Apple Books is a free download from the App Store on an iPhone or an iPad, and it is already installed on every Mac. The seller line reads Apple Inc., the price reads $0.00, and no subscription is attached.
The iPhone and iPad release is version 5.4 at 17.3 MB. On a Mac the app arrives with macOS, so there is nothing separate to fetch.
This guide covers the official App Store link, install and sign-in steps, iCloud sync across devices, the formats the app imports, fixes for stalled downloads, and what a Windows PC can run instead.
Which Apple Books download do you need?
Match the machine in front of you to the first column. Every route below is free, and none of them asks for a licence key.
| Your device | What to install | Size | Minimum system |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Apple Books 5.4 on the App Store | 17.3 MB | iOS 12 or later |
| iPad | Apple Books 5.4 on the App Store | 17.3 MB | iPadOS 12 or later |
| Mac | Already installed — open the Books app | None | macOS Mojave 10.14 or later |
| Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC | Amazon Kindle: Reading App | 492.3 MB bundle | Apple ships no Windows build |
Download Apple Books for Mac, iPhone and iPad
Open the listing, then tap Get. Check that the seller line reads Apple Inc. before the transfer starts.
- Apple Books for iPhone and iPad on the App Store — 17.3 MB · Version 5.4, updated 14 September 2026
- Apple’s product page for the reader — Feature tour for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, CarPlay and Apple Vision Pro
- Books User Guide for Mac — The Mac app ships with macOS, so the guide replaces a download page
- Apple software for Windows — The Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Devices and iTunes apps for a PC
An Apple Account is needed before anything reaches your library, on a phone and on a Mac alike.
Check the Apple Books specifications and system requirements
Read your own macOS release from Apple menu > About This Mac, or your iOS release from Settings > General > About.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Software | Apple Books |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
| Latest version | 5.4 on iPhone and iPad; the Mac app ships with macOS |
| Licence and price | Free, no subscription |
| Download size | 17.3 MB on iPhone and iPad; nothing to download on a Mac |
| Supported OS | iOS 12 or later, iPadOS 12 or later, macOS Mojave 10.14 through macOS 27 |
| Windows version | None. Apple publishes no Windows build |
| Architecture | Apple silicon and Intel Macs, plus iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro |
| Category | Books |
| Languages | English and 32 more |
| Official download source | App Store (apps.apple.com) |
| Offline installer | No |
| Last verified | 2026-09-22 |
Which Apple Books download do you need for your Mac?
None of them. The Books app is part of macOS, and Apple’s user guide runs from Mojave 10.14 up to macOS 27 Golden Gate.
| What About This Mac shows | What to do | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| macOS Mojave 10.14 or later | Open Books from Launchpad and sign in | Books User Guide for Mac |
| Books is missing from Launchpad | Reinstall macOS or restore from a backup; the app is not sold separately | Apple’s product page |
| Purchases bought on an iPhone are absent | Authorize the Mac, then download them from the sidebar | Authorize your Mac |
| macOS older than Mojave 10.14 | Update macOS, or read on the iPhone app instead | Apple Books on the App Store |
One Apple Account authorizes up to five computers and up to ten iOS and iPadOS devices.
How to install Apple Books on your iPhone or iPad
The app is preinstalled on most devices. Follow these steps when it was deleted, or when the library looks empty on a new phone.
- Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Search, type Apple Books, then tap the search key.
- Open the result whose developer line reads Apple.
- Tap Get, then confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
- Wait for the 17.3 MB transfer to finish. The button then reads Open.
- Open the app and sign in with the Apple Account that holds your purchases.
- Tap Library, then tap the cloud icon on any title to bring it back to the device.
- Open Settings > [your name] > iCloud, tap Show All, then turn on Books to sync across devices.
iCloud carries collections, highlights, notes and bookmarks to every device on the same account, and it saves your place in each title.
How to reach your Apple Books library from a Windows PC
Apple ships no reader for Windows. Its list of Apple software for a PC covers the Apple Music app, the Apple TV app, the Apple Devices app and iTunes, and Apple states that podcasts and audiobooks are managed in iTunes on a Windows PC.
- Install iTunes for Windows from the Microsoft Store to handle audiobooks and podcasts on the PC.
- Sign in to iTunes with the same Apple Account you use on the iPhone.
- Install the Apple Devices app to back up, restore and sync the iPhone or iPad from the PC.
- Connect the device with a cable, then select it in Apple Devices to run a sync.
- Read ebooks on the iPhone, iPad or Mac, because the Book Store titles stay inside the Apple apps.
- Install the Kindle reading app when you want an ebook library that opens on the PC itself.
- Keep PDFs in a folder outside the Books app, since any PC reader opens those without a conversion.
A setup file offered elsewhere as an exe or msi under this name is not Apple’s work.
How to tell a genuine Apple Books download from a fake
Four checks settle it before you tap Get.
- Confirm the developer line on the listing reads Apple, and the seller reads Apple Inc.
- Confirm the price reads Free, because Apple charges nothing for the app itself.
- Confirm the address bar shows apps.apple.com, the only store that carries the app.
- Reject any exe, msi or apk carrying the name, as Apple publishes no such file.
- On a Mac, open the app from Launchpad rather than from a download link sent to you.
Is Apple Books free?
The store inside the app sells individual titles. The app around it costs nothing.
Yes. Apple Books is free on every device it runs on, and it needs no subscription. The App Store listing prices it at $0.00, and the Mac version is part of macOS. Books and audiobooks are bought one at a time, and Apple stocks free titles alongside the paid ones. Family Sharing passes eligible purchases to five family members.
The Book Store and Audiobook Store are not open in every country, and Apple’s availability list shows what each region carries.
How to check your Apple Books version and update it
Two routes, because the iPhone app and the Mac app update through different systems.
- On an iPhone or iPad, open the App Store and tap the account button at the top.
- Tap App Updates, then tap Update next to the reader, or tap Update All.
- Compare the version shown on the App Store listing with the one on your device.
- On a Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update, because the app updates with macOS.
- Open Books > Settings > General to set Download new purchases automatically.
- Turn on Home in the same panel to carry your reading position between devices.
Version 5.4 shipped on 14 September 2026, and Apple’s release note reads Bug Fixes and Feature Enhancements.
What file formats Apple Books can open
Content bought elsewhere still reaches the library, within limits Apple states plainly. Import from a Mac with File > Import, or drag the files into the window.
| Format | Works in the app | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EPUB | Yes, for many books | Standard format for the Book Store |
| Imports, then opens in Preview | Opens in your default PDF reader | |
| MP3 audiobook | Yes | Dragged or imported into the library |
| Audible audiobook | Yes | Authorize the Mac to play audible.com files |
| ACSM | No | Opens only in a third-party app |
| AZW | No | A Kindle format, handled by Amazon’s app |
| ODM | No | A library loan file for the lender’s app |
Fix Apple Books not downloading or not syncing
Each symptom below has one cause and one fix.
Purchases from another device are missing on the Mac
The Mac has not been authorized for the account that bought them.
- Open Books and sign in with the Apple Account used for the purchase.
- Choose Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer in the menu bar.
- Click All below Library in the sidebar.
- Double-click any title showing the iCloud status icon to download it.
Titles are missing everywhere, on every device
They were hidden, and hidden items never appear in the library or in iCloud.
- Open Books on a Mac and choose Account > View My Account.
- Sign in, then find the hidden purchases panel.
- Unhide the title, then refresh the library.
- Ask the purchaser to unhide it when Family Sharing is in use.
Highlights and reading position do not follow you
Books is switched off in iCloud Drive.
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click your name.
- Click iCloud, then click Drive and confirm it is on.
- Click Apps syncing to iCloud Drive, then turn on Books.
- On the iPhone, open Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Show All and turn on Books.
The store will not open, or books cannot be bought
The Book Store is not offered in that country or region.
