When you use an application such as Safari, Chrome or Mail, the iPhone can automatically display the contents of a PDF file. These files can be saved within the iBooks library for viewing at any time. You can download a PDF directly from a website, receive it as an email attachment, and sync it from your computer using iTunes.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Use Safari
Step 1. Tap the link for opening the PDF
PDF files are natively opened by the Safari app. This means that, by clicking on the link of the file, the content will automatically be displayed in the browser itself.
Step 2. "Pinch" the screen with two fingers to zoom in and out
When viewing a PDF within Safari, you can activate the zoom just like you do with a normal website. Place your thumb and forefinger on the screen, then move them apart to enlarge the image (by activating the zoom) or move them together to zoom out and restore the normal size.
Step 3. Press and hold your finger on the screen to highlight a piece of text
If you need to copy text from a PDF, you can do so by simply holding your finger on the screen. Stop the movement as soon as you see the magnifying glass icon appear on the screen; at this point, use the selection cursors to highlight the portion of text you want to copy.
Due to the way many PDFs are created, it may be very difficult, if not impossible, to be able to select text
Step 4. Send the PDF to iBooks
You can add the file to your iBooks library (or another program that can open PDF files) so you can browse it at any time. This step allows you to view the PDF content whenever you want, without the need for an active network connection.
- Tap the PDF you are viewing with Safari.
- Press the "Open in iBooks" button that appeared. If you have installed another PDF reader, choose the "Open in …" option to be able to choose the relevant app.
- View the PDF within iBooks or the PDF reader of your choice. If you have chosen to use iBooks, the file will be stored within the app and your iCloud account, so that you can view its contents whenever you like in the future.
Method 2 of 4: View a PDF Received Via Attachment
Step 1. Open the email containing the PDF
View the content of the E-Mail so you can see the attachment list at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2. Tap the PDF to view its contents
This way the file will be displayed directly within the Mail app.
Step 3. "Pinch" the screen with two fingers to zoom in and out
When viewing a PDF, you can activate the zoom just like you do with a normal document. Place your thumb and forefinger on the screen, then move them apart to enlarge the image (by activating the zoom) or move them together to zoom out and restore the normal size.
Step 4. Press and hold your finger on the screen to highlight a portion of text
Stop the movement as soon as you see the magnifying glass icon appear on the screen. At this point, use the selection cursors to highlight the portion of text you want to copy.
If the PDF is the result of optical scanning of a paper document, it is very likely that you will not be able to select the contained text
Step 5. Save the PDF to the iBooks library for quick and easy access in the future
While you can always access the PDF as long as the email message is saved within Mail, sending it to iBooks will make viewing its contents easier and faster. This step will also allow you to free up space in your inbox by deleting the email you received it with.
- Tap the content of the PDF while it is displayed on the screen to bring up the application GUI controls.
- Press the "Share" button located in the lower left corner of the screen.
- Choose the "Copy to iBooks" option. You may have to scroll through the context menu that appeared to be able to locate it.
- View PDF content via iBooks whenever you want. After adding it to the iBooks library, it will be saved on the iPhone and the iCloud account linked to it. At that point, you will be able to read the file at any time, without the need to use a network connection.
Method 3 of 4: Transfer PDF from Computer
Step 1. Launch iTunes
The easiest way to add PDF files to an iPhone is to sync them using iTunes. If you don't have a copy of iTunes, you can download the installation file for free from the URL apple.com/itunes/download.
Step 2. Go to the "Books" section of your iTunes library
When the iTunes window appears, press the "…" button at the top of the screen, then choose "Books" from the menu that appears. This will display the list of titles in the iTunes library.
Step 3. Go to the "My PDFs" tab
This section is made visible as soon as you select the "Books" tab of iTunes and contains the list of all PDFs currently stored in the program's library.
Step 4. Drag the PDF files you want to add from your computer to the iTunes window
Select the PDFs you want to be automatically added to the "Books" section of your iTunes library, then drag them into the program window and then release the mouse button.
