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Transfer Your PDF Files to iPhone in Quick and Easy Steps

A lot of Apple users find it hard to transfer PDF files to their iPhones due to limited options when transferring to iOS devices. Even then, some of the options available, such as transferring via iTunes or iCloud, are often inconvenient due to its long process.

In this tutorial, we'll teach you how to transfer PDF files from your computer to your iPhone or iOS device in different ways. You are sure to find one that suits you. Simply follow the instructions below to learn more.

How to Add PDFs to the Books App on Your iPhone

Transferring PDF files from your iPhone to your Books is significantly easier since Apple replaced iBooks with the new Books app. Follow these steps to learn how.

Step 1 Open the PDF file on your iPhone.

Step 2 Tap Share. Locate Books and tap it on the app icons. This should automatically save and open the PDF on the Books app. You can also find the PDF later in your Library tab.

add pdfs to iphone

If you're sharing a PDF to the Books app using Windows meanwhile, follow these steps below.

Step 1 Log in to your email account.

Step 2 Send the PDF file as an attachment to an email logged in on your iPhone.

Step 3 Open the PDF and tap the Share button and choose Books from the available list of apps.

Why use this way

You'll have a backup of the PDF on the sent items.

Doesn't require you to download a separate app.

Cons

An email account is required for this method to work, and the uploading speed could be slow.

Here are the steps to share a PDF to the Books app using macOS.

Step 1 Choose the PDF on your macOS and select AirDrop.

Step 2 On your iPhone, tap Accept and choose open with Books.

Why use this way

The transfer is seamless due to the AirDrop function.

oesn't require you to download a separate app.

Cons

AirDrop is only available on Apple devices.

Transferring PDFs to the Books app is a nice way to separate PDF files from your books and novels. You'll be able to have a dedicated library to your favorite books, novels, and more without the clutter of the other PDFs saved on your iPhone.

How to Add PDFs to iPhone Using iCloud

iCloud Drive allows you to send documents such as PDF, Word, Excel, and more to your iPhone. To transfer PDFs using iCloud to your iPhone, follow the steps below:

Step 1 On your computer, go to iCloud. Sign in with the same Apple ID logged in on your iPhone, and choose iCloud Drive. Upload the PDF.

Step 2 On your iPhone, tap Setting > [Your Name] > iCloud > enable iCloud Drive.

Step 3 Go to your Files app and tap Browse > iCloud Drive. You should be able to access the PDF uploaded in iCloud Drive on your computer to your iPhone. Tap Download to save.

Why use this way

Enabling iCloud Drive on iPhone provides a seamless experience.

PDF files are secured and accessible on any iOS device.

Cons

You will not be able to access your files if iCloud Drive is not syncing.

All devices require the same Apple ID to access the same cloud storage.

Using iCloud as your primary means of transferring documents from your computer to your iPhone is highly recommended if you're already within Apple's ecosystem. If you own a lot of iOS devices, then using iCloud is the most convenient way to transfer and sync all your documents in one go.

How to Transfer PDF Files from PC/Mac via WhatsApp or WeChat

Gone are the days when you can only share PDF documents via email. Today, popular messaging apps such as WhatsApp and WeChat allow sharing files online from photos, PDFs, important files and more. Learn how to add PDF files via WhatsApp or WeChat from your PC/Mac by reading the steps below.


Send PDF Files from Your PC/Mac Using WhatsApp

You can transfer PDF documents through WhatsApp from your personal computer with the following steps:

Step 1 Download WhatsApp on your computer.

Step 2 Open WhatsApp on your mobile device and select Linked Devices > Link a Device. Scan the QR Code on the main page of your computer using your mobile device.

Step 3 Once your WhatsApp syncs, open a New Message or an existing thread.

Step 4 Click Attachment on the screen's upper-right and click the Documents icon.

transfer pdfs to iphone

Step 5 Locate your PDF on the pop-up window and click Open to upload the file via WhatsApp. Click the Send icon to transfer the PDF file.

Why use this way

End-to-end encryption means no one can access your PDF apart from you and the recipient.

Completely ad-free providing uninterrupted service.

Cons

Files have a size limit of 100MB.

You cannot use WhatsApp without a cellphone number.


Send PDF Files from Your PC/Mac Using WeChat

Learn how to send files in PDF format on your computer with Wechat:

Step 1 Download WeChat on your computer.

