Add PDFs

Add PDF documents to your board as scrollable, readable items. They’re great for reference materials, reports, and documentation you want to keep visible while you work.

Add a PDF

On iPadOS or macOS, open the shelf on the left side of the screen. On iPhone, the shelf slides up from the bottom. Then:

1. Add a PDF Item: Tap the PDF item in the shelf to add it to the board.
2. Choose a PDF: Select a PDF document from the file picker.

Tips

• View and Mark Up a PDF: Double-tap the PDF to open Quick Look, where you can share and mark up the document. Note: Markups are saved into the PDF on the canvas.
• Titles and Dates: The bottom bar of the document shows its title and date. If no title is available, the filename is used.
• Display Modes and Scroll Direction: Choose from four display modes — Single Page, Single Page Continuous, Two Up, and Two Up Continuous. You can also set whether pages scroll vertically or horizontally.
• Create Similar Items: Press Shift-Command-N to quickly create a similar item.
• Connect Items: On iPad/Mac, enable connector mode (the link button in the overlay controls), select an item, then drag from the arrow handles that appear. Or select two items and tap the pin button in the toolbar. See Organize items with lines for details.
• Drag and Drop or Paste: Add PDFs by dragging and dropping or pasting them. Learn about drag and drop on iPadOS from Apple Support.
• Automation: Add PDFs to boards automatically with Shortcuts actions.