Beginning July 2026, select Norton ebook titles will include Listen, a native, read aloud feature that lets you listen to your ebook content without requiring a separate browser extension.
Listen is being introduced gradually and is currently available only in select ebook titles.
How do I know if my ebook includes Listen?
If Listen is available for your ebook, the Listen icon appears in the upper-right corner when you open an ebook chapter.
For titles that do not yet include Listen, Norton Ebooks and the Norton Ebook Reader continue to fully support third-party text-to-speech tools. Additional information can be found here.
How to Use Listen Read Aloud
To take a guided tour of the Listen feature, click here.
To begin reading at the top of the ebook page, click on the Listen icon in the top right corner.
Click Play to start audio narration.
The audio narration will read from the beginning of the current page and the Listen toolbar will hover in the top right corner of the ebook. The Read Along feature will highlight the text in sync with the audio.
How to Use Listen with Selected Text
Highlight a section of text and click on Listen from Here in the menu that appears.
The audio narration will begin reading the selected section and the Listen toolbar will hover in the top right corner of the ebook. The Read Along feature will highlight the text in sync with the audio.
Use the playback controls to manage audio:
Select Pause to stop audio
Select Back to replay the previous narrated sentence
Select Forward to skip to the next sentence.
Listen Settings and Tools
- Hide – Select Hide to close the Listen menu. Audio continues to play unless Pause is selected.
- Back – Select Back to replay the previous sentence.
- Play – When audio is paused, select Play to resume audio narration.
- Forward – Select Forward to skip ahead to the next sentence.
- Settings – Select Settings to adjust audio options, including playback speed, volume, highlighted text while reading aloud (on/off) and autoscroll (on/off). Back and Forward behavior can also be adjusted to move by sentence or by 10 seconds.
Can you pause Listen to take a break and resume later?
Yes. You can pause Listen and resume playback at any time.
However, if the browser tab is closed, refreshed, or reopened, your previous position may not be retained.
Will Listen audio continue in the background so I can listen while multitasking?
Yes. Listen audio continues playing in the background, allowing you to multitask while listening.
Can I create notes, highlights, or Instructor content while Listen is active?
Yes. Notes, highlights, and Instructor content can be created while Listen is playing.
Will Listen be available in demo mode, trial access, and offline reading?
Demo Mode and Trial Access:
Listen is available in demo mode and trial access where supported by the ebook title.
Offline Mode:
Listen is not available in offline reading mode for non-Illumine ebooks (July 2026 release). If selected while offline, a message appears indicating that Listen is unavailable when offline.
Is Listen available when completing Illumine activities?
No. Listen does not read the content of Norton Illumine ebook activities.
Students will still be alerted to assignable content while using Listen.
Instead of reading activity content, Listen announces activities in the following format:
- Check Your Understanding (CYU): “Check Your Understanding: <##> of <##>”
- Interactive Activity: “Interactive Activity: <Interactive title>”
- Writing Activity: “Chapter <#>: Writing Activity”
Are Listen features and controls compatible with screen readers?
Yes. Listen audio player controls and settings can be navigated using keyboard and screen reader tools.
While Listen is not a screen reader itself, it is designed to be accessible and usable with assistive technologies.
Are there any known issues with blocked cookies or browser settings?
No. There are currently no known issues with Listen when cookies are blocked or when users apply custom browser settings. Users can manage privacy and browser settings without impacting read-aloud functionality.
Is Listen more compatible with one browser than others?
Listen is supported across all modern browsers. However, Chrome is recommended for the most consistent experience. Some inconsistencies have been observed in Safari.
Submit a Support Request
Still need help? Submit a support ticket and a customer support specialist will be happy to assist you.
Opened a request already? Click here for an update.