How to Retrieve iBooks PDFs Synced to iCloud Drive

Managing your PDFs, especially when they are synced to iCloud Drive via the iBooks app, can be a straightforward task. Whether you are using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, these step-by-step guides will help you locate and access your synced PDFs.

Using an iPhone or iPad

On your iPhone or iPad, the process involves using the Files app. Here is how you can find and open your PDFs:

Open the Files app. It typically has a blue folder icon on your home screen. Navigate to iCloud Drive. This is usually found in the list of locations once you open the Files app. Locate the iBooks folder. Search for a folder named iBooks. To open the PDF, tap on it. You can also share it or save it to another location.

Using a Mac

On your Mac, you will use Finder to access your PDFs:

Open Finder. The Finder icon is typically found in your dock. Go to iCloud Drive. This can be accessed from the sidebar in Finder. Find the iBooks folder. Look for a folder named Books. To access your PDFs, double-click on the PDF file to open it. You can also copy or move it to another folder as needed.

Using the iCloud Websites

If you need to access your PDFs via your browser, follow these steps:

Visit Open a web browser and go to this URL. Sign in with your Apple ID and password. Open iCloud Drive from the menu or sidebar on the page. Locate your PDFs by browsing to the appropriate folder.

Additional Tips

Ensure iCloud Drive is enabled on your devices. To do this:

For iOS devices, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive. For iPadOS devices, go to Settings > [Your Apple ID] > iCloud > iCloud Drive. For Mac, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Drive.

When you upload a PDF to the iBooks app, make sure it was uploaded successfully. If you do not see the PDF in the expected folder, check the upload status or ensure that Books is enabled in iCloud Drive/Options….

Books should be enabled in either system preferences or settings on your device. When enabled, you will see thumbnails for all purchased books and the PDFs in your library. However, you will need to Download the books to your mobile device to have offline access. Tap the cloud icon in the Books app to download your books.

Additionally, if you need to save a book or PDF to another application, you can use the Share Book menu item in the Books app. This will allow you to save it to Files or send it as an attachment.

If you have further questions about accessing PDFs synced to iCloud Drive via browsing in the Files app or Finder, it may be due to the nature of how iCloud and iBooks handle PDFs. The files are stored in a way that makes them accessible within the app but not directly as individual files through the file system.