HOW TO › IPHONE & IPOD

How to Save a PDF to Your iPhone

or iPad
It's easy to download or transfer a PDF to your iOS phone or tablet

Share
Share Pin
Pin Email
Email

by Daniel Nations
Updated November 09, 2019

When you want to save a PDF to iPhone or iPad, download the PDF from the web or
an email, then decide where to save it. Or, transfer a PDF from a Mac or Windows
PC to your iOS device.

Tip: These instructions might also work in third-party apps.

How to Save a PDF From an Email or Website

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 1 of 19
 Ad
The Safari web browser and the Mail app use a similar interface to download PDFs
and to preview PDF files.

Advertisement

01 Select the PDF to open a preview.

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 2 of 19
 02 Tap Share to open the share sheet that contains options to share and save
files such as PDFs.

Tip: If you don't see the Share button in Safari, scroll to the top of the
PDF to display the menu.

03 Select where to store the PDF.

For example, to view the PDF in Apple Books, choose Copy to Books. Or, to
save the PDF to a cloud storage service such as Google Drive, select Copy to
Drive. Other cloud storage services may include iCloud Drive and Dropbox.

Tip: Tap More if you don't see the option to save to an app that is
installed on the device (for example, Dropbox or Google Drive). Select
Save to Files to store the PDF in iCloud Drive.

04 Follow the onscreen directions to complete the PDF download. For example,

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 3 of 19
 press Add in Files to save the PDF in one of those folders.

Tip: If the web page you want to save to your iPhone or iPad isn't a PDF,
convert it to PDF. Tap the Share button and choose Create PDF. Then,
select the Share button again to select a location to save the PDF.

How to Transfer a PDF From macOS to iOS

Use AirDrop to wirelessly move a PDF stored on a Mac to your iPhone or iPad. The
only requirement is that the Mac and the iPhone or iPad are on the same Wi-Fi
network.

01 On the Mac, open the PDF and select Share.

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 4 of 19
 Tip: The Mac has a similar share button as an iOS mobile device,
featuring a box with an arrow pointing out of the top.

02 Select AirDrop, then select your iOS device.

Tip: In order for your iPhone or iPad to show up through AirDrop on your
Mac, it must have AirDrop enabled in the settings and must not be in
sleep/suspended mode.

03 When you share the PDF using AirDrop, your iPhone or iPad will ask how you

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 5 of 19
 want it opened. You can choose Books, Files, or a compatible viewer or
cloud storage option. For example, if Amazon Kindle is installed on the
device, open the PDF in the Kindle reader.

How to Transfer a PDF From Windows to iOS

One way to transfer a PDF (or any file) from a Windows computer to an iPhone or
iPad is through iCloud Drive.

Note: iCloud isn't installed on Windows by default. Download and install

iCloud on your Windows PC, then enable iCloud Drive on your phone or
tablet and computer to transfer PDF files between your PC and iOS
device.

01 On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, then turn
on the iCloud Drive toggle switch.

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 6 of 19
 Note: Use your Apple ID login information to sign in to your iCloud
account on Windows and iOS. If you don't have this information, reset
your Apple ID password.

02 On your Windows PC, open File Explorer and copy the PDF file you want to
transfer to your iPhone or iPad.

03 Go to iCloud Drive and paste the file into an existing folder or create a new

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 7 of 19
 folder.

04 The PDF file is available on your iPhone or iPad using the Files app.

Tip: When you save a file to iCloud Drive from your PC, the file doesn't

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 8 of 19
 download to your device until you select it from the iPhone or iPad Files
app. To access the file offline, go online, open the File app, and navigate
to the file to download it for offline use.

Another way to transfer a PDF from your computer to your phone is to email it to
yourself. When you open the PDF on your mobile device, follow the directions to
save it.

ARTICLE
How to Back Up Your iPhone to iTunes

An iPhone connected to a MacBook

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 9 of 19
 ARTICLE
What You Need to Know About iCloud Drive

iCloud Network Concept depicting iCloud drive storage

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 10 of 19
 ARTICLE
How to Use the Files App in iOS

iCloud Drive

LIST
Access Your iCloud Photos From Almost Anywhere

Illustration of a Dad, Mom, and child accessing photos from iCloud

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 11 of 19
 ARTICLE
Share Files Wirelessly From Your iPhone With AirDrop

Using AirDrop on iPhone

ARTICLE
Ways to Sync Photos to iPhone

People using smartphones in a coffee shop

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 12 of 19
 ARTICLE
How to Print (Save) to PDF

Code List Line Icon

ARTICLE
How to Get Your Photos Onto Your iPad

Download photos to iPad

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 13 of 19
 ARTICLE
Move Photos From One iPhone to Another Safely and Easily

transfer photos from iPhone to iphone

ARTICLE
How to Restore Your iPhone Wirelessly

A woman with an iPhone looking displeased

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 14 of 19
 ARTICLE
How to Download Voice Memos From Your iPhone

A woman looking at an iPhone placed flat on her palm

ARTICLE
Everything You Need to Know About Apple's iCloud

Cloud computing

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 15 of 19
 LIST
What's the Best Cloud Storage for the iPad?

Woman in living room with cloud above head

ARTICLE
Get Pictures Off Your Phone to the Computer — Using any device or
OS

An iPhone is connected by USB to a Mac laptop.

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 16 of 19
 ARTICLE
Swap Music and Files Between Phones Using Bluetooth File Transfer

Illustration of Bluetooth transfers to tablets, phones, and computers

ARTICLE
Send Books to Your iPad to Read On the Go

sell ebooks online

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 17 of 19
 About Apple

Learn the everyday tricks and simple fixes savvy Apple users rely on.

ONE-TAP SIGN UP

Follow Us

Facebook TRUSTe

HOW TO FIX

BUY DO MORE

About Us Advertise

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Careers Editorial Guidelines

Contact Terms of Use

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 18 of 19
 Lifewire is part of the Dotdash publishing family.
The Balance | ThoughtCo | The Spruce |
TripSavvy and more

https://www.lifewire.com/save-pdf-to-iphone-or-ipad-4165490 17.11.19, 07?35

Page 19 of 19