Read your first PDF
Import a PDF into Bookil and start reading.
Bookil reads PDFs that live on your device. This page walks through importing a PDF and opening it for the first time.
The first screen
When you open Bookil for the first time, the All Books view is empty. The sidebar on the left shows:
- All Books — every PDF in your library
- Unfiled — PDFs that don’t belong to any collection
- Collections — folders you create
- Add PDF — opens the file picker
- Settings
On iPhone in portrait, the sidebar slides over the library. Tap the sidebar toggle in the search row to show it again. On iPad in full screen, the sidebar stays open beside the library.
Import a PDF
There are three ways to add PDFs to Bookil.
From another app (share)
- Open the PDF in another app — Files, Safari, Mail, or any cloud storage app.
- Tap Share.
- Choose Bookil from the share sheet.
Bookil opens and the PDF appears on your shelf.
From the file picker
- Tap Add PDF in the sidebar, or Add PDF in the empty-library state.
- Pick one or more PDFs. You can select multiple files at once.
The picker can reach Files, iCloud Drive, and any other location your device exposes.
Directly into the Bookil folder
Bookil’s folder is visible in the Files app. You can copy or drag PDFs into it from any source. They’ll appear in the library the next time you open the app.
To open Bookil’s folder, go to Settings → Show files in Files app.
Open a PDF
Tap any cover or row to open the PDF. Bookil remembers the last page you were on, so the next time you open the same PDF, you’ll pick up where you left off.
Read
- Tap the left edge to go to the previous page.
- Tap the right edge to go to the next page.
- Tap the center to show or hide the top and bottom bars.
- Pinch to zoom in (up to 4×). Tap the edges to send page turns once you’re back at 1×.
When you reach the last page, Bookil marks the PDF as Read automatically.
Go back
Tap the back arrow in the top bar to return to the library. Your progress is saved.
What if a PDF won’t open?
Some PDFs can’t be opened in Bookil:
- Password-protected PDFs — Bookil shows a password prompt. Cancel returns you to the library.
- PDFs with interactive forms — Bookil shows “This PDF cannot be opened.” There’s no workaround inside the app; open the PDF in another app to fill out the form.
- Corrupted PDFs — Bookil shows an import-failure banner. Try a different source of the same file.
See Troubleshooting for more.