- Kindle update 5.18.4.01 reintroduces Assistive Reader with synced text-to-speech.
- The update is currently available for 11th and 12th-gen Kindles, Kindle Colorsoft, and Kindle Scribe.
- Recent updates include a large font option and improved menu design.
Amazon rolled out firmware version 5.18.4.0.1 for its 11th and 12th‑generation Kindle e‑readers, along with the Kindle Colorsoft and Kindle Scribe, bringing a welcome boost in accessibility and a few interface refinements. The headline feature is the return of Assistive Reader, Kindle’s fresh approach to text-to-speech. The tool had been quietly disabled after first landing in the July update 5.18.4, suggesting that Amazon may be remotely toggling the tool as it works out bugs.
With the latest update, though, Assistive Reader is back for many users. Like previous TTS technology, the tool reads aloud, but now underlines the spoken text, offering a more intuitive experience. It also features support for English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. Assistive Reader is accessible via the Aa menu More tab, and readers simply tap the play button to begin.