A simple restart can often clear temporary software conflicts:
- Press and hold either volume button and the side button until the power slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.
- Wait a few seconds, then press the side button again to turn it back on.
2. Check for iOS and app updates
You’re on iOS 18.7.1 — ensure this is the latest version:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, install it.
- Apple occasionally includes app-level fixes (including for Books) in minor iOS releases.
3. Force close and reopen Books
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle.
- Swipe up on the Books preview to close it.
- Reopen the app and test the audiobook again.
4. Redownload the affected audiobooks
If only some audiobooks crash:
- In Books > Library, tap Edit > Delete on one of the problematic audiobooks.
- Then redownload it from your purchased items or iCloud.
- Corrupted downloads can cause playback instability.
5. Check iCloud syncing settings
Conflicts during state-saving can cause Books to quit unexpectedly:
- Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive, and make sure Books is turned on.
- If it’s already on, try turning it off, wait a minute, then turn it back on.
- This refreshes syncing between devices.
6. Free up storage space
Low storage can cause the system to terminate background processes like audiobook playback.
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Aim to keep at least 2–3 GB of free space available.
7. Reset Books app data (without deleting content)
If issues persist:
- Go to Settings > Books.
- Turn Sync Reading Now and Online Content off.
- Restart your iPhone, then turn them back on.
8. If the issue continues
It may be worth removing and reinstalling the Books app entirely:
- Touch and hold the Books app icon > Remove App > Delete App.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Reinstall Books from the App Store.
- You can then redownload your purchases from your Apple ID.
If the crashes continue even after reinstalling, it could indicate an underlying bug in the current iOS version. In that case, you should report the issue directly to Apple Support so they can log it for investigation.
Learn more about troubleshooting the Books app here:
https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/books/welcome/ios
