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User profile for user: Stefan_B
Stefan_B Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Can't copy pdf via drag & drop to iBooks

Hi everybody,

I wanted to copy some PDFs to my iPad via drag & drop and iTunes but I am suffering under the problem that nothing happens.

I even get not displayed a "+" on my cursor and everything I have tried, nothing is copied to the ipad..

iPad is running under iOs 4.3 and iTunes is up-to-date.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Mar 24, 2011 2:09 PM

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10 replies
User profile for user: Demo
Demo
User level: Level 10
166,501 points

Mar 24, 2011 2:37 PM in response to Stefan_B

Connect the iPad to your computer and launch iTunes. Then select the Books tab on the left side of the iTunes window to open up your books library. The window on the right side will show all of the books and pdfs in your library.

Find the PDF on your computer that you want to add to your device, click on the PDF and drag it into the window on the right side of iTunes. Then click on your iPads name on the left side, click on the Books tab at the top of the right side in iTunes, select the pdf that you just added to the library, click apply in the lower right corner, sync and be on your way.
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User profile for user: Demo
Demo
User level: Level 10
166,501 points

Mar 24, 2011 5:18 PM in response to Stefan_B

I thought you were trying to find out how to drag and drop PDF files in your iTunes library in order to sync to your iPad but there are ways of sending files without syncing.

If it is just a PDF file - not a book - you can attach the file to an email and send it yourself from your computer to the iPad, open it and choose the option of open in iBooks. When you open the file in your email, tap the curved arrow icon in the upper right corner and select open in iBooks. Then the PDF will be stored in books for later viewing.

You can also sync PDF files with apps like Dropbox using WiFi. There are other apps available that will do the same thing.
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User profile for user: Rusty Ramone
Rusty Ramone
User level: Level 1
12 points

May 4, 2013 9:54 PM in response to Stefan_B

I was having the same problem where dragging a PDF either from Finder or the iTunes Library onto my iPad in iTunes wasn't working, even though I've got "Manage music and video manually" checked. While I struggled to get it working I noticed my iPad hadn't backed up in a while so I clicked "Back Up Now". Once that was done, I was suddenly able to drag and drop PDFs onto it.

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Can't copy pdf via drag & drop to iBooks

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