4 Ways to View & Download PDF Documents on an iPhone

PDF download Download Article
Easily get your iPhone to open and read PDFs with this in-depth guide
PDF download Download Article

When using Safari, Chrome, or the Mail app, your iPhone will automatically open PDF files for easy viewing. You can choose to save PDFs to your device, or you can sync it to the Apple Books app for offline viewing. If you download a PDF to your iPhone, you can easily find it in the "Downloads" folder of the Files app. You can also read the documents aloud by adjusting your Accessibility settings. This wikiHow will show you how to open, read, and download PDF files using an iPhone.

Things You Should Know

  • In Safari, tap a PDF link. Pinch the screen to zoom in and out, or long-press text, highlight it, and copy it.
  • Tap the "Share" icon and select the Apple Books app or "Save to Files".
  • Find downloaded PDFs in the Files app → "Browse" → "On My iPhone" → "Downloads".
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Safari

PDF download Download Article
  1. You can also use the Google Chrome app to open PDF files.
  2. PDF files open natively in the Safari app. Tapping a link to a PDF file will display the PDF file in the browser.
    Advertisement
  3. You can pinch the screen to zoom in and out.
    • To copy text, long-press the text, and then drag the two circles to select the text. Tap Copy , and then paste it in another app.
  4. You can add the PDF file you're viewing to your Apple Books app (or other PDF reader). This will allow you to access the PDF at any time, even without a network connection.
    • Tap the Share button at the bottom of the page. This looks like the rectangle with an up-arrow.
    • Tap the Books app.
      • If you don't see the app, scroll to the far right of the listed apps and tap More . Tap Books from the Apps list.
    • Open Apple Books to view your PDF.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Opening Email Attachments

PDF download Download Article
  1. Open the message so that you can see the attachment link at the bottom of the screen.
    • You can use the iOS Mail app, the Gmail app, or another mail app.
  2. This will open the PDF in the Mail app's PDF viewer.
  3. You can pinch the screen to zoom in and out.
    • To copy text, long-press the text, and then drag the two circles to select the text. Tap Copy , and then paste it in another app.
    • If the PDF file was created by scanning a page , you may not be able to highlight text.
    4. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Downloading PDFs

PDF download Download Article
  1. Tapping a link to a PDF will open it in the browser. [1]
    • Use this method to download and save PDF files to your iPhone.
  2. This will be at the bottom of the page.
    • A pop-up menu will open.
  3. You can choose to select a location, but it will default to the Downloads folder.
    • If you have iCloud synced to your device, you can choose to save there instead.
  4. This will be in the top-right corner.
    • The file will be saved to your device.
  5. Open the Files app . This looks like a blue file with a white background. You can find this in your App Library .
  6. This will be in the bottom-right corner.
    • You should see a list of Locations .
    • If you don't see it, tap Browse again to turn to the correct page.
  7. This will be next to a phone icon.
  8. This should be the first folder. It will have an icon of a down-arrow in a circle.
  9. You'll see a list of downloaded files . To open your PDF, tap it.
    10. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Enabling Spoken Content

PDF download Download Article
  1. This looks like a grey cog icon.
    • Use this method if you want your iPhone to read PDFs aloud.
  2. This will be towards the middle of the page, underneath Home Screen .
  3. You can find this below Motion .
  4. This will enable you to select which text you want spoken aloud.
    • If you want to read the entire document without selecting it, toggle on Speak Screen .
      • A speech controller will appear on the side of your screen.
  5. Open a link, file, or use the Apple Books app.
  6. You may need to tap the arrow to find the option.
    • If you don't see the Speak option, you may need to save it to your iPhone first. Then, open the PDF from the Files app.
    • If you selected Speak Screen , tap the speech controller and tap the Play icon. Tap the Pause icon to stop.
    7. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I convert a PDF into a Word document?
    WikiPDF
    Community Answer
    I convert PDF into Word and PPT and other formats by using an app called PDFelement. You can open the PDF file and then select tie Convert function. The work will be done!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2
  • Question
    When the PDF is saved, either in iBooks or email, can it be viewed offline later?
    Community Answer
    When a PDF is sent to yourself via email, it can be viewed offline as long as the document is downloaded to your device.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
  • Question
    How do I read a PDF on my Android?
    Community Answer
    There are several apps on the Play Store that can read PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is probably the most common go-to, as it is also the most common program for the job on other platforms. However, you aren't stuck using it. Just search for PDF Reader on the Play Store and see what you like.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Put an eBook on an iPad
      How to
      Hard Reset an iPhone
      Apple ID Sign Out Unavailable? Here's How to Fix It
      How to
      Get Past the Activation Lock on an iPhone or iPad without the Seller
      10 Simple Ways to Fix an iPhone or Android That Won’t Send Pictures
      6 Easy Steps to Reload Your Cash App Card at the Store
      How to
      Fix the “iPhone Unavailable” Message: Explanation and Fixes
      How to
      Turn On MMS Text Messages on an iPhone
      2 Ways to Get a Still Image from Video on iPhone or iPad
      How to
      Use the iPhone Hidden Album to Hide Private Photos
      How to
      Fix "Notifications Silenced" on iPhone Messages
      How to
      Bypass Your Screen Time Passcode: Reset, Remove, or Hack Screen Time
      How to
      Downgrade and Restore Older Versions of iOS on iPhone
      4 Ways to Find Your Lost iPhone When It’s Offline or Dead
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205751

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 505,814 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement