Why does Books refuse to import from my Mac

Question

Level 1

56 points

Why does Books refuse to import from my Mac

I use Books on my iPad as an ereader and up 'till some weeks ago it refuses to import books it once had imported them without any problem whatsoever. The situation is as follows: I did an import of -about- 34 books I had stored in iCloud. Then I changed my mind and removed most of them from the library so there remained only 4 or five books, so I don't have to scroll through endless pages of the library. When I finished these books I wanted to import the next 5 books, but that didn't work. Books refuses to import books via File>Import and responds with Importing:0 of 1. Failed: 1

What's wrong with Books?

Mac mini (M2, 2023)

Posted on Dec 23, 2025 4:02 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

hanyvo Author

Level 1

56 points

Dec 29, 2025 2:17 PM in response to brbo

Thanks for your time and answer. The books I deleted from the app Books, are still safe and intact in a folder on the Mac mini. I can open each one of them with another reading app. Some of the books are in pdf format and I can read them with Preview as well, so nothin wrong with the files itself. BUT ... I think I found a workaround with Files on the iPad. I open the Files app on the iPad and select the folder on your iDrive where you have stored your book or file. Select and (double) click the file you want Books to open. You might need to double click because the file must be uploaded first to the iPad, but when this is done Books will open it on your iPad! You don't need the Mac mini to import the file into the Books app. Once Books "knows" the book you can read it with your Mac, or iPhone or iPad. I've checked this workaround with several, random chosen books in pub, or pdf format and it still works. I don't know the rationale behind this because it isn't the usual drag and drop procedure we're all accustomed to, but it's fine with me.

Hans

Reply

Answer 2

brbo

Level 8

39,091 points

Dec 29, 2025 3:59 PM in response to hanyvo

Thank you kindly for your thoughtful reply, Hans, and for sharing your experience with us here in the community. Cheers :-)

_________________

Just for clarification:

To import files into an app brings them in to the app on the device that is importing.

To export files from an app sends them out of the app on the device that is exporting.

Apple also uses the "share" method to move files around. (We love "drag and drop"!)

Reply

Answer 3

brbo

Level 8

39,091 points

Dec 28, 2025 9:36 PM in response to hanyvo

Re: "Why does Books refuse to import from my Mac

We don't know just what settings you have in place on your Mac, iPad, iCloud, Books app etc. so don't know the answer for certain.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Re: "Books refuses to import books via File>Import and responds with Importing:0 of 1. Failed: 1

What's wrong with Books?"

Are you sure it is the Books app at fault ? Are the files still intact for the Books app to import ? ie: Did deleting 34 books from the Books app on iPad also delete them from everywhere those books were in sync ?

The way i understand it: Apart from device back-ups, iCloud is mainly a service for sync of files between various devices. Add a file to a device and it syncs everywhere that sync is turned on. Similarly, delete an item from a device, it deletes from everywhere sync. is turnd on. The Books may have been deleted everywhere.

NB: I could be wrong.

Most purchases from Apple can be downloaded again and again.

Re-downloads of Apple Books would likely be a possibility if needed

See how to: Restore purchased and deleted items to iPad - Apple Support

You may want to securely: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support for safe-keeping.

Reply

Why does Books refuse to import from my Mac

Similar questions