Support

Something not working, or a question about Shelf? Write to [email protected]. Say which iPhone or iPad you have and what you were doing, and you’ll get a reply from a person.

What Shelf reads

EPUB, PDF, MOBI, AZW3, CBZ and CBR. Books and comics must be DRM-free: Shelf can’t open files locked to another store or app.

• EPUB, PDF, MOBI and AZW3 go in the Books room.
• CBZ and CBR comics and manga go in the Manga room, and read left to right or right to left.
• MOBI and AZW3 files are converted to EPUB on the device so they read like any other book.

To add files, use the import button on Home and pick them from Files or iCloud Drive.

Where your books are kept

On the iPhone or iPad you imported them on. With Keep books on all devices turned on in Settings, they go into the Shelf folder in your own iCloud Drive instead, so the same books are on your other devices. Only you can reach that folder. Shelf never uploads your books anywhere else.

If iCloud Drive is off, new books stay on that device. Turn it on in Settings, then your name, then iCloud.

Connect your Calibre library

Shelf downloads only the books you pick from Calibre on your computer. It never changes your Calibre library. Your computer and your iPhone or iPad need to be on the same Wi-Fi.

1. In Calibre on your computer, click Connect/share.
2. Choose Start Content server.
3. In Shelf, open Settings, then Connect to Calibre, and tap Find Calibre. iOS asks first whether Shelf may find devices on your local network. Say yes.

Your library opens from Calibre Library in the import menu on Home. Books you pick are downloaded to the device, and the rest stay in Calibre.

If Shelf can’t find Calibre

• Check that the Content server is running. Calibre shows its address under Connect/share.
• Tap Enter Address and type the address as Calibre shows it, such as 192.168.1.24. The port is 8080 unless you changed it.
• If Local Network is off for Shelf, turn it on in the iOS Settings app, under Shelf.
• If Calibre asks for a username and password, enter the ones you set up for the Content server.

Still stuck

Write to [email protected].