Purchased Audiobooks Not Showing on iPhone? How to Fix It

Audiobooks are accessible from the Books app on iPhone in iOS 13. You can also listen to them on your Apple Watch. However, if your purchased audiobooks are not showing on your iPhone or iPad, you can fix it with the solutions in this post. It is not certain why this issue happens in the first place but let’s see what to do about it.

#1. Ensure Audiobook is Not Hidden

The first step is to make sure that the audiobook isn’t hidden. And if it is hidden, here is how to unhide it so that you can listen to it again.

Step #1. Open the Books app on your iPhone.

Step #2. Tap on Reading Now from the bottom row.

Step #3. Tap on your profile picture → Manage Hidden Purchases.

Open Books App Tap on Profile and Then Tap on Manage Hidden Purchases

Step #4. Tap on Unhide next to the item you want to unhide.

#2. Check System Status

It is rare but quite possible that temporarily Apple servers are not working. And thus, you are unable to download audiobooks. To check this, go to the Apple System Status page and see that App Store, Apple ID, and iTunes Store are available.

Check Server Status of App Store, Apple ID, and iTunes Store

#3. Force Quit Books App

  • On iPhone with no home button: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold.
  • On iPhone with home button: Double press the home button.

Now, drag the Books app card up to force close it. After a few seconds, relaunch the app and try downloading the audiobook.

In addition to this, you may also quit all open apps using the same method and then open the Books app.

#4. Restart Your iPhone

Open the Settings app → Tap on General, and then tap on Shut Down.

Shutdown iPhone

Once you switch on your iPhone after a minute, this audiobook issue will most likely be solved.

#5. Turn On/Off iCloud Drive Sync

Step #1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step #2. Scroll down and tap on Books.

Open Settings and Tap on Books App

Step #3. Turn off the toggle for Reading Now and iCloud Drive.

Turn Off iCloud Drive Sync on iPhone

#6. Sign Out of Apple ID and Sign In Again

Step #1. Open the Books app on your iPhone.

Step #2. Tap on Reading Now.

Step #3. Tap on your profile picture → Tap on Sign Out from the end.

Sign Out from Books App on iPhone

Step #4. After a few seconds tap the sign-in picture (where your profile picture was in step 3).

Step #5. Tap on Use Existing Apple ID from the pop-up. Enter your Apple ID and password.

#7. Reset All Settings

Step #1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on General.

Step #2. Tap on Reset.

Open Settings Tap on General and Then Tap on Reset on iPhone

Step #3. Tap on Reset All Settings.

Step #4. Enter your iPhone’s passcode and confirm.

Reset All Settings on iPhone in iOS 13

Finally, if nothing helps, you may have to factory reset your iPhone. For this, follow the same steps as above and tap Erase All Content and Settings.

Erase All Content and Settings to Factory Reset your iPhone

Summing Up

These were the possible solutions to fix the issue of purchased or downloaded audiobooks not showing on iPhone or iPad. Also, do make sure that you are using the same Apple ID, currently on your device, that you initially used to purchase the audiobook. All purchases, be it movies, music, books, audiobooks, etc. are tied to your Apple ID and not the device. Any other questions? Let us know in the comments below.

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