How to Download a PDF File on an iPhone — 6 Methods

Want to transfer PDFs to iPad or iPhone without iTunes? We put together 6 quick ways to add PDFs to your iPhone.

PDFs are a great way to view important documents. They are organized, clean, and easy to transfer and read. They are widely used as the official format for sharing valuable documents online. You can even sign them.

However, the most efficient use of PDFs I have seen yet has to be PDF books or eBooks. Instead of buying a 500-page, heavy, bulky book from a bookstore, you can find its copy on Google as an eBook for free! 

However, transferring those PDFs to an iPhone or iPad is challenging. These devices have very limited file transfer options. These often involve using iTunes, which is now discontinued for Mac, and the Windows version is just too tedious. 

So, below, you will find a quick selection of ways to send PDFs to iPads without iTunes—and most importantly, save your time.

How to Transfer PDF from Computer to iPhone with WALTR

Ever wish you could just drop anything into a magic box, and it instantly shows up on your iPhone? Well…

WALTR PRO is a universal converter and transfer app that brings any file from your PC to your iPhone. Regardless of type, it will convert any media from your PC directly to your iPhone in the Apple-supported format, simultaneously placing the file in the corresponding native app in a matter of seconds. With it, you can save a PDF on your iPhone from your PC and dozens of other files.

Step 1. Download WALTR PRO by clicking on the free download button below

WALTR PRO is a free-to-download transfer tool dedicated explicitly to iOS devices. You will need to activate a 24-hour trial period with the code you can request via your email on the app startup.  WALTR PRO can transfer audio, video, and PDF files to your iPhone without using iTunes or Jailbreak.

WALTR PRO also supports EBUP format, another popular and widely used format. The app makes it easy to play MKV videos on your iPhone. 

Step 2. Install and launch the WALTR PRO app on your Mac/Windows PC

Step 3. Connect your iPhone to your PC

You can connect your iPhone via a USB cord or Wi-Fi.

Step 4. Drag and drop your PDF file into the WALTR PRO app.

Your transfer will be finished within seconds, and you will receive a notification. After you send the PDF to your iPad, all the files will land in the default iBooks app on your iPhone! In seconds, you can add any PDF file to your iPad or iPhone with WALTR PRO. That’s all there is to it.

Besides PDFs, you can drop music and movies in any format. With WALTR PRO, you can also download and open any other formats that you may have trouble playing natively on your iPhone or iPad.

However, when you launch it first, you must connect your iPhone with a cable. If you hate wires like we do, click on the little settings wheel in the bottom right corner of the app and hit “Enable Wi-Fi Connectivity.” The next time you use it, WALTR PRO will recognize your device without plugging it in.

Is WALTR PRO Free to Use?

The download is free. WALTR PRO comes with a one-day free trial without any restrictions. If you encounter any questions or requests about the app, you can always ask us right here.

BTW – MacObserver claims that WALTR PRO is a perfect iTunes replacement.

Why Use WALTR PRO?

WALTR really stands out in the crowd:

• It’s very simple. The user interface is more than straightforward. It is just a drop-zone window without any buttons at all.
• You simply need to drop your PDF file to add it to your iBooks app.
• There’s no size limit!
• Transfer speed is suuuuuper fast.
• It supports wireless transfers.
• It converts file formats on-the-fly.

How to Download a PDF on an iPhone with Safari

The most straightforward way to download a PDF file is with the help of a native Safari web browser. Some guides advise you to pick a PDF, save it to Files, and then open it with a different PDF reader than 'Books.' We think these actions are redundant, and you can download a PDF on an iPhone directly from Safari to Books. Let's show step-by-step how to do it.

Note: All PDF files on iPhone usually located in Books app or Files app. 

Step 1. Open the page with desired PDF file in Safari

Find the PDF file you want to download. Usually, PDF documents open on a separate webpage so you can read them in a browser. That option is not really convenient for long documents or books, so we will proceed to save the PDF in a more suitable app. The URL of all PDF downloads like this will be located in the Safari search bar.

Step 2. Navigate to 'Open In' icon at the bottom menu of Safari

Step 3. Pick 'Books' option if presented right away or navigate to 'More' to find it

You may have an alternative option to download PDFs on the iPhone Files app and open them from there. To do so, scroll down after tapping the 'Open In' icon and locate the 'Save to Files' option. Tap it, and you'll save a PDF on the iPhone's file system.

Step 4. Tap the PDF and feel free to read it

You can find PDF file to save, marked additionally as new, to separate it from older content.

All the PDF files on your iPhone can be opened natively in the Books app and saved there. Alternatively, you can read them from the direct webpage in Safari, but this option is far from convenient and more like a temporary solution for quick access.

How to Transfer PDF to iPhone using Books on Mac

You will find many ways to transfer PDF files to iPad & iPhone. One way to do this is by using the Apple Books app on your Mac and iOS devices. However, since Apple is all ‘exclusive’ about its devices, you can only transfer PDFs from MacBook to iPad. This means that you can't add PDFs to an iPad or iPhone from a Windows PC. 

So if you are using Windows, you still have WALTR PRO and iCloud to go with :)

To transfer PDFs from a MacBook to an iPad or iPhone, make sure to switch on iCloud Drive to share books between your Mac and iOS device. It will only work if you have iCloud sharing on.

Step 1. Start iBooks by going to your Launchpad.

