Trying to read your latest book with Apple Books or iBooks and are stuck on the cover page or cannot get past the first page or another page of the book? If so, you are not alone. Quite a few of our readers report this behavior with Apple Books (also called iBooks) over the years, most particularly just after updating their iOS.
If your book is frozen on the cover page, or any other page, we got you covered.
The first tip is to simply restart your device. Power it down, wait a few moments, and power back up.
If a restart didn’t help, next try a forced restart
On an iPhone 6S or below plus all iPads & iPod Touches, press Home and Power at the same time until you see the Apple logo
For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Side and Volume Down buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo
On an iPhone X, XS, or XR or iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo
Leverage iTunes
Quite a few of our readers found success with this tip.
If Apple Books or iBooks is stuck on a single page
Open the iTunes App on the device where Books is stuck
Tap the Search button at the bottom of the screen
Search for any free book–if you can’t think of one, try an Apple Support guide like iPhone or iPad User Guide(s)
Select Books from the top tab options
Choose a free book from the list
Tap the GET button to download
Once downloaded, tap on the READ button
The book that is stuck should close and the free book you just downloaded should open in Apple Books
Open a Book Via Safari
Another option is to download a book via Safari
Open Safari on the device where the book is frozen
Type the name of a free book or pdf in the search bar–we suggest something like the iPhone User Guide or another Apple product guide since there is always an Apple Books version available
From the search results, tap a result to open
Once the book or pdf displays on your screen, select the Share Button
Choose Copy to Books (or iBooks)
May also be called Save to Books
Apple Books should open that new pdf or book, replacing the one that’s stuck
Optional: Delete the Problem Book(s)
Once you are able to use Apple Books (iBooks) normally, you might consider deleting the books that got stuck and downloading it again.
Remove Book from Apple Books and iBooks Library
Open Apple Books App (or iBooks)
Tap Library from the bottom tabs
Locate the book(s) causing problems and tap the three dots below the book in the lower-right
Choose Remove from the list of options
To remove just from that device, select Remove Download
Select Delete everywhere to remove the book from iCloud and all connected devices–this removes the book completely from your list of books
Tap the Cloud icon to download the book again to your device
Or tap the three dots and choose Download
Can’t Find your Books and Purchases?
The Books app should contain all the documents that were previously stored in your iBooks app
First, look in your Apple Book’s Library by selecting the Library Tab at the bottom
If you still don’t see your content in the app, go to the Reading Now Tab at the bottom
Then tap the profile icon in the upper-right corner
From that menu choose My Purchases or Family Purchases to locate your items
Tap Not on this [device], then tap All Books or All Audiobooks
Find the book or audiobook that you want to download, then tap the cloud icon
The item should download to your device
Look In Your Apple Books Collections
Another option is to tap the Library tab at the bottom of the Apple Books app, then tap on your Collections towards the top of your screen.
Select your missing content type (like Books, Audiobooks, PDFs, and so forth.)
Check for your missing items and redownload them if available.
For most of her professional life, Amanda Elizabeth (Liz for short) trained all sorts of folks on how to use media as a tool to tell their own unique stories. She knows a thing or two about teaching others and creating how-to guides!
Her clients include Edutopia, Scribe Video Center, Third Path Institute, Bracket, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Big Picture Alliance.
Elizabeth received her Master of Fine Arts degree in media making from Temple University, where she also taught undergrads as an adjunct faculty member in their department of Film and Media Arts.
Upgraded to 12 Pro Max (256GB) from 6S (32GB). Loved my old phone but ran out of storage. Noticed when reading in Apple Books that I can no longer highlight and look up a word. That function has disappeared. Help!
1. On an iPhone or an iPad with no home button from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen
2. On an iDevice with a home button, double-click the Home button and swipe right or left to find the app that you want to close
3. Swipe right or left to locate the Books app you want to close
4. Swipe up on the Book’s app preview to close it
Once you close Books, restart your iPad. Then check for a software update and update your iPad, if available–but backup via iCloud or iTunes first before updating.
Make sure you turn off restrictions or Screen Time.
Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Enter your Screen Time passcode
Toggle off Content & Privacy Restrictions.
You can also turn off Screen Time–go to Settings > Screen Time and scroll all the way down to Turn Off Screen Time
If that didn’t help or isn’t an issue, change your Date & Time setting to Set Automatically. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time > and choose Set Automatically.
If it’s already on set automatically, toggle it off, wait a few seconds, and toggle it back on.
Thank you Elizabeth for guidance on unlocking a book I downloaded on my new XR but would only show the first page. The forced restart option did the trick. I then deleted the book using your directions.
The book was an Apple user manual for this phone, which I was hoping to have handy as I learn how to use my new XR (upgrade from SE).
I notice that in Safari Bookmarks there is an iPhone User Guide which seems generic to a lot of different iPhones. If there is something more focused on my particular phone, with more “how-to” information, I would like to put it on my phone in iBooks. Possible?
2) Once you find the book you want refunded, tap Total Billed at the bottom of the order, the choose the specific book title
3) Tap Report a Problem below the book’s information
4) A browser window opens to Apple’s Report a Problem website (If you don’t see an option to Report a Problem, then the item isn’t eligible for a refund request)
5) Choose your reason for the refund request
Depending on the problem, Apple may issue a refund straight away or request additional information.
When I click on iBooks the screen with the books comes up for a second and then disappears and I am no longer in the app but back to screen with all apps showing.
What can I do to correct this problem? Have many books downloaded and do not want to lose them. This just occurs on iPad but not on iPhone.
the new app is terrible and confusing, it is really ruining my reading experience.
The last two books I’ve read keep having blank pages and repeated pages, and the fact that the app never opens to my library is really frustrating, I just want to get back to the book I’m reading not be bombarded with random info about other books.
also, the samples don’t hang around, if you don’t read the sample straight away you’ll have to download it again and again…so wasteful.
In iBooks library, I cannot tap bar up to change books since my last update I’m stuck with the one that was already up, have switched off iPad and back on and then the bar at the bottom comes up for 10 seconds.
I hit the library button quickly and can get back into my library, but after choosing another book or pdf it then won’t bring up the taskbar again, what can I do to put it right
Double press your iPad’s Home Button and then swipe up off the top of the screen all the open app previews–do this until all you see is your Home Screen with no app previews.
Double press your Home Button again to ensure you closed all apps.
Then, restart your iPad by powering off, waiting 2 minutes, and powering back on.
Open Apple Books and see if it’s acting as expected.
Also, check the App Store and update any apps listed as needing an update.
I can’t buy the book I’m reading.
Upgraded to 12 Pro Max (256GB) from 6S (32GB). Loved my old phone but ran out of storage. Noticed when reading in Apple Books that I can no longer highlight and look up a word. That function has disappeared. Help!
Thank you.
The forced restart worked for me. I wasn’t sure how to do that on my IPhone 7, so your specific instructions were a great help
My Books app is stuck on the last pdf I read.
When I squeeze to close and show my library, it stays open to this same app.
When I “reset all settings”, it works, but I have to reset each time to see my library.
I have tried all of the suggestions on this page multiple times.
Could something be wrong with this iPad 6th generation? I can still return if that is the issue.
Hi Yvonne,
Have you closed the Books app?
1. On an iPhone or an iPad with no home button from the Home screen, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen
2. On an iDevice with a home button, double-click the Home button and swipe right or left to find the app that you want to close
3. Swipe right or left to locate the Books app you want to close
4. Swipe up on the Book’s app preview to close it
Once you close Books, restart your iPad. Then check for a software update and update your iPad, if available–but backup via iCloud or iTunes first before updating.
Liz
Cannot get to iBooks app book store through app
App will only show list of currently downloaded books
Hi Mary,
Make sure you turn off restrictions or Screen Time.
Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Enter your Screen Time passcode
Toggle off Content & Privacy Restrictions.
You can also turn off Screen Time–go to Settings > Screen Time and scroll all the way down to Turn Off Screen Time
If that didn’t help or isn’t an issue, change your Date & Time setting to Set Automatically. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time > and choose Set Automatically.
If it’s already on set automatically, toggle it off, wait a few seconds, and toggle it back on.
Thank you Elizabeth for guidance on unlocking a book I downloaded on my new XR but would only show the first page. The forced restart option did the trick. I then deleted the book using your directions.
The book was an Apple user manual for this phone, which I was hoping to have handy as I learn how to use my new XR (upgrade from SE).
I notice that in Safari Bookmarks there is an iPhone User Guide which seems generic to a lot of different iPhones. If there is something more focused on my particular phone, with more “how-to” information, I would like to put it on my phone in iBooks. Possible?
Thanks very much!
Phil
Hi Phil,
You absolutely should be able to download any of the Apple User Guides onto your iPhone XR via Apple Books.
I would try downloading that book again by searching for it vs. looking at your purchases.
Restart your iPhone XR by powering off via Settings > General > Shut Down, waiting a few seconds, and powering back on.
Then go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle this off, if it’s on.
Now open Apple Books App.
Tap the Search Tab at the bottom and type in the name of that Apple User Manual.
If that guide shows up under In Your Library, tap the three dots underneath the title and choose Download
If that guide shows up in the Book Store, tap Get
Wait until the download completes before taking any other action on your iPhone. Then, see if you can open the book and scroll through its pages.
If problems persist, let me know
Liz
Have tried fixing download of a new book purchased (have a record of receipt) but cannot fix download which appears incomplete.
Have tried numerous recommendations and to no avail.
Would like to be refunded or have an appropriate resolution.
Can not access purchase.
Please recommend a resolution.
This is on iPad and from apple book store through Apple ID account.
iPad up to date with 12.1.4 and has plenty of storage. Thank you.
Hi L Baron,
Sorry that your book didn’t download properly to your iPad!
Apple does allow some refunds in certain circumstances if the item doesn’t work as expected or can’t be used.
Follow these steps to request a refund for that book:
1) View your Purchase History to locate the item
2) Once you find the book you want refunded, tap Total Billed at the bottom of the order, the choose the specific book title
3) Tap Report a Problem below the book’s information
4) A browser window opens to Apple’s Report a Problem website (If you don’t see an option to Report a Problem, then the item isn’t eligible for a refund request)
5) Choose your reason for the refund request
Depending on the problem, Apple may issue a refund straight away or request additional information.
When I click on iBooks the screen with the books comes up for a second and then disappears and I am no longer in the app but back to screen with all apps showing.
What can I do to correct this problem? Have many books downloaded and do not want to lose them. This just occurs on iPad but not on iPhone.
Please help!
the new app is terrible and confusing, it is really ruining my reading experience.
The last two books I’ve read keep having blank pages and repeated pages, and the fact that the app never opens to my library is really frustrating, I just want to get back to the book I’m reading not be bombarded with random info about other books.
also, the samples don’t hang around, if you don’t read the sample straight away you’ll have to download it again and again…so wasteful.
In iBooks library, I cannot tap bar up to change books since my last update I’m stuck with the one that was already up, have switched off iPad and back on and then the bar at the bottom comes up for 10 seconds.
I hit the library button quickly and can get back into my library, but after choosing another book or pdf it then won’t bring up the taskbar again, what can I do to put it right
Regards Brenda Rowling
Hi Brenda,
We suggest closing all open apps.
Double press your iPad’s Home Button and then swipe up off the top of the screen all the open app previews–do this until all you see is your Home Screen with no app previews.
Double press your Home Button again to ensure you closed all apps.
Then, restart your iPad by powering off, waiting 2 minutes, and powering back on.
Open Apple Books and see if it’s acting as expected.
Also, check the App Store and update any apps listed as needing an update.
Let us know if the problem persists,
Sam
I am having the same issue and did all that you outlined but the problem is still there. Please advise further to get books to work. Thanks.
Hi Christine,
You may want to consider resetting all settings. It’s pretty drastic, but it might help.
Go to Settings App > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.
This resets to default everything in Settings, including notifications, alerts, brightness, and clock settings like wake up alarms.
Resetting all settings also reverts all your personalized and customized features like wallpapers and accessibility settings back to factory defaults.
So you need to reconfigure these settings once your iPhone or iDevice restarts
Sam
I can not get a pdf that I downloaded to copy to books….iPad6 12.3.1