On 22 October 2026, Amazon renamed Kindle Unlimited to Kindle+. Subscribers can now listen as well as read. Books with audio show "the headphone icon next to the Kindle+ logo".

KDP lists two ways for your audiobook to get in: an audiobook made with virtual voice, or an ACX audiobook. This post is a simple checklist for each. All KDP help pages below were checked again on 3 November 2026. None of them shows a start date or an updated date.

The lesson: everything starts with your ebook being in KDP Select.

First, the US-only rule

KDP's ACX page and its Royalties in Kindle+ page both say: "Audiobooks in Kindle+ are available for distribution in the US marketplace only at this time."

Path A: an audiobook with virtual voice

Virtual voice is still a test. KDP's audiobook royalties page opens: "At this time, this is an invite-only beta for eligible KDP eBooks." Our 13 October post on making a virtual-voice audiobook covers who can use it.

  • The matching ebook is in KDP Select. The KDP Select Enrollment page lists one requirement: "The associated eBook must be enrolled in KDP Select".
  • Then it is automatic. KDP says: "If your eBook is enrolled in KDP Select, your audiobook with virtual voice is automatically included in Kindle+ in addition to Audible Plus." There is no separate button.
  • You accept the exclusivity. "Your Kindle eBook and audiobook with virtual voice must remain exclusive through the remainder of the title's current 90-day participation period."
  • You know about renewal. "If you turn off automatic renewal of your Kindle eBook from KDP Select, your audiobook with virtual voice will be removed from Kindle+ and Audible Plus."
  • You are not planning an audio promo. Virtual voice audiobooks "are not currently eligible for Free Book Promotions and Kindle Countdown Deals".

Path B: an ACX audiobook

KDP's ACX page has a four-line table headed "Your ACX audiobook must". Tick each one.

  • "have the associated eBook Live and enrolled in KDP Select". KDP adds: "You can't enroll your ACX audiobook without your corresponding eBook."
  • "have exclusive Audible distribution". You change this in your ACX account.
  • "have Read & Listen (Whispersync for Voice) enabled". Careful here: "If you edit your eBook so that it no longer matches your audiobook, your audiobook becomes ineligible and the headphone badge is removed from the detail page."
  • "have a Pay-for-Production deal". KDP lists only this deal type, so a royalty-share title does not qualify right now. If you are still on ACX's older royalty model, see our ACX legacy royalty checklist.

If all four are ticked, go to your KDP Bookshelf and, under Audible audiobook (ACX), select "Enroll audiobook in KDP Select". Your ACX account "will link automatically to your KDP account when both accounts have the same customer ID". If not, you will be asked to sign in to ACX. KDP says enrolling an ACX audiobook "will not add any additional KDP exclusivity requirements".

Then wait: "It can take up to 24 hours for your audiobook to display the Kindle+ badge".

How listens are counted

KDP says: "You're paid for the first time a subscriber reads or listens to a given page in your book." Each page counts once, whether it was read or heard. KDP's own example: a reader reads pages 1-50, then listens to pages 51-100, and the listened pages count too. Listen to pages 1-50 again and KDP calls it "re-reading".

Your KENP report can be filtered by "Kindle+ read" and "Kindle+ listened". For ACX titles, KDP says "Audible royalties for your ACX audiobooks will continue to be found in your ACX account only."

Three steps for this week

  1. On your Bookshelf, write down which ebooks are in KDP Select.
  2. For each ACX title, check: exclusive, Read & Listen on, Pay-for-Production.
  3. After you enrol, look for the Kindle+ badge within 24 hours.