Up until yesterday I had no problems transferring ebooks from my PC to my iPad via iTunes.
Now they've killed that functionality. (Thanks Apple)
So how do I transfer and maintain my library now?
The only help I can find is about restoring books purchased from Apple, which my library is not.
iPad Pro Wi-Fi + Cellular, iOS 10.3.3
OK there is a workaround.
Firstly you cannot directly use iTunes to maintain your ebook library any more. Thanks for buggering that up, Apple.
And for those who said download directly from ibooks, YOU CAN'T - unless you have purchased the books from iTunes in the first place, which was NOT why I asked the question.
SO... I have found 2 workarounds, neither elegant but they do work.
Method 1: For epub format books into ibooks
1. First locate the book file you want to transfer using Windows Explorer.
2. Attach your iPad to your PC
3. When it appears in the iTunes sidebar, drag the book file onto the sidebar icon for your device.
4. It should transfer and be available to ibooks.
This is, of course a bit unwieldy for lots of books but it does work.
2. Method 2 for kindle.mobi format books, using dropbox and the Kindle app.
1. In Dropbox, create a books folder.
2. Put a copy of the books you want to transfer in the folder.
3. On your iPad, open the Dropbox app and open the Books folder.
4. Click on one of the books, it should download.
5. Click the export button (a square with an arrow pointing up out of it.
6. Click Open In... Select Copy To Kindle.
7. Kindle app should open with the book ready to read.
Unfortunately this method does not allow your reading position to sync across devices, but aside from that works well.
Feedback on this and any improvement to this or alternative methods welcome.
You can use the Files App to move the epub files in iCloud Drive to iBooks yes, but many do not want to use iCloud.
And since there is no iBooks App in Windows, you have to rely on iTunes to do it. Which can still sync the books by dragging them onto the device.
The point here was to avoid the requirement to use iCloud Drive.
But the section for books no longer exists! My entire library is no longer visible within iTunes.
So how do I get my ebook library back? I know how to manually transfer items from iTunes but have no idea how to make them available in the first place.
I have to say that this so-called improvement is turning into a complete pain in the backside. It seems like a land grab to persuade people to only use Ibooks. If they did this with audio files there'd be widespread condemnation.
So, if I understand correctly, I bought an iPad a few years ago to replace my Kindle. Now I have to go and buy a Kindle to sync/maintain my book collection??!?!? I have a library of over 1400 books in my iTunes/iBooks that I can longer sync??? My iBooks app will be a monument to the last time I was able to sync my books then, I guess. Note that none of my books were purchased through iBooks, they're DRM-free epubs, so now I have nothing but an $800 internet viewing machine, I guess. Thanks, Apple!
I'll try the drag an drop method tonight and see if it works. Thanks. I want a way to transfer into iBooks directly from the Windows PC to the iPad like it used to work. I don't use any cloud services, and I don't want to. I store my books locally and transfer direct. Hopefully that will work. I'll let you know. Thanks again for the quick response.
Nothing has changed with iBooks (i.e., books purchased from Apple). So, if your purchased books are not syncing, then you probably need to sign out of and back into the iTunes & App Store, and out of and back into iCloud. Otherwise, maybe you can provide us with some specifics about your OS and iOS, and the model of iPad you are using.
GB
This support article should help:
Changes in the new iTunes - Apple Support
Going forward, you would download your books directly to the iOS device.
Best of luck,
GB
Well, the Files app is iCloud Drive. And I think it all happens automatically. However, if you are talking about a Windows machine, then, you're right - that wouldn't work too well.... 🙂
GB
Nope. iBooks on my Mac won't sync to iBooks on the iPad. Thanks a bunch for this kludge, Apple.
But when pdfs are more than 25 mb you cannot email them. So this change in itunes is bad.
Any luck? I'm having the same issue.
Am I missing something? I thought that using iCloud Drive to access your PDF, ePub files, and books was how you would continue accessing them through iBooks on your iOS device or Mac:
Use iCloud Drive or iBooks to access your PDF files, ePub files, and books - Apple Support
Am I confused about this particular question?
GB
I have the same problem. I have my iPad which has iBooks and the iCloud is turned on. But it is still not syncing to my Mac's iBooks. I can read them on my desktop Mac, but not on my iPad.
Audio books show up on my iPad's iBooks, but not ebooks (neither pdf nor epub).
How do I transfer ebooks from PC to ipad now that they've killed books in iTunes?
