HT201740: Mac Basics: Preview app views and edits images and PDFs

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Q: Getting pdf to iBooks to iphone

I'm often offered useful pdf's online that I want to read later, on a mobile device. What looks like a download nowadays often simply opens in Preview. What's the shortest path to get that to my iphone or ipad to read later? It doesn't appear there's an iOS version of Preview, for example. iBooks, if it synced across devices would be fine.

 

Thanks. From what I gather, this is not easy, and includes syncing pdf's via iTunes. Happy to learn if there's a more straight forward way to get mobile pdf's from my Mac in Safari.

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 28, 2015 4:09 AM

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Q: Getting pdf to iBooks to iphone

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Axeman1020,Helpful

    Axeman1020 Axeman1020 May 28, 2015 6:49 AM in response to homeovet
    Level 6 (14,974 points)
    iPhone
    May 28, 2015 6:49 AM in response to homeovet
    1. After it opens in Preview, save it to a folder on your Mac then add it to iBooks then sync the PDFs to your iPhone and/or iPad via iTunes.
    2. After it opens in Preview, use the Share icon (box with an arrow pointing up) to email or message it to yourself. From there you can add it to iBooks on the device.
  • by Raicya,

    Raicya Raicya May 28, 2015 12:13 PM in response to homeovet
    Level 3 (827 points)
    iPad
    May 28, 2015 12:13 PM in response to homeovet

    After downloading the pdf file, right click on it and then Open with   ☞    iBooks.app on the Mac.

    Start the iDevice on and tap on iBooks, you can read now in iBooks.

    It works here on my iPad.

  • by Axeman1020,

    Axeman1020 Axeman1020 May 28, 2015 12:16 PM in response to Raicya
    Level 6 (14,974 points)
    iPhone
    May 28, 2015 12:16 PM in response to Raicya

    Raicya wrote:

     

     

    After downloading the pdf file, right click on it and then Open with   ☞    iBooks.app on the Mac.

    Start the iDevice on and tap on iBooks, you can read now in iBooks.

    It works here on my iPad.

    You have to sync via iTunes first. iBooks only syncs collections via iCloud not the actual content unless it was purchased from the iBooks Store.

    Use iBooks with PDF documents on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

  • by Raicya,

    Raicya Raicya May 28, 2015 12:36 PM in response to Axeman1020
    Level 3 (827 points)
    iPad
    May 28, 2015 12:36 PM in response to Axeman1020

    My way is shorter.

    I didn't use iTunes and didn't sync with iCloud, I don't use iCloud yet.

    Just did what I write in my post.

    Last week I downloaded AirPort Extreme manual, right click on it (on the Mac) open with  ☞   iBooks.app.

    Then start my iPad, and I can read the AirPort Extreme manual from my iPad.

     

    IMG_1126.PNG

  • by Axeman1020,

    Axeman1020 Axeman1020 May 28, 2015 12:41 PM in response to Raicya
    Level 6 (14,974 points)
    iPhone
    May 28, 2015 12:41 PM in response to Raicya

    Raicya wrote:

     

    My way is shorter.

    I didn't use iTunes and didn't sync with iCloud, I don't use iCloud yet.

    Just did what I write in my post.

    Last week I downloaded AirPort Extreme manual, right click on it (on the Mac) open with  ☞   iBooks.app.

    Then start my iPad, and I can read the AirPort Extreme manual from my iPad.

     

    IMG_1126.PNG

    Exactly! You downloaded it from the iBooks Store. All iTunes, iBooks and App Store purchases are available on on devices as soon as you buy/download it.

    You don't actually need to open them in iBooks on the mac first.

    These are PDF files from outside the store. They need to be emailed, messaged or added to iBooks and synced via iTunes.

