under:
- Accessibility settings, or
- Screen and Brightness settings.
This should be of a lot of help to those readers who suffer from vision impairments. That said, some users may find the new text size a bit too large in the absence of any intermediate options.
Page View Layout Update
Alongside Assistive Reader and font adjustments, the latest update brings back the new page view layout as well. This update subtly reshapes how menus and reading controls are presented, with easier access to newly introduced accessibility features.
Device Support and Availability
The update, as already stated, is rolling out to the 11th and 12th gen Kindle devices, along with the Kindle Scribe and Kindle Colorsoft. As always, the update is available to download and install manually from the Kindle Software Update page. Or you can simply wait for the update to arrive on your device automatically, provided it is connected to Wi-Fi. This, however, can sometimes take weeks depending on the region where you reside.
