You just bought a beautiful digital planner from KDigitalStudio — congratulations! Now comes the part that trips up almost every beginner: actually getting that file onto your iPad and into your note-taking app. Don't worry. If you can tap a screen, you can do this. This step-by-step guide walks you through downloading your planner and importing it into GoodNotes and Noteful, whether you bought from our Shopify shop or our Etsy shop.

By the end, your planner will be open, hyperlinked, and ready to use. Let's go.

What you'll need before you start

• An iPad (any model that supports Apple Pencil works great, but a Pencil isn't required to import).
• A note-taking app installed — this tutorial covers GoodNotes and Noteful, the two most popular apps for digital planning.
• Your order confirmation email from KDigitalStudio or Etsy, which contains your download link.
• A few minutes and a Wi-Fi connection.

New to digital planning entirely? Watch our free walkthrough first — it covers everything from choosing an app to opening your first planner: Beginner's Guide to Digital Planning (KDigitalStudio on YouTube).

Step 1: Download your planner files

If you're on an iPad, we recommend downloading your files using the Safari browser — it saves cleanly into your Files app.

If you purchased from KDigitalStudio (Shopify)

1. Open your order confirmation email (or your account's order page) in Safari and tap the Download link.
2. Once downloaded, open the Files app on your iPad. Your files are usually in the Downloads folder.
3. If you downloaded a .zip file (for example, a folder of individual images or covers), simply tapping the file will unzip it into a folder.

Tip: Download and unzip on your iPad itself (not your phone or computer) so the file is right where you need it. Keep a dedicated "Planners" folder in the Files app to stay organized.

Step 2: Import your planner into GoodNotes

For a GoodNotes planner file, the most reliable way to import is to open it from the Files app and send it to GoodNotes:

1. In the Files app, tap your GoodNotes planner file to open the preview.
2. Tap the Share arrow in the top-right corner.
3. In the app row of the share menu, tap GoodNotes.

4. The file imports into GoodNotes. If you already have something open in the app, be sure to choose Import as a New Document (not into an existing notebook — that can break your hyperlinks).
5. Tap your new planner to open it. All your hyperlinked tabs and buttons are now fully interactive.

Good to know: Because our GoodNotes files are precropped, you can use the Lasso tool to pick up individual elements (like stickers) right off the page.

Step 3: Import your planner into Noteful

Noteful is a fantastic (and budget-friendly) alternative to GoodNotes, and importing works much the same way:

1. Open Noteful and make sure you're on the Documents / Home screen.
2. Tap the + (New) button and choose Import.
3. Select Import PDF, then browse the Files app to find your planner and tap it.
4. Noteful gives you the option to import your planner as a hyperlinked notebook — choose this so all the interactive tabs and links stay clickable.
5. Tap your new planner to open it and start planning.

Want a full tour of Noteful's tools, from the toolbar to stickers and beyond? Watch our complete walkthrough:

Step 4: Test your hyperlinks

Before you dive in, do a quick check so you know everything imported correctly:

• Tap a month tab — it should jump you to that month.
• Tap a date on a monthly calendar — it should link to that daily or weekly page.
• Tap the Home or Index button — it should return you to the main navigation page.

If links aren't working, the most common cause is that the planner was imported into an existing notebook, or your app's read-only / scroll mode is on. Delete the import, re-import as a new document, and make sure you're in reading mode. (In GoodNotes, links only work when you're not in editing view unless you long-press on hyperlinks).

Common questions

Do I need Wi-Fi to use my planner after importing?

No. Once your planner is imported, it lives on your iPad and works completely offline.

Can I use the same planner on my iPhone or Mac?

Yes, if you use GoodNotes or Noteful with iCloud sync turned on, your planner will appear on your other Apple devices automatically.

My file downloaded as a ZIP and won't open. What do I do?

Tap the ZIP file once inside the Files app (in your Downloads folder). iPad will automatically unzip it into a folder. Open that folder and you'll find your planner ready to import. Goodnotes and Noteful will not import zip files, so they need to be unzipped prior.

Which app should I use — GoodNotes or Noteful?

Both work beautifully with our planners. GoodNotes is the long-time favorite with a huge community; Noteful is a lower-cost option with a generous free tier. You can even import your planner into both and decide which you prefer.

I followed every step and I'm still stuck.

Please don't skip any of the steps above — most issues come from missing one. If you're still having trouble after trying them all, reach out through our help desk and submit a support ticket, and we'll help you get set up.

You're all set!

That's it — your KDigitalStudio planner is downloaded, imported, and ready to make your year more organized. Not sure where to begin once it's open? Read our companion guide, How to Actually Use a Digital Planner, and browse our full planner collection to add matching covers and sticker sets.

Shop digital planners →