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iOS and Android apps

Open downloaded book files on a phone

Understand why PDF, EPUB and DOCX can look different in mobile preview apps.

4 min readUpdated 2026-07-29

60-second summary

Quick answer

Open a completed project in the native Preview & Download screen and choose a format supported for that book type. The app prepares PDF, EPUB or DOCX where available, then opens the operating-system share sheet for saving or opening it.

Before you start

What you need

  • Open a completed project in the native Preview & Download screen while signed in.
  • Know which export formats the project type supports before attempting the download.

Procedure

Complete the task step by step

  1. 01

    Open a completed mobile project

    Choose Preview & Download for the finished item before selecting a file type.

  2. 02

    Choose a supported format

    Ebook, novel, course, Big Blog and uploaded book support PDF, EPUB and DOCX; cookbook, workbook and puzzle book support PDF and DOCX; journal, coloring book and storybook should use PDF on mobile. EPUB and standard DOCX export require paid access.

  3. 03

    Use the system share sheet

    After the file is prepared, save or open it from the operating-system share sheet in a compatible reader.

  4. 04

    Do not rely on temporary cache

    The native app holds a download temporarily until it is saved or shared to the chosen destination.

Success check

Confirm that it worked

  • The operating-system share or save sheet opens for the chosen supported format.
  • After saving or sharing, the downloaded file opens from the selected destination or a compatible reader application.

Important notes

  • Ebooks, novels, courses, Big Blogs and uploaded books support PDF, EPUB and DOCX; cookbooks, workbooks and puzzle books support PDF and DOCX; journals, coloring books and storybooks should use PDF on mobile.
  • EPUB and standard DOCX export require paid access. For a storybook DOCX, use the supported web export instead of the current mobile EPUB or DOCX controls.
  • The native app downloads through temporary cache before the user saves or shares the file, and this screen does not expose Print, audiobook, KDP or publishing actions.

Troubleshooting

If it still does not work

An expected format button is not available

Check the project-type format mapping. For a storybook, use PDF on mobile and use the web app when a supported DOCX export is needed.

The download or preview fails while the project is still generating

Return after the project reaches a completed state, or use Retry only when the screen offers it for the failed preview.

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