- Open Apple’s availability list for media services.
- Find your country and check whether Book & Audiobook purchases are listed.
- Confirm the Apple Account region matches the country you are in.
- Import your own EPUB and PDF files when the store is closed to you.
How to remove books and reclaim the disk space
The Mac app cannot be uninstalled, because macOS installs it. Clearing the library is what frees the space.
- Open Books on your Mac and click a collection below Library in the sidebar.
- Click the item menu, click Remove, then choose an option.
- Choose Remove from Collection to keep the file but tidy the shelf.
- Choose the delete option to take the file off the Mac entirely.
- Choose Hide Book or Hide Audiobook to stop a purchase appearing on any device.
- On an iPhone, touch and hold the app icon and tap Delete App to remove the app itself.
- Reinstall it later from the App Store listing at no cost.
Which Apple Books alternative should you install on Windows?
Pick by what you already own. Audiobooks bought from Apple belong in iTunes; ebooks bought from Apple stay on Apple devices.
| App | Publisher | Price | What it handles |
|---|---|---|---|
| iTunes for Windows | Apple Inc. | Free | Podcasts and audiobooks on a PC, x86 and x64, Windows 10 build 16299 or later |
| Apple Devices | Apple Inc. | Free | Updates, backups, restores and syncs for an iPhone or iPad |
| Amazon Kindle: Reading App | AMZN Kindle | Free | Ebooks on the PC itself, version 1.0.25218.0, x64, Windows 11 build 22000 or later |
| Apple Music | Apple Inc. | Free | Music from an iTunes library, including Store purchases |
Frequently asked questions
Is Apple Books free?
Yes. The App Store listing prices it at $0.00, no subscription is attached, and the Mac version arrives with macOS. Books and audiobooks are bought one at a time, and Apple stocks free titles beside the paid ones.
Is there an Apple Books download for Windows 11?
No. Apple’s own list of software for a PC covers the Apple Music app, the Apple TV app, the Apple Devices app and iTunes. An exe or msi offered elsewhere under this name did not come from Apple.
What is the official Apple Books download page?
The App Store listing at apps.apple.com covers iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. On a Mac there is no download page at all, because the app installs with macOS.
How big is the Apple Books download?
The iPhone and iPad release is 17.3 MB, or 18,147,328 bytes, for version 5.4. Individual books and audiobooks download separately and are far larger than the app.
Is there an offline installer?
No. Delivery runs through the App Store on iPhone and iPad, and through macOS itself on a Mac. Apple publishes no standalone package to copy between machines.
Which iOS version does Apple Books need?
An iPhone needs iOS 12 or later and an iPad needs iPadOS 12 or later, as the App Store listing states. On a Mac the app runs from macOS Mojave 10.14 up to macOS 27.
Can you read Apple Books on a Mac without downloading anything?
Yes. Books is installed with macOS, so open it from Launchpad and sign in. Authorize the computer to pull down purchases bought on an iPhone or iPad.
Is Apple Books safe to download?
Yes, from the App Store. The developer line must read Apple and the price must read Free. Files offered as an exe, msi or apk under this name are not Apple’s work.
What is the latest Apple Books version?
Version 5.4 on iPhone and iPad, released on 14 September 2026, with a release note reading Bug Fixes and Feature Enhancements. The Mac app carries the version of the macOS release it ships with.
What file formats can Apple Books open?
PDFs, mp3 audiobooks, Audible audiobooks and many EPUB books import into the Mac app. ACSM, AZW and ODM files open only in the third-party app tied to them.
How do you sync Apple Books between a Mac and an iPhone?
Turn on Books under iCloud Drive on the Mac, and under Settings, your name and iCloud on the iPhone. Collections, highlights, notes, bookmarks and your reading position then follow the account.
Why will Apple Books not download my purchases?
The usual cause is authorization. Sign in with the account that bought the title, choose Account, then Authorizations, then Authorize This Computer, and download it again from the sidebar.
