Asteroid

How to use Asteroid

Online manual — easier to keep up to date than the in-app Getting Started text. Last updated: July 16, 2026

1. Set up your library

Asteroid plays audiobooks you already own. Your audio files stay in a cloud folder you choose (for example Dropbox or OneDrive). The app downloads what you need to the device for listening.

  1. Open Settings → Data location.
  2. Pick a cloud data provider and sign in.
  3. Choose the folder that contains your audiobooks (or shelves of books).
  4. You can turn on more than one provider and add more than one folder.

Asteroid does not run its own servers. Library files live in your cloud account and on your device cache.

2. Index, scan, and resolve

After you add a library folder, Asteroid runs three steps:

  1. Index — finds folders and audio files.
  2. Scan — reads book folders and embedded tags.
  3. Resolve — matches title/author (for example via Open Library) for covers and descriptions.

Large libraries take time. Watch progress under Status (cloud icon in the top bar). You can pause background work from Status or the notification when needed.

3. Browse your books

The main library screen uses tabs such as Latest Played, Shelf, Author, Series, and Finished. The mini-player at the bottom stays available while you browse.

Browse tab Latest Played showing a grid of book covers
Latest Played — books you have been listening to, most recent first. Finished books can stay on this list.
Browse tab Shelf with colored shelf tiles
Shelf — folders directly under your library root (for example Classic Novels, Fiction Classics).
Browse tab Author with circular author portraits
Author — jump to books by author. Tap a portrait to open that author's books.

Top-bar icons (typical layout): library / bookmarks / listening history / status / search / audio output / settings. Exact icons can vary slightly by screen.

4. Play a book

Tap a cover to open book details. Use the large play control on the cover to start or resume.

Book details for Alice in Wonderland with large play button
Book details — cover, author, rating when available, short description, and play.

The first track may download before audio starts. A wait indicator can appear on play while the file is prepared. Progress and downloads continue in Status.

5. Now playing controls

The full player shows title, author, cover, overall progress, and track position. Use skip chapter, ±10 seconds, sleep timer, bookmark, and speed from the control panel.

Now playing screen for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Now playing — scrub the book timeline carefully; chapter skips and bookmarks are also here.

6. Listening history (safety net)

Open the history (clock) icon to see recent listening positions for the current book. If you jump ahead by mistake or lose your place, pick a session and tap Restore this position.

Listening History with restore position button
Listening History — "Where you listened". Fine-tune with ±1m / ±10m before restoring.

7. Folder and file naming tips

Best results usually come from:

Preferred formats: MP3 and M4B.

8. More help