System requirements
Zen Reader runs on Windows, Android, iPhone, iPad and Mac. It installs and works on the minimum versions below — a newer version simply unlocks a few extra conveniences.
Minimum & recommended by device
| Device | Minimum | Recommended for best experience |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10, version 1809 (build 17763) — 64-bit, 32-bit or ARM | Windows 11Rounded, modern visuals and generally faster, newer hardware. |
| Android | Android 6.0 Marshmallow (API 23) | Android 13 or newerAdds fully on-device live listening — no internet needed to score a reading. |
| iPhone & iPad | iOS / iPadOS 12.2 | iOS / iPadOS 15 or newerEnables Sign in with Apple and on-device speech recognition. |
| Mac | macOS 12 Monterey | macOS 13 or newerOn a recent Mac (Apple silicon or Intel). |
Below its minimum, Zen Reader can’t be installed on that device. On the minimum version everything works — the notes below explain the few features that need a newer version, and always fall back gracefully.
You’ll also need
- A free Zen Reader account — one family account, shared across every device.
- An internet connection — to sign in, sync your library, and use the cloud-assisted features (transcription on some devices, book text recognition and AI helpers). Once a book is on the device, reading practice works offline where the device supports on-device listening.
- A microphone — so Zen Reader can listen to your child read aloud.
- A camera (phones & tablets) — optional, to scan a paper book. On Windows and Mac you import a PDF or photo instead.
- About 300–400 MB of free storage on Windows — the offline reading, voice and text-recognition models download the first time you use them.
Features that improve with a newer version
Everything below works on the minimum version — it just changes how the feature runs, and steps down automatically when the device can’t do it.
| Feature | Best on | On older versions |
|---|---|---|
| Live word-by-word listening on Android | Android 13 or newer (runs on the device, works offline) | Uses cloud transcription instead — needs an internet connection. |
| On-device speech on iPhone & iPad | iOS / iPadOS 13 or newer | Uses cloud transcription instead — needs an internet connection. |
| Sign in with Apple | iPhone / iPad on iOS 13 or newer | Standard email or web sign-in is used instead. (On Mac, web sign-in is always used.) |
| Fingerprint / face unlock (app lock) | Any device with fingerprint or face hardware — Windows Hello, Touch ID / Face ID, or Android biometrics | Falls back to a numeric PIN. |
| Appearance | Windows 11 — softer, rounded, modern look | Windows 10 shows a simpler background. No feature is lost. |
A note for Windows
The Windows app is a normal signed download — the .NET runtime and everything it needs are bundled in, so there’s nothing extra to set up.
On a small number of PCs our built-in Chinese voice can’t start, and the app tells you there’s no Chinese voice installed. The fix is to add Chinese to Windows — both the language, under Settings → Time & language → Language & region → Add a language, and its voices, under Settings → Time & language → Speech → Manage voices → Add voices — then pick the new voice in the app under Settings → Read-aloud voices. Do both: which one does the job varies from PC to PC, and on Windows 10 in particular adding the language often doesn’t bring the voices with it. Alternatively install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (most machines already have it) from aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe and restart the app. There’s more detail on Support.
Have a device that isn’t listed, or a question about whether Zen Reader will run for you? Email hello@zenreader.co — see also Support.