> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.cookbookmanager.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# How do I import recipes from PDFs?

| **Quick answer:** You can import recipes from a PDF by scanning it in CookBook. Use **Automatic** for the quickest results, or **Manual** if you want more control. Manual mode lets you scan **up to 5 PDF pages** into a single recipe.

# Import a recipe from a PDF (Automatic)

1. Tap **Add** on the bottom navigation bar.
2. Select **Scan recipe image**.
3. Choose **Automatic (AI)**.
4. Select **PDF**.
5. Pick your PDF file.
6. Choose the page you want to scan.
7. Tap **Scan recipe**.
8. Review the preview (title, ingredients, instructions).
9. Tap **Save** to add it to CookBook, or **Delete** to try again.

Automatic mode is best when the PDF is clean and the recipe is mostly on one page.

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# Import a recipe from a PDF (Manual, up to 5 pages)

Use this if your recipe spans multiple pages or the automatic scan misses sections.

1. Tap **Add** on the bottom navigation bar.
2. Select **Scan recipe image**.
3. Choose **Manual**.
4. Select **PDF**.
5. Pick your PDF file and choose the first page.
6. Tap the **Add page** button (camera icon in the bottom left corner) and add more pages as needed (up to 5).
7. Tap **Select Text** and choose what you’re selecting (Title, Ingredients, Instructions, etc.).
8. Drag the selection box to highlight the correct area on the page.
9. Repeat selections for each page and each section you need.
10. Tap **Scan**.
11. Review the preview, then tap **Save**.

Tip: If ingredients or instructions are in two columns, you usually need two separate selections (one per column).


### Tips for best results

* PDFs with **clear text** work best.
* Scanned PDFs (photos saved as PDFs) may need a little cleanup after import.
* Make sure the recipe page is well-lit and not skewed if it originated from a scan.
* Make sure you select ingredients and instructions as separate blocks.
* This process is the same for the app and web app.

### Can I bulk import PDFs?

Bulk PDF imports aren’t automated yet, but if you have a large number of recipes, you can check out our bulk import page [here](https://help.cookbookmanager.com/en/article/how-do-i-bulk-import-recipes-into-cookbook-s1wq3h/).