How to Get PDF from Windows to iPhone in 4 Easy and Quick Ways?

"This seems like it should be so simple and I believe it USED to be. I just need to transfer a PDF from my PC to my iPhone. There used to be a "Books" section in iTunes and you could sync it with the "Books" app on the iPhone. This no longer seems to be possible. How can I accomplish this task? Thanks."

- from Apple Community

A PDF file is one of the most commonly used file types. This neat and easy-to-transfer file format is a good way to read books on a computer or mobile phone. Perhaps you've downloaded many PDF books on your computer and want to view them on your iPhone when you are offline; then you will have a question on how to get PDF from Windows to iPhone. Though there's no direct way to put PDF on an iPhone from a Windows computer, this task can be done easily with the right tool. This comprehensive guide will tell you four ways to move PDF to iPhone using the best iOS data transfer software, iTunes, iCloud, and email.

Part 1. How to Get PDF from Windows to iPhone with iTunes

iTunes is the official file management tool provided by Apple, which can help Windows users easily transfer PDF files to their iPhones. However, it's important to note that after data synchronization, it may also delete existing books on your iOS device. If you don't mind that, here is how to transfer PDF to iPhone using iTunes:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to a Windows computer using a USB cable, then open iTunes on your PC.

Step 2. Add your PDF books to the iTunes library. To do so, click "File" on the top menu > "Add File to Library" > select the PDF files on your computer and import them to iTunes.

Step 3. Click the device icon at the top of the iTunes window.

Step 4. Select "Books" from the left sidebar and then check the box next to "Sync Books".

Step 5. Click "Selected books" and then select the books or PDF files you need to sync. After selection, click "Apply" to start the syncing.

After syncing, you can open the iBooks app on your iPhone and find the PDFs transferred from your PC.

Part 2. How to Get PDF from Windows to iPhone Without iTunes

If you don't want to use iTunes, here are several alternative methods to help you easily transfer PDFs from Windows to your iPhone.

2.1 How to Send PDF to iPhone via Coolmuster iOS Assistant

Coolmuster iOS Assistant is an iOS file transfer application that allows you to transfer PDFs to an iPhone from a computer with a few clicks. Unlike iTunes, which may remove the current books on your iPhone after syncing, iOS Assistant will not cause any data loss. You can import the purchased and non-purchased iBooks in PDF format from PC to iPhone. It is your ideal solution to transfer PDFs to an iPhone without iTunes.

Key features of Coolmuster iOS Assistant:

• Transfer contacts, books(ePub, PDF), calendars, and even iTunes backups from PC to iPhone.
• Effortlessly transfer contacts, SMS, notes, calendars, books, music, photos, videos, and apps from iPhone/iPad/iPod to computer.
• Back up and restore your iPhone/iPad/iPod without iTunes in one click.
• Manage iOS data directly from your computer, including adding, deleting, and editing files.
• Work well on all iPhones running iOS 5 to iOS 18, such as iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11, etc.

Download it from the below buttons and follow the guide to copy PDF to iPhone.

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Here is how to put PDF on iPhone from Windows PC using iOS Assistant:

2.2 How to Transfer PDF to iPhone Using iCloud Drive

Cloud service makes it easy to share files across devices. iCloud Drive is a part of iCloud that allows you to store all your documents. You can use it to upload PDFs from the computer and then access the files on your iPhone with the same Apple ID. (iCloud Drive not syncing?)

Here is how to upload PDF to iPhone via iCloud Drive:

Step 1. Firstly, upload PDF files from PC to iCloud. You can go to iCloud.com on your PC and log in to it with your Apple ID and password. After this, click "iCloud Drive" > upload the PDF documents from the PC to iCloud Drive.

Step 2. On your iPhone, open the "Settings" app > tap [your name] > tap "iCloud" and enable "iCloud Drive".

Step 3. To access the PDF files on iPhone, open the "Files" app on iPhone > click "Browse" > "iCloud Drive". All the documents uploaded from the computer just now are available here. You can click the "Download" icon to get them to your iPhone. (iCloud files not downloading?)

2.3 How to Add PDF to iPhone with Email

Email is also a very easy way to transfer PDF files to iPhone. But as there's a limitation on the email attachment size, you can only send the small-size PDF files.

Here's how to send PDF to iPhone via email:

Step 1. Log into your email on your Windows computer, create a new email, attach the PDF file, and send it to your own email address.

Step 2. Open the Mail app on your iPhone, log into the same email account, and find the email you just sent.

Step 3. Open the email and click on the PDF file attachment to download it, then choose to save it to the "Files" app.

Bonus Tip: How to Add PDF to iPhone from Mac Using AirDrop

AirDrop is a handy tool for transferring files between Apple products. If you have a Mac, you can quickly transfer PDF files to your iPhone using the AirDrop feature.

Here is how to send PDF to iPhone from a Mac using AirDrop:

Step 1. Enable AirDrop on your Mac: Open "Finder" > "AirDrop" > Allow your Mac to be discovered by "Everyone" or "Contacts Only".

Step 2. Turn on AirDrop on your iPhone. You can go to the Control Center and then enable "Bluetooth", "Wi-Fi", and "AirDrop". Then, set it to "Everyone" or "Contacts Only".

Step 3. Locate the PDF file you want to transfer on your Mac, right-click, select "Share", and then choose "AirDrop".

Step 4. Find your iPhone's name in the AirDrop interface and click to confirm sending.

Step 5. A request will pop up on your iPhone; click "Accept".

To Sum Up

This post has introduced how to get PDF from Windows to iPhone in four ways step by step. Apple's official way is to use iTunes to transfer files between iPhone and PC, but it is complicated and may lead to data loss. iCloud Drive and email are suitable for everyday small file transfers. If you're looking for a faster and more convenient transfer experience, consider trying Coolmuster iOS Assistant. It offers a safe and easy way to transfer files from a PC to an iOS device and vice versa.

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