# Audible to Audiobookshelf with Libation or OpenAudible > Point Libation or OpenAudible at your Audiobookshelf library folder, save M4B files with chapters, and new Audible purchases show up in Audiobookshelf. Source: https://soundleafapp.com/server/audible-to-audiobookshelf-libation/ Published: 2026-10-18 --- Libation and OpenAudible download the Audible books you've bought and save them as normal audio files. Save those files into your Audiobookshelf library folder and Audiobookshelf picks them up on its next scan. ## What you need - A running Audiobookshelf server with a book library. The [Docker quickstart](https://soundleafapp.com/server/quickstart/) covers that. - The folder that library reads, reachable from the computer that runs Libation or OpenAudible. That can be a shared network folder, or the same machine. - Your Audible account. ## Add Audible books with Libation 1. Install Libation from [getlibation.com](https://getlibation.com) and sign in with your Audible account. It lists your whole Audible library. 2. In Libation's settings, set the folder books are saved to. Pick your Audiobookshelf library folder, or a folder inside it. 3. Leave the audio format on the original format, which is Libation's default and saves Audible books as M4B. One M4B file holds the whole book with its chapters, its cover and its tags. 4. Download a book, then scan in Audiobookshelf: go to **Settings** > **Libraries** and click **Scan** next to the library. The book should appear with its title, author and chapters. Libation can also send each book straight to Audiobookshelf after it downloads, with no shared folder. Turn it on under **Settings** > **Audiobookshelf** and enter your server's address and an API key (a key that lets Libation add books to your server). You create the key in Audiobookshelf under **Settings** > **API Keys**. Then click **Connect / Refresh**, choose the **Library** and **Folder** books should go to, and save. This arrived in Libation 13.7, and Libation's [Audiobookshelf page](https://getlibation.com/docs/features/audiobookshelf) has the details. ## How should Libation name the files? Libation's default folder name is the book's short title followed by its Audible ID in square brackets, like `Book Title [B0XXXXXXXX]`. Audiobookshelf understands that. It takes the ID out of the folder name and saves it as the book's ASIN (Audible's ID for the book), so the title stays clean and matching works. Keep the ID in the name. Libation's own docs say it uses the ID to find the files it already downloaded. If you want author folders, which make the library easier to browse on disk, change Libation's folder template (under **Settings** > **Download/Decrypt**) to: ``` / [<id>] ``` Each book still gets its own folder, and that's the rule Audiobookshelf cares about most. The [folder structure guide](https://soundleafapp.com/server/audiobookshelf-folder-structure/) explains the rest. ## Run Libation in Docker next to your server If your server runs Docker, Libation can run there too and check Audible for new purchases on a schedule. 1. Set up Libation once on a computer and sign in. That creates its settings files, `AccountsSettings.json` and `Settings.json`. 2. Copy both into a folder on the server, for example `/opt/libation/config`. If the computer stored your sign-in encrypted, export the encryption key from Libation's settings and copy that file there too. 3. Run the container with the books folder mapped to your Audiobookshelf library folder: ```bash # /data inside the container is where Libation saves books. # SLEEP_TIME=30m checks Audible for new books every 30 minutes. docker run -d \ -v /opt/libation/config:/config \ -v /path/to/audiobooks:/data \ -e SLEEP_TIME='30m' \ --name libation \ --restart=always \ rmcrackan/libation:latest ``` Without `SLEEP_TIME`, Libation checks once and exits. Leave out `--restart=always` too if you want that, or Docker starts it again. The Libation image runs as user ID 1001, so that user needs permission to read and write both folders you mount, the config folder and the audiobook folder. Libation's [Docker page](https://getlibation.com/docs/installation/docker) has the full list of options. Audiobookshelf watches its folders for changes by default, so a new book usually appears on its own a little after Libation saves it. If it doesn't, run a scan. If scans keep missing books, see [library scan not adding books](https://soundleafapp.com/server/audiobookshelf-library-scan-not-adding-books/). ## Why doesn't Audiobookshelf see some Libation books? Libation has a **Request xHE-AAC Codec** setting. xHE-AAC is a newer audio format that some Audible titles offer at higher quality. Those files are still `.m4b`, but some builds of ffmpeg, the audio tool Audiobookshelf uses to read files, can't open them. The book just doesn't appear after a scan, with no message on screen; the server log shows the error. The fix depends on how you run the server, and it's covered in [xHE-AAC books not recognized](https://soundleafapp.com/server/audiobookshelf-xhe-aac-books-not-recognized/). Or turn that setting off in Libation and download the affected books again as standard AAC. Spatial audio (Dolby Atmos) titles are a separate case. Libation's docs say Audible now protects many of them in a way Libation can't download, and Libation 13.1.3 removed the spatial audio settings. ## Add Audible books with OpenAudible OpenAudible does the same job with a different app. It downloads your Audible library and converts the books to M4B or MP3 on Mac, Windows or Linux, and there's a Docker version too. It's free to try; converting books needs a one-time paid license. Choose M4B so each book is one file with its chapters, and set the folder it saves converted books to inside your Audiobookshelf library folder. Then scan, the same as with Libation. ## Buying audiobooks without DRM DRM is the copy protection that stops a file playing outside the store's own app. Libro.fm sells audiobooks without it. Its download guide offers books as MP3 files in a zip, or as a single M4B file. Unzip the MP3 download first, and put each book in its own folder in your library. To pick an app for listening, the [app comparison](https://soundleafapp.com/compare/) lines up SoundLeaf and the other Audiobookshelf apps for iPhone.