# DK Visual Dictionary (2017) — user reviews > 144 indexed App Store user reviews of DK Visual Dictionary (2017) by Dorling Kindersley, rated 1.80/5 from 34 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dk-visual-dictionary-2017/id1192278999/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dk-visual-dictionary-2017/id1192278999.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 5 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 26 ## What do users think of DK Visual Dictionary (2017)? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Simple audio companion - 👍 Works offline - 👍 Useful for learning pronunciation **Cons** - 🐛 Barcode/ISBN not recognized - 🐛 Audio files fail to download - 🐛 Buggy interface - 🐛 Lacks language support **Commonly reported bugs** - Barcode/ISBN not recognized - Audio files fail to download - Buggy interface with visual glitches - Lack of language support **Most requested features** - Add support for more languages - Allow searching by word, not just page number - Implement landscape mode for tablets - Add option to slow down audio playback speed ## Newest reviews (17 of 144) ### 4/5 — It’s actually pretty good *2024-07-31* That’s kinda it. I got this book at my local library and I decided to try out the audio app and it worked great. Something’s I want to say is why do you have to download the audio files yourself and it’s kinda hard to find the word your looking for but other than that I’d say it’s good at least for the Russian copy. ### 4/5 — Chinese and Korean works for me? *2024-05-31, version 1.16.7* If anyone is concerned which i was by reading the reviews, dont worry i think its working now? Just give it a try first 🤣 ### 1/5 — Great idea but worthless *2024-03-04* I love the idea of the app to go with the book. But the English and French dictionaries won’t download. I’ve tried while on WiFi and cellular. Nothing. Just stays on 0% downloaded. ### 1/5 — Japanese English Bilingual Dictionary *2024-03-02, version 1.16.6* I purchased the book from Waterstones (amazing book) based on the “Free Audio App”. I downloaded the app on my iPhone and scanned the barcode and was super excited to go through the audio when I realised no audio content ever downloads. Each time you select or search an option on the app a pop up appears that states “download audio files” which it never does. This is true of both the English and Japanese download. I am super disappointed and will end up returning the book to Waterstones… ### 1/5 — IPhone 13 version very broken *2024-01-22, version 1.16.6* The navigation bar on the bottom as icons that are in the main page and over the bar. Terrible visual glitches. This app needs to be fixed. Great book though. Terrible app. ### 1/5 — So disappointed *2024-01-15* I love DK books and was very excited to see these visual dictionaries get an audio component, but it seems the app is outdated and buggy. The content won’t download. So I shelled out good money for audio I can’t access. There goes my hopes of brushing up on Spanish and Mandarin pronunciation. 😔 **Developer response:** We're very sorry for the problems you have experienced with the DK Visual Dictionary app. This was due to a technical issue which has now been fixed. Please try deleting the app from your device and downloading it again to ensure you are using the latest version. If you are still having problems, please email penguinorders@tbs-ltd.co.uk with full details of the problems you are experiencing and we will try and find a solution for you. ### 1/5 — Audio languages not downloading *2024-01-15, version 1.16.6* I have both the Chinese Mandarin and Russian language books and none of the languages download through the app. Seriously disappointing. ### 2/5 — I need download audio for the french and english *2024-01-13, version 1.16.6* I installed the app and added the book into it. It looks great for studying French. But it shows the French audio and English audio download progress is zero. I waited for a whole day. It still does not work. Please help me out. Thanks, ### 1/5 — Doesn’t recognize the barcode or ISBN *2024-01-07* The app will not recognize the book barcode or the 13 digit ISBN. I bought it from barnes and noble thinking the app will help and this have been a disappointment. I thought it was just me but clearly the reviews are having the same problem. **Developer response:** We're very sorry for the problems you have experienced with the DK Visual Dictionary app. Please try deleting the app from your device and downloading it again to ensure you are using the latest version, as we have recently fixed an issue with barcode scanning. If you are still having