I have premium. I want to listen to an audiobook, but it is locked.

[#1]

🤷‍♀️

[Billy-J · Accepted solution]

Hey there!

Happy to help. Not all audiobooks are available under the 15 hour listening limit for Premium subscribers. There’s more information on audiobooks here.

If you find an audiobook that you like and is locked, you can purchase it following these steps.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

[KL38]

I have a premium individual account. For some reason, the app goes through brief flashes where I’m able to listen to audiobooks, and then suddenly takes away all access. I listened to an audiobook recently, but when I opened the app that same night, it was locked. My listening time is less than 5 minutes, and it was the only book I had listened to all month. All the audiobooks disappear from the playlists as well. Is this a glitch?

[Richardrkc]

I just finished a book and want to start another but it's locked. I have plenty of playing time left.

[#5]

As above. Monthly free audiobook listening shows 7 hours left.

[ABbond]

The same - I was listening to an audio book and waited the days for the next month and the next release of 15 hours and now it is locked? Please advise Spotify? I am the primary user - I had access and now it is locked - it doesnt give the normal message to say I have used my hours??

[Eni]

Hey there @ABbond, 

Thanks for getting in touch about this and welcome to the Community! 

Keep in mind that the availability of free audiobooks can vary over time, so that's probably why you could listen to the book in the past and now it shows as not available.

In this case, if the audiobook has the lock icon, you should still be able to purchase it. For more info, take a look at this article.

Hope this clears things up. If you need a hand with anything else, the Community is here for you. 

[PremiumListener]

So what I am understanding, Eni, is that what was once included as the account holder in Spotify Premium Plans can be taken away as a bait-and-switch. Essentially, you begin listening to an audiobook or language app such as Pimsleur Italian, and then it gets locked on you at some point before your monthly allotment is used up (potentially). Then, you must pay an additional $119 to get Pimsleur (Italian), which Spotify offers in your Premium Plan. It makes it challenging to begin an unlocked version that potentially may be locked at any point once beginning an audiobook. Unfortunately, I returned to start my language app this morning, and Spotify locked it. I will need to go to Hoopla and Libby for audiobooks, as they are free apps available through online public libraries. Thank you for the link, as it was both confusing and frustrating to find out why it suddenly became locked. 

[totalhack]

Having the same issue here. On a family plan with premium, haven't used any audiobook time. My wife can listen to the book but it shows up as locked for me. 

[Elena]

Hey @totalhack,

Welcome to the Community.

It sounds like your wife is the owner of your Family plan and this is why she is the one who is able to see the free audiobooks in Premium. 

Keep in mind that plan members don't have access to audiobook listening time and currently it’s also not possible for the plan owner to share audiobooks listening time with the plan members. We’ll be exploring ways for Family and Duo subscribers to have more flexibility from their audiobooks access in the future.

Hope this info helps!

[#11]

I have been trying to use the audio book feature through the app and it says I have to purchase that feature however i already have a premium plan

[#12]

I have a premium subscription and have not used any audiobook hours. Why am I being prompted to purchase an audiobook in order to unlock and play it? I am signed in fully.

Thank you,
Brianne

[ruthiejean]

I want to play my first audiobook, I'm a premium family manager and it says it's locked and I have to buy it. The book is only 8 hours and 27 minutes.