Two different jobs share the word reading
When you tap Listen, the app may be generating new speech, playing completed audio, or doing those jobs in sequence. They can feel like one action while having different operating requirements. Understanding which stage you are in makes an interrupted listening session much easier to diagnose.
FolioTone generates speech on the device and needs to remain in the foreground during that stage. Completed audio can continue playing with the screen locked. Locking the device immediately after requesting a long new passage is therefore not a useful test of whether prepared listening works.
Choose material for the session ahead
Open the book, inspect Text, and select a voice matching the language. Audition a short passage before using Prepare & export audio for the material you need. If the PDF is scanned, complete OCR and correct the words first so the finished speech does not need to be regenerated.
Keep the app in the foreground until the required work is complete. There is no need to generate an entire book when the next session only needs a small section. A realistic range is easier to inspect and consumes less space than several long versions you may never actually hear.
Check playback after locking the screen
Start playing completed audio, confirm that it is audible, and then lock the screen. Try a short session before relying on it for an important journey. If playback stops, check whether you selected prepared material or were still waiting for the app to generate subsequent new parts.
Also check your headphones, the chosen audio output, and whether another application has started playing sound. These are separate from speech generation itself. Testing one completed part narrows the problem before you conclude that the imported book or a particular narration voice is responsible for the interruption.
Keep a separate export when flexibility matters
WAV/M4A export lets you retain a separate file within the permissions and limits displayed in the app. Open the result and hear the beginning and ending to confirm it contains the intended passage. Keep the source document if you may want to correct or revise the content later.
Pro removes corresponding Free preparation and export limits; it does not change iOS foreground requirements for generation. Scheduling the preparation step before leaving is more useful than upgrading solely in the hope that unfinished speech will automatically continue generating after the device has been locked.
TRY IT WITH YOUR OWN WORDS
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FolioTone works on iPhone and iPad with iOS 18 or later. Voice, OCR and export limits depend on your Free or Pro plan; check the app for current limits.
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