Books "Categories" Sync issue between my apple devices

Question

Books "Categories" Sync issue between my apple devices

Hi,

I have a huge library of books on my books app on my MacBook, iPhone, and iPad (library size is 8K files between PDF and ePub). All my devices are in sync using iCloud and books are checked in the iCloud sync.

Now the issue is all books are present in the "All" (default category in the books app) category on all devices, however, the categories of books I built through 4 years now are NOT in sync between all devices, on MacBook all categories are present and have the right classified books, however on iPad and iPhone some categories are missing and some categories are there but don't have the books that should be there under them.

I tried syncing between devices using iCloud and using cables also but still categories are not in sync at all and whatever change I am doing on my Macbook is not reflected in portable devices (iPhone and iPad) when it comes to categories (adding new books to the library working smoothly).

So in summary now I have for example 200 categories on Macbook however, I have only 120 categories on iPhone and iPad! and even iPad and iPhone are not in sync when it comes to categories.

Below are the versions of the devices

Macbook pro 16'' 2019 Core i5 - 13.3 (b) Beta (22E7752300g)

iPad Pro 12.9 4th Generation -iPad OS 16.4.1

iPhone 11 pro max - iOS 16.3.1

Posted on May 13, 2023 5:40 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Abdullah-Albalawi

Level 1

9 points

Oct 14, 2023 1:44 AM in response to MohamedIbrahim309

had same issue and fixed it. When I checked my iCloud storage I noticed that I had two Apple Books backups (one 100 kb and the other 7 gb). Everything worked like charm when I deleted the smaller backup file.

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Answer 2

picas

Level 7

20,859 points

May 13, 2023 3:33 PM in response to MohamedIbrahim309

On your Mac go to Books Settings > General and make sure Collections ... is enable for syncing. On your other devices go to Settings > Books > iCloud Drive and turn it off then back on (this should restart the syncing process). You can also go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Apps Syncing ... > Books and disable then enable.

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Answer 3

May 15, 2023 5:45 AM in response to picas

Hello Picas,

Thanks for your answer, however I tried this procedure many times, what is happening after disable/enable iCloud Drive/Books syn settings, yes it is starting the sync process, all books are appearing and total number is correct on all devices, BUT the categories are not fully synced on iPad and iPhone.

The only source of categories for me now is the Macbook Books app, on iPhone and iPad books are exist but categories either missing or exist but empty and don't have the books assigned to it.

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