Do AlternateHistory Stories Count Toward Apple Books Reading Goals?

You can read an AlternateHistory.com story in Apple Books by downloading it as an EPUB or PDF with WP Downloader and importing the file on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. PDF reading can count toward Apple Books Reading Goals when Include PDFs is turned on. Apple does not document whether EPUB files you import yourself count, so you will need to check.

Download the story with WP Downloader

WP Downloader is a free web tool with nothing to install. Open the AlternateHistory downloader and copy the URL of the story you want. A story address looks like this:

https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/some-story-name.123456/

Paste the link into WP Downloader. It recognizes the site and collects the threadmarked chapters from the forum thread into one book.

You can choose from these options:

• EPUB is free for everyone.
• PDF requires a free Discord sign-in.
• The image option includes the story’s images in the book.

For AlternateHistory.com, WP Downloader downloads the whole story. It cannot download a single chapter or a list of stories. If the author adds more chapters, download the story again to create a new file with the available threadmarked chapters.

Public stories do not require an account. You can sign in with your AlternateHistory.com account to reach members-only stories that the account can already read. WP Downloader does not bypass locked content or other access restrictions. It uses your credentials only to fetch the story you request.

See how to download AlternateHistory stories for more instructions.

Add the story to Apple Books

Apple Books opens EPUB and PDF files on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Imported stories appear in your Library.

On iPhone or iPad

After downloading the book:

1. Open the file from Safari’s downloads or the Files app.
2. Tap Share.
3. Choose Books.

Apple Books will add the story to your Library.

On Mac

Open the Books app and drag the EPUB into it. You can also select File, then Add to Library, and choose the file. The story will appear in your Library.

How Apple Books Reading Goals work

Apple Books tracks how many minutes you read each day and how many books and audiobooks you finish each year. The default daily goal is five minutes.

On an iPhone or iPad, you can change the daily goal from the Reading Now tab. On a Mac, change it from Home.

PDF reading can contribute to the daily goal when Include PDFs is enabled. Apple’s documentation does not say whether EPUB files imported from outside Apple Books count toward daily reading time.

Check whether your imported EPUB counts

After adding the AlternateHistory story to Apple Books:

1. Note today’s reading time.
2. Open the imported EPUB from your Library.
3. Read for a minute or two.
4. Return to your Reading Goals.
5. See whether today’s reading time increased.

If the total rises, Apple Books is counting that imported EPUB on your device. If it stays the same, reading more of the file may not count toward the daily goal.

Include PDFs in your reading goal

PDF files count toward the reading goal only when Include PDFs is turned on.

On current versions of iOS, open Settings, then Apps, then Books, and enable Include PDFs. On older versions, open Settings, then Books.

You can confirm the setting by noting your current reading time, reading the imported PDF in Apple Books for a minute or two, and checking the total again.

Other ways to read the story

You can also use the downloaded file with an e-reader. Follow the guides for sending AlternateHistory stories to Kindle or reading AlternateHistory stories on Kobo.

FAQ

Do imported AlternateHistory EPUBs count toward Reading Goals?

Apple’s documentation does not say whether EPUB files imported by the reader count toward daily reading time. Open the EPUB, read for a minute or two, and check whether today’s total increases.

Do PDFs count toward Apple Books Reading Goals?

Yes, but only when Include PDFs is enabled in the Books settings.

Can WP Downloader download one chapter from AlternateHistory.com?

No. WP Downloader collects the threadmarked chapters and downloads the whole story as one book.

Can I update an existing EPUB when new chapters appear?

No. Download the story again to create a new file containing the available threadmarked chapters.

Do I need an AlternateHistory.com account?

Public stories do not require an account. Signing in is optional and lets WP Downloader reach members-only stories that your account can already read.