JReader 2.0 is open for testing
The future of JReader: an improved experience taking you beyond just reading articles. Save focus words to export, listen to audio and get better word descriptions and translations.
Like before, the core experience in JReader will be completely free. By subscribing, you gain access to more features, unlimited access and can contribute to the future development of this app and its article library.
JReader's articles are and will continue to be written and proofread by native Japanese.
What's new?
Offline articles
The new app comes installed with both articles and word lookups. No waiting for dictionary entries and you can use it on the subway or in the middle of the Japanese alps!
Save words
Tap or drag across any word in an article to save it. Search Jisho from inside the app to add words you met elsewhere. Export the lot as Anki-ready cards. (Subscriber only)
Listen while you read
Articles now have narration, played in-app so you can follow the text and the audio together. (Subscriber only)
Better word selection
Word selection is immediate and fluent. Drag to select the word if you missed it and the UI will update. No need to open and close modals — the description appears at the top of the screen so you can keep reading.
Progress backup
Your words, bookmarks and read articles sync in the background and keep working offline — changes catch up when you're back on the network.
Refreshed design
The new coherent design drops the somewhat noisy orange palette from the previous version and introduces our new friendly Daruma character.
What about my
existing data?
During the first months of the new JReader there will be a way to import your past bookmarks into the new app.
We are improving and removing some old out-of-date articles
so some bookmarks might disappear in the move.
How to join
Pick your platform. Both take about two minutes, and both install over the copy of JReader you already have.
iPhone & iPad — TestFlight
- Install TestFlight from the App Store.
Apple's free beta app. Nothing works without it. - Open the invitation link on your iPhone or iPad:
testflight.apple.com/join/Q4r32q4v
Opening it on a desktop only shows you a page telling you to open it on your device. - Tap Accept, then Install.
The beta replaces the App Store copy of JReader on that device — same icon, same place on your home screen, now with an orange dot beside it in TestFlight. - Turn on automatic updates in TestFlight.
We ship often during the beta. TestFlight → JReader → Automatic Updates.
Android — Google Play Open Testing
- Make sure you're signed in to Google Play with the account you use on your phone.
Joining with a different account is the single most common reason the beta never shows up. - Open the tester link and tap "Become a tester":
play.google.com/apps/testing/...
You'll see a "You're a tester" confirmation. - Open JReader on the Play Store and tap Update.
It can take a few minutes for the beta build to appear. If you still see the old version, pull to refresh the store page, or force-stop the Play Store app and try again. - Already have JReader installed? You can skip the web link entirely. Play Store → your profile picture → Manage apps & devices → Installed → JReader → Join the beta.
Before you tap
install
- This replaces your current JReader. There's no way to run the beta and the released version side by side on the same device.
- Beta builds break. Expect the occasional crash, a screen that looks wrong, or a feature that isn't finished yet. That's what we need you for.
- Your data: Migration is automatic. Sign in with the same account and your saved words, bookmarks and read history carry over. Anything synced to your account comes back if you reinstall the public version later.
- Subscriptions during the beta: Existing subscriptions stay active and work in the beta. New purchases made through TestFlight or Google Play also carry over to the released app.
- How long it runs: The beta runs until the remaining features feel stable and the article library is fully updated — roughly a few months, with regular builds along the way.
Telling us
what broke
Send a report
- Wrong furigana or translation? Report it from inside the article — tap the "…" on the word. That lands straight in our content queue with the article and word attached.
- A screenshot or video that shows exactly what goes wrong is worth gold. The more detail you include, the faster we can reproduce and fix it.
- Anything else — crashes, confusion, ideas: just send an email to david@greycastle.se. Play Store reviews from testers aren't public and are easy for us to miss.
The most useful report says what you tapped, what you expected, what happened, plus your JLPT level setting and phone model.
Known issues
Keep this list short and honest — three or four real entries stop most duplicate reports.
- Migration is now automatic: you can log in as before and your previously saved articles should still appear.
- We've only updated about half of the articles so more are coming.
- Read articles don't show the same as before anymore so the previously read articles won't get marked right now.
Questions
we expect
Does it cost anything?
The beta is completely free to join and the app will stay free. Some features are locked under subscription and if you email us, we can give you a trial of this free-of-charge as well.
Will I lose my bookmarks?
There is a feature inside the app to transfer them from your old account.
Can I keep the old version too?
No. On both platforms the beta installs over your existing copy of JReader. To get back to the released version, follow the "going back" steps for your platform above.
How do I get new builds?
iOS: TestFlight notifies you, and updates install automatically if you turn that on.
Android: the Play Store updates the app like any other, though it can lag a few hours behind a release.
How do I leave?
iOS: delete the app, then reinstall from the App Store.
Android: open the tester link, choose Leave the programme, then reinstall from the Play Store.
Is my reading data being used for anything?
We do track views, likes and reading time for the articles to be able to find what content is popular and to help improve the app. But all data is completely anonymous. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
The beta doesn't show up on my phone.
On Android, it's nearly always the wrong Google account, or the Play Store hasn't refreshed yet — give it an hour, then force-stop the Play Store and reopen the app page.
On iOS, make sure you opened the invitation link on the device itself and that you're signed in to the same Apple Account as your App Store.
If you still have issues, ping me at david@greycastle.se and we'll work it out.
JReader v2
Ready to test the future of JReader?