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How to Open PDF on iPhone [A Complete Guide]

January 11, 2024 569 views

PDFs are a popular format for sharing documents, but they can be tricky to open and read on mobile devices. iPhones come with a variety of built-in tools for opening and viewing PDFs, but they can be confusing to use. This guide will show you how to open, read, and download PDF files using an iPhone. You will learn how to open PDFs from different sources, such as email, websites, and cloud storage services. You will also learn how to use the built-in PDF reader in iOS, as well as third-party PDF reader apps.

Method 1: Using WPS Office App

WPS Office


WPS Office is a free and all-in-one office suite that allows you to open and edit different kinds of files on your iPhone, including PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. It is a popular alternative to Microsoft Office, and it is available for both iOS and Android devices.

Here is step by step to using WPS Office App:

Step 1: Go to App Store and search WPS Office app

WPS Office app


Step 2: Click the “Get” button to download and install the WPS Office app

Download


Step 3: Open the WPS Office app and tap on the + button in the top right corner.

+ button


Step 4: Select PDF from the list of file types.

PDF file


Step 5: Select the PDF file that you want to open.

File types


Step 6: The PDF file will open in the WPS Office app.

Pros of WPS Office

  • Free to use Word, Excel, and PPT. Powerful PDF toolkit

  • Rich template store, which contains variousfree and paid templates for Word, PPT, and Excel

  • Rich functions

  • The light weight of the product is only 200M, and it occupies a small amount of computer memory. It is suitable for Win7, 10, and 11

  • The MAC version of WPS Office is very powerful. Microsoft office ignores the experience of mac users, which can be made up by wps office

  • Supportonline documents (WPS AirPage), multi-person collaborative editing

  • WPS office also supports Linux systems, Android, and ios systems. To use WPS office products on different systems, you only need to log in to the same account, and all files can be synchronized

My experience:

WPS Office is a great option for users who are looking for a free and easy-to-use office suite for their iPhone. It offers a wide range of features and is compatible with a wide range of file formats.

Method 2: Opening Email Attachment on iPhone

If you receive a PDF attachment in an email, you can open it directly from the Mail app. You can also choose to download the PDF to your iPhone so that you can view it later or share it with others.

Let's say you receive an email from your boss with a PDF attachment of a new company policy. To open the PDF attachment, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Gmail app

Gmail app


Step 2: Choose the email that contains the PDF attachment.

email


Step 3: Tap on the PDF attachment.

PDF attachment


Step 4: The PDF attachment will open in the Mail app's PDF viewer.

PDF viewer


My experience: Opening PDF attachments on an iPhone is easy and straightforward. You can open them directly from the Mail app or download them to your iPhone so that you can view them later or share them with others.

Method 3: Using iBooks on iPhone

iBooks is Apple's built-in PDF reader app for iPhone. It is a simple and easy-to-use app that allows you to open, read, and annotate PDFs.

iBooks


To open PDF file by using iBooks please follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the iBooks app.

iBooks app


Step 2: Tap on the Library tab.

Library tab


Step 3: Select the PDF file that you want to open.

Choose PDF file


Step 4: The PDF file will open in the iBooks app.

My experience:

iBooks is a great option for users who are looking for a simple and easy-to-use PDF reader app for their iPhone. It offers all of the essential features that you need to open, read, and annotate PDFs.

Method 4: Using Safari on iPhone

Safari is the default web browser on the iPhone. It can also be used to open and read PDFs.

If you are browsing the web and you come across a PDF file that you want to open. To open the PDF file in Safari, follow these steps:

Step 1: Tap on the link to the PDF file.

Link with PDF file

Step 2: The PDF file will open in Safari.

PDF in safari view

Step 3: You can scroll through the PDF file and zoom in and out.

Step 4: To save the PDF file to your iPhone, tap on the Share button in the top right corner and then tap on Save to Files.

Save file

My experience:

I have found that Safari's PDF viewer is adequate for basic tasks, such as viewing and downloading PDF files. However, it is not suitable for more advanced tasks, such as annotating or editing PDF files.

Comparison of different methods:

Here is a brief comparison of the four methods for opening PDF files on iPhone:

Method

Pros

Cons

WPS Office

Comprehensive features, free, compatible with a wide range of file formats


iBooks

Simple and easy to use, built-in to iOS

Limited features, not suitable for advanced tasks

Safari

Convenient, no need to download an additional app

Limited features, not suitable for advanced tasks

Mail app

Convenient, no need to download an additional app

Limited features, not suitable for advanced tasks

Fastest method: Safari is the fastest method for opening PDF files on iPhone, as it does not require you to download or open an additional app.

Most convenient method: Safari is also the most convenient method for opening PDF files on iPhone, as it is the default web browser on iPhone.

Best method for beginners: WPS Office is the best method for beginners, as it is a comprehensive PDF reader app that is easy to use.

Conclusion

The best method for opening PDF files on an iPhone depends on your needs and preferences. If you need a comprehensive PDF reader app with advanced features, then WPS Office is the best option. If you are looking for a simple and easy-to-use PDF reader app, then iBooks is the best option. If you are looking for a convenient way to open PDF files without having to download an additional app, then Safari is the best option.

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WPS Office- Free All-in-One Office Suite
  • Use Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE, No Ads.

  • Edit PDF files with the powerful PDF toolkit.

  • Microsoft-like interface. Easy to learn. 100% Compatibility.

  • Boost your productivity with WPS's abundant free Word, Excel, PPT, and CV templates.

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Algirdas Jasaitis
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FAQs about how to open pdf on iphone

1. Why can't I open a PDF file on my iPhone?

There are a few reasons why you might not be able to open a PDF file on your iPhone:

● You don't have a PDF reader app installed on your iPhone.

● The PDF file is corrupted or damaged.

● The PDF file is protected by a password.

● You don't have permission to open the PDF file.

2. How do I convert a PDF into a Word document on my iphone?

You can use the WPS Office app. The WPS Office app has a built-in PDF converter that can convert PDF files to Word documents.

Steps:

● Open the WPS Office app and tap on the + button in the top right corner.

● Select PDF from the list of file types.

● Select the PDF file that you want to convert.

● Tap on the Export button in the top right corner.

● Select Word from the list of file formats.

● Choose a location where you want to save the converted Word document and tap on Save.

3. Can I annotate a PDF file on my iPhone?

Yes, you can annotate a PDF file on your iPhone using the WPS Office app or iBooks. To do this, open the PDF file in the app and then tap on the Annotate button. You can then use the annotation tools to highlight, underline, or strikethrough text, add notes, and draw shapes.

4. Why do some PDFs display as blank pages on my iPhone?

Blank pages in a PDF on your iPhone may be due to compatibility issues, corrupt files, or problems with the way the PDF was created. Try opening the PDF in a different app or download it again to ensure it's not a corrupted file.

5. How can I open a password-protected PDF on my iPhone?

If a PDF is password-protected, you will need the password to open it. Enter the password when prompted by your PDF reader app to access the document.

Summary

The article "How to Open PDF on iPhone [A Complete Guide]" provides comprehensive guidance on opening and managing PDF files on iPhones. It emphasizes the use of WPS Office for PDF conversion. The guide covers common options open PDFs, it highlights the importance of having a PDF reader app installed and recommends popular options. This guide assists iPhone users in efficiently handling PDF documents on their devices.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.