Help

Everything about using Lyvren, the free text-to-speech reader: keyboard shortcuts, reading comfort and presets, saving audio, installing it as an app, and what to do if something goes wrong.

Is Lyvren really free?

Yes. There are no ads, no accounts and nothing to pay. Lyvren is kept going by people who choose to donate.

Does my text go anywhere?

No. The voice runs on your computer, and your texts are stored only in your browser. The Privacy page lists every connection Lyvren makes.

Why does the voice take a while the first time?

Lyvren downloads its voice once (between about 90 and 330 MB, depending on your computer). After that it starts in a few seconds.

Does Lyvren work without the internet?

Yes, once you’ve visited. Lyvren keeps itself on your computer, and keeps each part (the voice, word lists, sounds) the first time you use it. Web pages need the internet to open, of course.

Which browser works best?

Chrome or Edge on a computer: they have every feature, and their graphics-chip support makes the voice fastest. Firefox and Safari work too, with a few features missing.

A PDF reads nothing, or reads nonsense. Why?

Some PDFs are pictures of pages, with no text inside. Lyvren recognises the text in those pages by itself; that takes a little while, works best on clear printed pages, and is worth checking by eye.

Can I save what Lyvren reads?

Yes: press “Download audio” in the reader to save a text, chapter or selection, or to turn a book into an audiobook with one file per chapter.

Where are my texts if I use another computer?

Each computer keeps its own bookshelf. Use “Back up bookshelf” on the Bookshelf, then “Restore from a backup…” on the other computer.