Step 2 Open WeChat on your mobile device and scan the QR Code to log in. Admit the operation on your mobile device to use Web WeChat on your computer.

Step 3 Once your Web WeChat syncs, select the PDF on your mobile device, then tap the Share button. Look for and tap the WeChat icon.

Step 4 Tap File Transfer as the receiver. Once done, go to Web WeChat on your PC, and you should be able to see the transferred file. Click Download to save the PDF on your computer.

transfer pdfs to iphone
Why use this way

File sharing allows different formats from PDF, Word, and other file extensions.

Complete use of WeChat is totally free, with no payment required.

Cons

It does not use end-to-end encryption for sharing messages. Your files are at risk of being seen by a third party.

File sharing has a limit of up to 100MB.

While both applications have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, WhatsApp is more recommended if you're looking for simplicity due to its ad-free content. WeChat offers more comprehensive tools, such as the ability to perform online payments, which adds to its convenience.

Where Do Downloaded PDFs Go on My iPhone?

By default, downloaded PDFs go to Downloads located on your iPhone's Files app. Simply launch Files > Downloads. If you can't find your PDF for some reason, you may have accidentally deleted it, saved it in a location you don't remember or saved the PDF on iCloud instead. In this case, go to Files > Browse > iCloud Drive to access your downloaded PDF file.

How to Read and Edit PDFs on an iPhone with PDFelement

If you're looking for a dedicated app to read and edit PDFs on an iPhone, then you should give PDFelement a try. It's one of the highest-rated productivity apps on the App Store, offering a quick and easy solution to all your PDF reading and editing needs. To know more on how to use this app, follow the handy guide below.

Step 1 Download PDFelement on the App Store. Afterward, register for an account by following the onscreen instructions.

Step 2 Open your PDF file on the Files screen. To edit the PDF, tap the Text Box icon on the top of your screen. This will open an editable text on the document, which will appear in a blue box.

transfer pdfs to iphone

Step 3 Tap Save to update your PDF, which will be saved to your file list.

Why use this way

An all-in-one app where you can edit, annotate, comment, and even eSign PDF files.

Can create PDF from scratch or from a list of templates.

More affordable than other productivity apps such as Acrobat.

Cons

You need to log in as a user and purchase the application to use all the features of the license.

PDFelement, having a vertical or horizontal scroll mode, allows you to view your PDFs in single or double-page mode, depending on your need. You can do a simple full-text search and zoom in and out when viewing a PDF. There's also a dark mode feature for people who like viewing PDFs with a different background color.

Lastly, not only can PDFelement view and edit PDFs but also eSign by uploading an image, using different signature styles, or even freehanding the signature yourself. PDFelement is available for Windows, Mac, as well as iOS and Android. Listed below are the supported OS for different platforms:

iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch: requires iOS 13.0 or later

Mac: requires macOS11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later

Android: Android 5.0(Lollipop) and above

Windows: Windows 11 and below

How to Share a PDF on an iPhone

There are two popular ways to share PDFs using an iPhone. You can use Files or a reliable third-party app such as PDFelement. These tools let you share important PDFs with ease by following the simple steps below.

Share a PDF Using the Files App

Please follow the steps of sharing PDFs through the Files below:

Step 1 Open the Files app on your iPhone.

Step 2 Tap Browse and tap the folder where your PDF is located. Long-press the file and choose Share to select from the file-sharing options available.

transfer pdfs to iphone

Share a PDF Using PDFelement

Here is the instruction for sharing PDF files through PDFelement:

Step 1 Download PDFelement for iOS and launch the app on your iPhone.

Step 2 Locate the folder where your PDF is located. Tap … and choose Share.

Step 3 Choose from the file-sharing options available to send your PDF.

transfer pdfs to iphone

While using the Files app is ideal for most iPhone users, you'll still need a suitable app such as PDFelement to create a shareable link to your recipients. Using PDFelement also lets you use a wide range of PDF features for editing and share PDFs to Google Drive, DropBox, and other cloud platforms available today.


Conclusion

Transferring documents using your iPhone instead of a computer has become more popular. Knowing the right tools to share your PDFs on the go easily is essential if you want to save time and money. You can follow the different methods discussed in the article or simply use a dedicated app such as PDFelement to transfer PDFs faster and without worries.

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