problems, please email penguinorders@tbs-ltd.co.uk with full details of your book and the problems you are experiencing and we will try and find a solution for you. ### 1/5 — Not working *2023-12-31, version 1.16.6* I have the English Ukrainian Visual book. I downloaded the app. The book has been recognized by the app, but the languages don’t download. Still at 0% for english and ukainian. ### 1/5 — Can't download audio *2023-12-31* 0% English audio downloading 0% Japanese audio downloading Please fix it **Developer response:** We're very sorry for the problems you have experienced with the DK Visual Dictionary app. This was due to a technical issue which has now been fixed. Please try deleting the app from your device and downloading it again to ensure you are using the latest version. If you are still having problems, please email penguinorders@tbs-ltd.co.uk with full details of the problems you are experiencing and we will try and find a solution for you. ### 1/5 — Audio files cannot download *2023-12-31, version 1.16.6* Cannot download Japanese and English audio files. Please fix this issue in iOS platforms! ### 1/5 — Same problem with Arabic *2023-12-29* I like the concept and even though the interface is severely lacking, the ability to play the audio pronunciation is a very powerful feature. Only problem: the Arabic audio won’t download! Please fix this. **Developer response:** We're very sorry for the problems you have experienced with the DK Visual Dictionary app. This was due to a technical issue which has now been fixed. Please try deleting the app from your device and downloading it again to ensure you are using the latest version. If you are still having problems, please email penguinorders@tbs-ltd.co.uk with full details of the problems you are experiencing and we will try and find a solution for you. ### 1/5 — Language Download *2023-12-29* We got the Japanese and Russian books for Christmas. They books are great but not being able to download the languages in the app is very disappointing. We tried reinstalling and restarting our phones but no luck. Please fix or provide guidance on how to download language pack. **Developer response:** We're very sorry for the problems you have experienced with the DK Visual Dictionary app. This was due to a technical issue which has now been fixed. Please try deleting the app from your device and downloading it once again to ensure you are using the latest version. If you are still having problems, please email penguinorders@tbs-ltd.co.uk with full details of the problems you are experiencing and we will try and find a solution for you. ### 3/5 — Downloading english and Russian is not working. *2023-12-29* Three stars because I like having the book digital and I can just write down reference number for the categories the app can be improved and obviously bugs are a problem. ### 1/5 — Not working *2023-12-27* I bought a hard copy book the other day, (Russian English bilingual Visual Dictionary) hoping I can use the free app that they are promoting. To the developer of this app, please fix it because it’s not functioning. I have scanned the barcode of my book and I wanted to download the audio and it’s not working. It just says “audio downloading” and still on 0% not moving an inch. **Developer response:** We're very sorry for the problems you have experienced with the DK Visual Dictionary app. This was due to a technical issue which has now been fixed. Please try deleting the app from your device and downloading it again to ensure you are using the latest version. If you are still having problems, please email penguinorders@tbs-ltd.co.uk with full details of the problems you are experiencing and we will try and find a solution for you. ### 1/5 — German English Audio file Download Issues *2023-12-25* Cannot download the necessary audio files…says downloading but is not! Very disappointing. **Developer response:** We're very sorry for the problems you have experienced with the DK Visual Dictionary app. This was due to a technical issue which has now been fixed. Please try deleting the app from your device and downloading it again to ensure you are using the latest version. If you are still having problems, please email penguinorders@tbs-ltd.co.uk with full details of the problems you are experiencing and we will try and find a solution for you. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Doesnt work *2025-02-27, version 1.16.10* Doesnt work ### 1/5 — Useless *2024-10-18* I scanned the ISBN, and it prompted me to download a new version. I clicked the link and downloaded the 2017 version, but when I entered the ISBN, it still didn't work. Now I’m stuck switching back and forth between the 2017 and 2024 apps, feeling like a ball being kicked around. ### 1/5 — French English *2024-06-25, version 1.16.10* App doesn’t work, so you can’t hear the pronunciation, just written words and images. ### 1/5 — No funciona :/ *2024-06-03, version 1.16.7* No Funciona el scanner y tampoco reconoce el isbn ### 1/5 — Report *2024-04-18, version 1.16.7* The English language pack is installed, and when you click on a word, it prompts you to install the language pack again. And so on endlessly. ### 1/5 — Won’t take my barcode *2024-04-05* I used to have the app connectet to my French book. Later, I opened the application and kind of signed me out. So I scanned again the barcode but it says it cannot be recognized. What shall I do now?? ### 1/5 — Barcode not working *2024-03-23* I scanned the barcode and it say make sure the free audio app picture is on the front which it is. It’s all over the book: please fix this ### 1/5 — Korean English *2024-03-10, version 1.16.6* This was given to me as a gift and I was so pleased. However, pleasure soon turned to disappointment, as, having followed the instructions on the book, I discovered that the audio files just do not download, which makes the book completely useless. I would not recommend this book to anybody following my experience. ### 1/5 — Chinese Audio Will Not Install *2024-03-09* I downloaded the app, could not get Chinese audio to download. I deleted and re-downloaded the app three times and still could not get audio to download. I’m very disappointed I paid good money for a dictionary to use while I travel that I can’t even use. Do not recommend!!! ### 1/5 — This app does not work , support email not valid *2024-03-08* This app does not work. The support email does not work. App stuck on 0% downloading verbal. What a waste of time. I am returning the book, because without the verbal it is useless. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Simple audio companion. Does its job *2024-09-13* Downloaded app as a companion to the Russian language dictionary. Russian audio sounds good. The dictionary works while offline, which is useful. ### 5/5 — Impressed! *2024-02-26* This app is just AMAZING to say the least. For me it just works great for multiple languages (Arabic, French and Italian). Definitely recommend it! ### 5/5 — Language Download *2024-02-01, version 1.16.6* We got the Japanese and Russian books for Christmas. They books are great but not being able to download the languages in the app is very disappointing. We tried reinstalling and restarting our phones but no luck. Please fix or provide guidance on how to download language pack. Update 1/31/24 After reinstalling the language packs downloaded perfectly. Thank you for the fix. ### 5/5 — Bug fixed *2023-06-22, version 1.0.18* Now I have access to Ukrainian-English audio ### 5/5 — Thank you!! *2023-02-19, version 1.0.15* The book is very didactic and informative, I love how visual it is. Along with the app it’s a perfect combination to learn a foreign language. Highly recommended. ### 5/5 — Excellent companion app *2021-08-11, version 1.0.13* I have the Italian visual dictionary and this app is the perfect companion app. Works beautifully. ### 5/5 — It works! Great learning tool. *2021-07-30, version 1.0.13* I have the Italian, Japanese and Chinese dictionaries and the app works fine. ### 5/5 — German Audio works *2021-07-24, version 1.0.13* Everything went smooth. Typed in the ISBN and it works. Downloaded the German + English Audio and it works ### 5/5 — Everything fine! *2021-01-04, version 1.0.13* I have 5 languages dictionary and after reading some negatives comments I was scared if the app could work but it was everything completely fine ! I didn’t have any problems with bar code, I downloaded English and Spanish, I chose some favorites words and when I clicked a word, the app told me how to read it. I’m very excited! (I love learning, okey?...) ### 5/5 — Works well for German *2020-07-07, version 1.0.13* I have the German-English dictionary. Scanned the barcode on my book and downloaded the German audio only (there are options to get English and German). I can type in the number of the page I'm looking at and it brings up a list of the words on that page, which I can listen to by pressing on a word. The pronunciation is clear. I like the 'Favourites' feature that allows me to save some words to a separate list, which makes it easy to revise the words I'm focusing on. I'm very happy this app works as I expected, since the negative reviews were dismaying to read before I downloaded it! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-23.*