Confirm that you are authorized to open it
When a PDF requests a password, use the access information supplied by the document owner or publisher. If you do not have it, ask the source how to obtain access. Wanting an audio version is not a reason to attempt to bypass protection on a file you cannot legitimately open.
Before import, open the source in a suitable PDF viewer and confirm that it is the document you intended to read. Keep the password private rather than placing it in the filename or text you plan to narrate. A comfortable reading workflow should not expose the information that grants access.
Import and follow any unlock prompt
Import through Files, then follow the unlock prompt if FolioTone displays one. Enter the correct password and check whether content pages become visible. If the app cannot handle that particular file, request a compatible copy from the publisher rather than repeatedly trying to generate speech from an inaccessible document.
Opening successfully in one application does not guarantee that another handles every file in the same way. When reporting a problem, say whether the page opens and whether failure occurs during import or listening. You do not need to include the password or sensitive content merely to explain those symptoms.
Inspect text after the page opens
Switch to Text to see whether the PDF contains a usable text layer. An unlocked document can still be a scan. In that case, it needs on-device OCR and a careful review, just like any other page image, before the recognized words become a reliable input for speech generation.
Choose an ordinary content page rather than the cover for the test. If the words are missing or incomplete, distinguish access trouble from text extraction trouble. That distinction helps you decide whether to try recognition, request another source, or contact support with a description that is specific enough to be useful.
Prepare only the material you intend to hear
Once the words look correct, choose the matching language voice and generate a short sample. Keep the app in the foreground during creation. Completed audio can play with the screen locked; locking the device does not mean you must reopen the original document every time you play an already generated recording.
Manage the source PDF and audio according to the document’s sensitivity. FolioTone processes content locally, but an export saved to Files is still a separate copy you must look after. Create or share recordings only when you are authorized to do so, and keep the original available for future comparison.
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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