Syncing iBooks between devices is a common need, and it can be easily done via the Settings App. However, many users have reported issues with iBooks not syncing, either from Mac to iPhone or iPad, or vice versa, especially in iOS 11. This article aims to provide potential tips to fix the iBooks not syncing issue, as well as an alternative way to sync iBooks between devices at no cost.
There are two main situations where iBooks may not sync: between a Mac and iPhone/iPad, or between two iOS devices. If the problem persists, you can try various solutions, but if none of them work, you can use the free method in Part 2 to sync iBooks between your Mac and iPhone/iPad or between two iOS devices.
If iBooks won't sync automatically from your Mac to your iPhone or iPad, you can manually sync Books from your Mac to your iPhone or iPad using Qiling MobiMover.
Fix 1: Make sure you are using iCloud Drive for iBooks
Go to Settings > your name > iCloud, toggle on iCloud Drive, and switch on iBooks. If iBooks isn't syncing PDFs, ensure iCloud Drive is enabled for iBooks.
Fix 2: Re-enable iBooks under iCloud
To resolve the issue where iBooks are not syncing, go to the device where the iBooks are not synced, select Settings, then your name, followed by iCloud. Turn off iBooks, and then switch it back on again.
Fix 3: Set iBooks under Settings correctly
To sync iBooks from iPad to iPhone, enable Sync Collections and Sync Bookmarks and Notes under Settings > iBooks. This ensures that your iBooks collections and bookmarks are synced across devices.
You can use Qiling MobiMover Free, a FREEWARE for iOS data transfer, to sync iBooks from your Mac to your iPhone, from your iPad to your iPhone, or vice versa. With MobiMover installed on your Mac or PC, you can transfer files, including books, between your computer and iOS devices (iPhone/iPad in iOS 8 or later) or between two iOS devices.
Photos: Camera Roll, Photo Library, Photo Stream, Photo Videos
Videos: Movies, TV shows, Music Videos
Audios: Music, Ringtones, Voice Memos, Audiobooks, Playlists
Others: Contacts, Notes, Messages, Voice Mails, Books, and Safari Bookmarks
MobiMover supports syncing all types of iBooks files, including PDFs, ePubs, and audiobooks. If you're experiencing issues syncing PDF files with iBooks, using MobiMover is a good solution. To sync iBooks from your iPad to iPhone, or from your Mac to iPhone, follow these steps with MobiMover.
Notes: MobiMover is compatible with PC running Windows 7 and later or Mac running macOS 10.12 (Sierra), 10.13 (High Sierra), Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion), 10.8 (Mountain Lion), 10.9 (Mavericks), and 10.11 (El Capitan).
Step 1. To transfer books from your iPhone to your iPad, connect both devices to your computer via USB, either a Mac or PC. Open Qiling MobiMover and select "Phone to Phone" in the main interface, or go to "Content Management" > "Others" > "Books" to transfer books all at once or selectively.
Step 2. You can transfer all your data or just select Books to move to your iPad directly.
Step 3. After clicking the "Transfer" button, the books will be transferred from iPhone to iPad, and once complete, you can view the synced books in the "Books" app on your iPad.
MobiMover supports transferring various file types, including text messages, photos, and music, allowing users to back up iPhone data, share photos between devices, and transfer music to their iPhone from a computer, making it a useful tool for iPhone and iPad users in various data transfer situations.