The short answer
- Open the fic in Ficshelf and press Save as clean EPUB.
- Apple Books on a Mac: File > Import, or drag the file into the library.
- Kobo eReader: connect it by USB and drag the EPUB onto the KOBOeReader drive.
Apple Books
| Device | Steps |
|---|---|
| Mac | Apple says: go to the Books app, choose File > Import, select the books you want, then click Import. You can also drag and drop books into your library. Apple notes that many EPUB books can be imported, and that some other types (ACSM, AZW, ODM) open only in their own app. |
| iPhone and iPad | Save the EPUB in the Files app. Apple's Pages guide says to tap an EPUB saved in Files to view it in the Books app. That guide is about Pages exports; we found no separate Apple page for other EPUB files, so try the tap and write to us if it does not open. |
Kobo
| Device | Steps from Kobo's help |
|---|---|
| Kobo eReader, with a computer | Turn on the eReader. Connect it to the computer with the USB cable. Tap Connect when "Computer detected" appears. Find the drive named KOBOeReader and drag the PDF or EPUB files into it. Eject the drive, unplug the cable, and you will see "Importing content". Then Home > My Books. |
| Kobo Books app on iPhone or iPad | Kobo lists three ways for non-protected EPUB or PDF files: Google Drive (share the file and open it in Kobo Books), the Mail app (email the file to yourself, tap and hold it, Share, Kobo Books), or Finder on a Mac (drag the file over the Kobo Books icon). |
Kobo adds that files added this way must not have DRM, and that they only appear on the device you imported them to, even after you sync. AO3 downloads are not DRM-protected files.
Make the EPUB first: open the fic in Ficshelf and press Save as clean EPUB. It happens in your browser.
Open your downloads in FicshelfFicshelf Pro, $8 paid once: search inside every fic, merge a series into one EPUB, a tidy ZIP of the whole library and a catalog as CSV. Get Pro on Gumroad or see what is free.
Questions
How do I add AO3 fics to Apple Books?
On a Mac, open Books, choose File > Import and select the EPUB, or drag it into the library. On an iPhone, save the EPUB in Files and tap it, which Apple's Pages guide describes opening in Books.
How do I upload an AO3 fic to Kobo?
Connect the Kobo eReader to a computer by USB, tap Connect, and drag the EPUB onto the KOBOeReader drive. Eject it and the book appears under My Books.
Can I send an AO3 EPUB to the Kobo app on my iPhone?
Yes, by Kobo's own steps: share the file to Kobo Books from Google Drive or the Mail app, or drag it over the Kobo Books icon in Finder on a Mac.
Will my reading place sync?
Kobo says items added this way appear only on the device you imported them to. For Apple Books, Apple's page says iCloud for Books shows imported books on your other devices.
Sources
- Apple Support: Import books, audiobooks, or PDFs in Books on Mac. Read on October 31, 2026: File > Import, drag and drop, and the note that many EPUB books can be imported
- Apple Support: Publish a book to Apple Books in Pages on iPhone. Read on October 31, 2026: it says to tap an EPUB saved in the Files app to view it in the Books app. It is a guide for Pages exports; Apple has no page we found for other EPUB files
- Kobo Help: Add non-protected PDF and ePub files to your Kobo eReader using your computer. Read on October 31, 2026
- Kobo Help: Import items from your iOS or macOS device onto your Kobo Books app. Read on October 31, 2026
Last checked: October 31, 2026. AO3 is not affiliated with Ficshelf, nor is the Organization for Transformative Works.