Then you will need to drag your files into the app.

Drag your file into PDFs section in iBooks.

Next, make sure to connect your device. Check the ‘Sync books’ > ‘Selected books’ option.

Step 2. Click on a PDF file that you want to transfer.

This action should trigger a priority sync for that particular book.

Step 3. Hit “Apply”.

Now go into your Apple Books app on iPad or iPhone. Your book is there. Hooray!

Note: You can also put your audiobooks in your iPhone without iTunes.

How to AirDrop PDF to your Apple Device

You must be aware of Apple’s alternative to Bluetooth, AirDrop. AirDrop always comes in handy when you need to share files with friends or family who share iOS devices. So if you want to send PDF to iPad without iTunes, you can always Airdrop PDF to iPad or iPhone. This is super simple. 

However, like Apple Books, it does not work for Windows users. So, if you are using Windows, you still have WALTR PRO and iCloud to use.

You most likely already know the basics of how AirDrop works. It is super easy to transfer PDFs to iPads and iPhones using AirDrop.

Here’s what you should do:

Since AirDrop is not compatible with some older Macs, first  make sure that AirDrop is available for your Mac.

Click on ‘Go’ in the menu bar, and if you find AirDrop in the drop-down list, well, you are lucky. 

Step 1: On your iOS device, go to Settings and make sure AirDrop is switched on.

Step 2: On your Mac, click on ‘AirDrop’ in Finder. The list of AirDrop users nearby will appear, so you can select your iPad or iPhone from the list.

Step 3: Drag the PDF to the needed icon in the menu. It will show up in your Apple Books app.

Wait until your device is visible in AirDrop. Then simply drag and drop your PDF there.

Wait until your device is visible in AirDrop. Then simply drag your PDF there.

How to Download PDFs to an iPhone Using iCloud

One of the most convenient things about Apple has to be iCloud, Apple’s cloud service that lets you store and sync data with all of your Apple devices. 

Thanks to iCloud, you don’t have to transfer files across your iOS devices separately. You can quickly access all the data on iCloud via your Mac, iPad, iPhone, or even iPod. 

If you are wondering how to transfer a PDF to an iPad or iPhone, you can use iCloud to transfer a PDF to an iPad or iPhone. 

Here’s how to transfer PDF to iPad or iPhone with iCloud:

• Step 1. Go to System Preferences > iCloud and check the ‘iCloud drive’ box there.

All apps that store data in iCloud are checkmarked. Alternatively, you may visit iCloud.com and sign up with your Apple ID.

• Step 2. In Finder, go to iCloud Drive and open it.
• Step 3. Drag & drop your file in there. Simply go to iCloud Drive and drag’n’drop your PDF in there. DONE!
• Step 4. Go to iCloud on your iPhone & iPad and enable it.
• Step 5. Launch iCloud on your iPhone & iPad and open your PDF.

It will be opened with the help of iBooks app, though it will not be saved there unless you download it.

Can I add PDF to iPad using Finder on macOS Catalina?

Yes :)

Did you know that using Finder on MacOS Catalina is a great way to sync your data across iOS devices? Well, now you know. So, to answer your question, “Can I add PDF to iPad using Finder on macOS Catalina?”, I’d say YES, you can! :)

Finder is a great file manager for iOS devices compared to iTunes. The only downside to it is that it only works for Mac users. Apart from that, Finder is better and easier to navigate than the complex iTunes. You don't need to deal with all the functionality iTunes used to have.

So, let's see how you can transfer a PDF into iPad or iPhone using Finder.

Follow these quick instructions to add ebooks to iTunes.

Step 1: Open Finder & plug in your iOS device.

Step 2: Next, check the “Manually sync files to iPhone” option in the Summary tab.

Step 3: Click on 'Books' in the menu bar and check 'Sync Books onto iPhone' > 'Selected books', respectively.

Here's a caveat: If your iPad or iPhone is synced with another library, you will receive the following message, like I did. It's your choice here. If you proceed, the contents of your “Books” app will be removed.

Step 4: Locate the ePUB or PDF file that you want to transfer to your device.

Step 5: Drag and drop the ebook from your computer to iPhone in the left sidebar of Finder

Step 6: Finally, go to the iBooks app on your device, and you will find your PDF file there. 

That’s it! 

By the way, another really common conversation many people look for is a conversion from WEBM to MP4, which the WALTR PRO app also handles with ease.

But if you are a Windows user and you are wondering how to save PDFs on an iPhone or iPad using a Windows PC, you can always use WALTR PRO to drag and drop PDF files to your iOS device.  

Bottom Line

That’s all, folks! These six ways allow you to easily download PDF files to an iPhone or iPad without using iTunes. Of course, some of these only work for Mac, and some work for both (such as WALTR PRO ). 

After testing many alternatives and even using iTunes, we concluded that WALTR PRO does the job faster and easier than any other solution. It works for both Mac and Windows users and even converts incompatible file formats on the fly. With just a drop-zone window without any settings or buttons, WALTR PRO does the job within seconds.

You may also struggle with playing other formats. With WALTR PRO, you can easily convert and play WMV. The app converts WAV format as well, which is another rather popular one.

On top of that, you can easily convert MP3, and many more formats into iOS-compatible formats on-the-fly.

So once you have tried all of these ways, pick your favorite one, or the one that is more convenient for you, try it out, and let me know which one worked the best for you in the comments below :)

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