How to best backup the various epub and pdf files I have on my iPhone?

[blarb]

Over the years I’ve downloaded tons of digital content and have never really backed it up. What I’d like to do is to somehow download/transfer it to my Windows laptop, where I can better organize things and put them on my backup drives.

I suppose I could start e-mailing them, but that will take a very long time. I tried to use DropBox, but that did not let me save the binary files, just a text file that has the name of the binary file.

I looked online for some solutions. But all ‘applications’ swearing that they could solve my problem, but I’m weary of spyware.

What would you suggest?

 

[MacInWin]

I tried to use DropBox, but that did not let me save the binary files, just a text file that has the name of the binary file.

That is strange. If you put the ebook file into the DropBox folder, it should be copied up to the server and sync to whatever else syncs. Are you sure you put the actual file in the DB folder and not just an alias?

 

[krs]

Over the years I’ve downloaded tons of digital content and have never really backed it up. What I’d like to do is to somehow download/transfer it to my Windows laptop, where I can better organize things and put them on my backup drives.

I assume those files are now on your Mac.....
I don't understand why you can't organize them on the Mac but have to transfer them to your Windows laptop.
But whatever the reason - why not transfer them directly from Mac to the Windows PC?
Or transfer them from the Mac to your external drive and then back from the external to your Windows machine.
Format of the external should be exFAT.

I suppose I could start e-mailing them, but that will take a very long time. I tried to use DropBox, but that did not let me save the binary files, just a text file that has the name of the binary file.

Last time I used DropBox a few years back I found that it couldn't some common file types I wanted to upload so I moved on from there.

 

[ferrarr]

Do you have the epub files, or are the ebooks now only in the iOS Books app?

 

[blarb]

Do you have the epub files, or are the ebooks now only in the iOS Books app?

They are epubs that I have imported into the iOS Books app. Now I’d like to get them out.

 

[blarb]

That is strange. If you put the ebook file into the DropBox folder, it should be copied up to the server and sync to whatever else syncs. Are you sure you put the actual file in the DB folder and not just an alias?

Basically, I have them in my Books app and I’d like to get them out. If I try to upload to DB, I just get a small text file with the book’s title and that’s it.

I feel like this is something that has been done before and I’m just missing something obvious.

 

[ferrarr]

I believe iMazing has the ability to move the book files from iOS to winOS.

Transfer Books (ePub or PDF) between your Mac or PC computer and your iPhone or iPad | iMazing

Easily import new books (ePub or PDF) in the Books app. Or export them from the Books app to your computer. Keep your library synced with your Mac and PC.

imazing.com

Also this,

iPhone User Guide

Here’s everything you need to know about iPhone, straight from Apple. This definitive guide helps you get started using iPhone and discover all the amazing things it can do.

support.apple.com

 

[MacInWin]

You can find the epub books you have purchased in this folder:

~/Library/Containers/com.apple.BKAgentService/Data/Documents/iBooks/Books

where "~" is /Users/<<your user name>>

Another trick is that if you open Books, you can drag any given book out of Books to your DB folder and the ePub file will be copied there. And, like many other locations, holding down shift, click on one, then moving to the last one you want and clicking again will select all between those two.

 

[ferrarr]

I believe the OP does not have a Mac, only winOS PC.

 

[MacInWin]

I believe the OP does not have a Mac, only winOS PC.

Ah, well, if that's the case, I can't help. No PCs here to test with.