  • by Raicya,

    Raicya Raicya May 28, 2015 12:46 PM in response to Axeman1020
    Level 3 (827 points)
    iPad
    May 28, 2015 12:46 PM in response to Axeman1020

    I am sorry, I didn't downloaded from the iBooks Store,

    Downloaded from Internet:  ☞  https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/0/MA436/nl_NL/AirPort_Extreme-installatie handleiding.pdf

     

    Schermafbeelding 2015-05-28 om 21.43.49.png

  • by Axeman1020,

    Axeman1020 Axeman1020 May 28, 2015 12:54 PM in response to Raicya
    Level 6 (14,974 points)
    iPhone
    May 28, 2015 12:54 PM in response to Raicya

    Raicya wrote:

     

    I am sorry, I didn't downloaded from the iBooks Store,

    Downloaded from Internet:  ☞  https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/0/MA436/nl_NL/AirPort_Extreme-installatie handleiding.pdf

     

    Schermafbeelding 2015-05-28 om 21.43.49.png

    I guess it works differently for you than everyone else. I just dowloaded the same document (directly from your link) and followed your instructions.

    As expected...it did not work.

     

    How exactly do you think the PDF magically jumped from iBooks on your Mac to iBooks on your iPad without it being synced either via iCloud or iTunes?

    Just curious how you think that works.

  • by Raicya,

    Raicya Raicya May 28, 2015 1:02 PM in response to Axeman1020
    Level 3 (827 points)
    iPad
    May 28, 2015 1:02 PM in response to Axeman1020

    I am sorry I made a type error in my earlier post

    I didn't use iTunes and didn't sync with iCloud, I don't use iCloud yet.

     

    So the right steps are: 

    After downloading the pdf file, right click on it and open with iBooks.app on the Mac.

    Sync with iTunes.

    Start the iDevice on and tap on iBooks, you can read now in iBooks.

     

    Also non Apple-books downloaded from internet I can read on my iPad. Just add SharePoint 2013 For Dummies.

     

    IMG_1127.PNG

  • by Axeman1020,

    Axeman1020 Axeman1020 May 28, 2015 1:07 PM in response to Raicya
    Level 6 (14,974 points)
    iPhone
    May 28, 2015 1:07 PM in response to Raicya

    So you used the same steps I posted initially:

    add it to iBooks then sync the PDFs to your iPhone and/or iPad via iTunes.

    I am not sure why you are trying to argue that you have a different, shorter way. It only becomes more confusing to the OP.

  • by Raicya,

    Raicya Raicya May 28, 2015 1:15 PM in response to Axeman1020
    Level 3 (827 points)
    iPad
    May 28, 2015 1:15 PM in response to Axeman1020

    4 steps:

     

    After it opens in Preview, save it to a folder on your Mac then add it to iBooks then sync the PDFs to your iPhone and/or iPad via iTunes.

     

    3 steps:

    This is shorter: Download  Open with iBooks.aap    Sync via iTunes.

  • by Axeman1020,Helpful

    Axeman1020 Axeman1020 May 28, 2015 1:19 PM in response to Raicya
    Level 6 (14,974 points)
    iPhone
    May 28, 2015 1:19 PM in response to Raicya

    You need to read the question more carefully:

    What looks like a download nowadays often simply opens in Preview.

    The first step for the OP is to get it out of Preview, hence:

    After it opens in Preview, save it to a folder on your Mac then add it to iBooks then sync the PDFs to your iPhone and/or iPad via iTunes.

  • by homeovet,

    homeovet homeovet May 29, 2015 10:55 AM in response to Axeman1020
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iWork
    May 29, 2015 10:55 AM in response to Axeman1020

    Thanks, sync with iTunes it is, I guess, until iBooks get enabled to sync non-Apple Store things across devices. (Is that not a possibility without some big advance in tech?)

     

    I appreciate the help.

  • by Axeman1020,

    Axeman1020 Axeman1020 May 29, 2015 11:03 AM in response to homeovet
    Level 6 (14,974 points)
    iPhone
    May 29, 2015 11:03 AM in response to homeovet

    You're welcome.