Step 5. Connect iPhone to computer via USB cable
After a few moments, the device icon will appear at the top of the iTunes window, next to the buttons already there. If this is your first time connecting your iPhone to your computer, you will need to go through a small initial setup process, which will have no effect on the data already on the mobile device.
Step 6. Select all PDFs you want to copy to iPhone from the "My PDFs" section
Highlight all the PDFs in the relevant section of the "Books" tab of the iTunes library that you want to copy. Press the hotkey combination Ctrl + A to select all items, or hold down the Ctrl or ⌘ Command key to select just a few.
Step 7. Start dragging and dropping PDF files
You will see a side navigation bar appear on the left side of the iTunes window.
Step 8. Release the PDF selection exactly on the iPhone icon placed in the appeared sidebar
This will automatically start the process of copying the data to the mobile device. You can monitor the progress of the data transfer by looking at the top of the iTunes window.
Step 9. Eject the iPhone after copying is complete
When the process of copying PDF files is finished, press the iPhone-shaped button at the top of the screen, then choose the "Eject" item. At this point, you can physically disconnect the device from the computer without any problem.
Step 10. Locate the new PDFs within the iPhone's iBooks app
Once the files are copied to the iPhone, you can find them within the iBooks app.
Method 4 of 4: Use iBooks
Step 1. Launch the iBooks app after upgrading to iOS 9.3 or above
iOS 9.3 introduced synchronization of ebooks and PDFs with iCloud Drive. This new feature allows you to access all your PDFs from any device connected to your iCloud account.
Step 2. Turn on iBooks sync with iCloud (optional)
If you want to sync your PDFs with iBooks, you can turn on that option in iCloud. Remember that activating this feature consumes the storage space linked to your iCloud account. All iCloud profiles come with 5GB of free storage, which is also used to keep backups of connected devices.
In order to use the iBooks app, you don't need to turn on iCloud sync. Through iBooks, you have access to all PDFs added to the app library on your device and all PDFs synced via iTunes, at any time
Step 3. Add PDF files to iBooks library
By following one of the methods described in the previous sections of the article, you can transfer your PDF files to iPhone. You can do this by downloading them from a website, via an email attachment or by synchronizing them from your computer. All PDF copied inside the iPhone will be automatically added to the iBooks library as well.
If you have enabled iBooks sync with iCloud, all PDFs you have added to the iBooks library from any iOS device connected to your iCloud account will be visible and accessible
Step 4. Select a PDF present in the iBooks library
When the iBooks interface is displayed on screen, you will be able to see the contents of the entire library of the app. If you need to view PDFs only, press the "All Books" button at the top of the screen, then choose "PDF". This will only display PDF files.
Step 5. Swipe your finger on the screen left or right to switch between pages in the file
While you are browsing a PDF file with iBooks, you can switch between pages of the document by simply swiping your finger on the screen.
Tap the PDF you are reading to display the controls interface and a preview of all the pages that make up the document at the bottom of the screen. To go directly to a specific page, tap its preview icon
Step 6. To bookmark the current page, tap the bookmark icon in the upper right corner of the screen
By tapping on the PDF text, you will see the controls interface appear. At this point, you can press the "Bookmark" button, located in the upper right corner, to add a bookmark to the current page. Bookmarks are visible within the preview of the pages that make up the entire document.
Step 7. Tap the "Index" icon to view all pages of the document
This button is located next to the "Share" button at the top of the screen. When you select this feature, a reduced preview of all the pages that make up the PDF is displayed on the screen. Pages you have bookmarked will display a small bookmark icon in the upper right corner.
Step 8. Press and hold your finger on the text to highlight it
As soon as a magnifying glass icon appears on the screen, you can stop the action. Use the selection cursors to highlight the desired piece of text.
If the PDF is the result of optical scanning of a paper document, it may be very difficult, or completely impossible, to select a portion of the text contained
Step 9. Download the PDF files stored in your iCloud Drive account
If you've turned on iBooks to iCloud sync, some of your favorite PDFs may have been synced to your iCloud account, but not yet downloaded to your iOS device. These types of PDFs feature a small iCloud icon in the upper right corner and are visible within the iBooks library. Tapping the iCloud icon will automatically start downloading the document to the iPhone.
