How to Read EPUB on Apple Books (iPhone, iPad, Mac)

Apple Books (formerly iBooks) is Apple's built-in e-reader that comes pre-installed on all iOS and macOS devices. It has excellent EPUB support and syncs your library across all your Apple devices via iCloud.

Apple Books Overview

Apple Books supports:

• EPUB: Full support including EPUB3
• PDF: Native PDF rendering
• iBooks Author: Apple's own format
• Audiobooks: M4A, M4B formats

It does not support MOBI or AZW (Kindle formats). If you have MOBI files, convert them to PDF or use Calibre to convert to EPUB.

Adding EPUBs to iPhone or iPad

Method 1: Direct from Safari

1. Download an EPUB file in Safari
2. Tap the download icon in the address bar
3. Tap the downloaded file
4. Choose "Open in Books" or tap the Share button and select Books

Method 2: From Files App

1. Download or transfer the EPUB to your Files app
2. Open the Files app
3. Navigate to your EPUB file
4. Tap the file to preview, then tap "Open in Books"
5. Or tap and hold, then choose "Share" > "Books"

Method 3: Via AirDrop

1. On your Mac or another Apple device, right-click the EPUB
2. Select Share > AirDrop
3. Choose your iPhone/iPad
4. On your iOS device, accept the transfer
5. Choose to open in Books

Method 4: Email Attachment

1. Email the EPUB file to yourself
2. Open the email on your iPhone/iPad
3. Tap the attachment
4. Tap the Share button
5. Select "Copy to Books"

Method 5: Via iTunes/Finder (USB)

1. Connect your iPhone/iPad to your Mac
2. Open Finder (macOS Catalina+) or iTunes (older macOS)
3. Select your device in the sidebar
4. Go to the "Books" tab
5. Drag EPUB files onto the window
6. Sync your device

Adding EPUBs to Mac

Method 1: Double-Click

1. Download the EPUB file
2. Double-click the file
3. It opens directly in Books and gets added to your library

Method 2: Drag and Drop

1. Open the Books app
2. Drag EPUB files from Finder into the Books window
3. Files are added to your library

Method 3: File > Import

1. Open Books
2. Go to File > Import to My Library (or press Cmd+O)
3. Select your EPUB file(s)
4. Click Import

iCloud Sync

Apple Books syncs across all your devices:

• Books added on iPhone appear on iPad and Mac
• Reading progress syncs automatically
• Highlights and notes sync too
• Collections organize the same way everywhere

Enable iCloud Books Sync

On iPhone/iPad:

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud
2. Enable "Books"

On Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud
2. Ensure "iCloud Drive" is enabled
3. In Books, go to Preferences > General
4. Enable "Sync collections, bookmarks, and highlights across devices"

Reading Features

Customizing Display

While reading, tap the center of the screen, then the "aA" button:

• Font size: Adjust text size
• Font: Choose from several fonts
• Themes: White, Sepia, Gray, or Black backgrounds
• Brightness: Adjust display brightness
• Scrolling view: Scroll instead of page turns

Highlights and Notes

• Select text to highlight in different colors
• Add notes to highlighted passages
• Access all highlights from the table of contents menu

Looking Up Words

Select any word to:

• See dictionary definition
• Search Wikipedia
• Search the web
• Translate to other languages

Organizing Your Library

Collections

Create collections to organize books:

1. Go to the Library tab
2. Tap/click "Collections"
3. Create new collections (e.g., "Fiction," "Textbooks," "To Read")
4. Add books to collections

Sorting and Viewing

• Sort by Recent, Title, Author, or Manually
• Switch between grid and list views
• Filter by All, Downloaded, Want to Read, Finished

Troubleshooting

EPUB Won't Open

• DRM protected: Books may have incompatible DRM
• Corrupted file: Try re-downloading
• Not EPUB: Verify the file is actually .epub

Missing from Library

• Check if iCloud sync is enabled
• Look in "Downloaded" vs "All" filter
• Re-import the file

Sync Problems

• Ensure same Apple ID on all devices
• Check iCloud storage isn't full
• Try signing out and back into iCloud

Alternative: Convert to PDF

If you have issues with EPUB in Apple Books, converting to PDF is an option:

• PDF has consistent formatting across all devices
• Apple Books handles PDF very well
• Good for books with complex layouts

Use CheersPDF's EPUB to PDF converter — it works right in Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Sources for Free EPUBs

Build your Apple Books library with free, legal ebooks:

• Project Gutenberg: 70,000+ public domain classics
• Standard Ebooks: Beautifully formatted editions
• Open Library: Borrowing library
• Your local library: Via Libby app
• Apple Books Store: Free section

Editorial Contributor

Written by Aarav Sharma

Aarav specializes in WCAG compliance and ensuring document rendering engines are fully tailored for visually impaired and dyslexic readers globally.