How To Rename PDFs in iBooks for iPad

How To Rename PDFs in iBooks for iPad

22 Comments

iBooks is an app from Apple that allows you to read books, but it also makes a fairly decent PDF reader.

An awesome DocumentSnap reader asked if it is possible to rename PDFs stored in iBooks and it turns out – it is! It is just not exactly obvious how to do it.

View the video below, or click here to watch it on YouTube. If you are able to, I recommend that you watch it with HD turned on.

This video on renaming a PDF in iBooks is part of a series of quick videos on paperless tips and topics. View more in the series here.

About the Author

Brooks Duncan helps individuals and small businesses go paperless. He's been an accountant, a software developer, a manager in a very large corporation, and has run DocumentSnap since 2008. You can find Brooks on Twitter at @documentsnap or @brooksduncan. Thanks for stopping by.

Leave a Reply 22 comments

John - May 17, 2022 Reply

Without a date, an article like this is less than worthless. It’s irritating and worthless. The layout on my iPad screen doesn’t resemble what the associated video shows. Presumably because this is an old article. (My iPad and software are current.)

Liz - December 27, 2018 Reply

None of the instructions on how to change iBooks titles work for me using OS 12.1.1.

Dale - September 8, 2018 Reply

This is only an aesthetic renaming of the document. If you were to try to send it through email to someone, it attaches the file as “Untitled”. Apple makes renaming files unbelievably irritating, as if they don’t think that it’s one of the most important ways to organize your digital life.

David - April 3, 2016 Reply

I can get the circle, but there is no edit button. Now what?

Eric W - January 21, 2016 Reply

I don’t get the edit button either on IOS 9.2.

    Brooks Duncan - January 21, 2016 Reply

    I’ll update the video but in the meantime see Michelle’s comment below for the new instructions.

      Eric W - January 21, 2016 Reply

      Worked! Cheers!

      Taleen - April 6, 2016 Reply

      I followed Mihelle’s instrux and it worked for a moment. When I hit done, everything was gone. All downloads of all pdfs. Any suggestions? Can I get them back?

        Taleen - April 6, 2016 Reply

        OK, so when I totally powered down and logged back in, the pdfs showed up, but only the one I renamed was named correctly. Everything renamed while in a prior version reverted.

        Wm - June 6, 2016 Reply

        I have the very same problem.

        I tap select. Then tap the circle to the left of a file name.
        Now I tap the file name and change it. Tap the ‘keyboard’ done.
        Now I tap the ‘page’ done and then double tap the home button. I swipe away the iBooks app. Then tap to get the home screen and tap the iBooks icon. There I see my file with its new name. Great. But now, surprise, surprise, before my very eyes the name reverts back to its original name. “I hate this hacker crap!” (Jurassic Park quote). Apple may manufacture robust hardware but their software and their app developers software is amateur. If the Gates crap wasn’t so susceptible to viruses or crashes I’d go back to the dirty Windows OS. I am so discouraged with the state of PCs, OSs, and software today. As a retired firmware engineer, I know where the technology/computer sciences should be.

c.Keegan - October 12, 2015 Reply

I don’t get an edit button?

    Michelle - November 8, 2015 Reply

    I don’t either. I used the “select” option. Circles will appear in front of the document. Select the doc you want to change. Then hold your finger on the title. From there you should be able to change.

      Jay - December 23, 2015 Reply

      Thanks Michelle!

      Caroline - June 6, 2016 Reply

      Thank you SOOOOO much!

      Vpqmom - June 23, 2016 Reply

      Thanks Michelle!!! That worked!

      Robert Morrison - September 3, 2016 Reply

      This works! Voila!

      Gary - August 1, 2017 Reply

      Thanks for the proper instructions. Much appreciated.

      Lisa - August 26, 2017 Reply

      Thanks Michelle I’ve been farting around with this for days and it was so easy cheers Lisa

Larese - September 22, 2015 Reply

Thanks! This was just the information I needed!

Chris - October 24, 2014 Reply

Unfortunately, this does not permanently change the title of the book or document once the device is synced with iTunes/iBooks. Would love to be able to do so.

    Mirjam - June 22, 2016 Reply

    What Chris said is still the case in 2016. I can change it but it will be in vein…

Ann - June 2, 2014 Reply

Hooray!! I save knitting patterns in iBooks and the alphabet soup was crazy. I very much appreciate your work and clarity.

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