If you’re an avid reader who loves discovering new books but hates paying full price, your iPad has been quietly hiding a fantastic money-saving feature that most people don’t even know exists. It’s time to unlock this hidden gem and start getting notified every time your wish list books go on sale.
Why This Feature Is a Game-Changer for Book Lovers
Picture this: you’ve been eyeing that bestseller for months, but the $14.99 price tag keeps making you hesitate. What if I told you that your iPad could automatically watch that book’s price and ping you the moment it drops to $7.99? That’s exactly what Apple’s Books app can do, but it’s not enabled by default.
Most iPad users have no idea this feature exists because Apple keeps it tucked away in the settings. It’s like having your own personal book deal hunter working 24/7, scanning prices and alerting you when it’s time to snag that novel you’ve been wanting to read.
The beauty of this system is its simplicity. You don’t need to remember to check back on books, set calendar reminders, or manually compare prices across different platforms. Your iPad handles all the heavy lifting while you go about your day.
What Makes This Different from Other Deal Trackers
Unlike third-party price tracking websites that require you to create accounts and navigate complicated interfaces, this built-in iPad feature integrates seamlessly with your reading experience. Since it’s part of the Books app itself, you get real-time notifications directly on your device without any extra apps cluttering your home screen.
The system works specifically with Apple’s frequent promotional pricing, which happens more often than you might think. Publishers regularly run sales through the Apple Books platform, sometimes dropping prices by 50% or more during special events, holidays, or new release promotions.
How to Set Up Your Personal Book Deal Assistant
Building Your Wish List
Start by opening the Books app on your iPad and tapping “Book Store” from the sidebar menu. This is where you’ll discover and save books you’re interested in purchasing later. You can browse through Apple’s curated selections, explore different genres, or use the search function to find specific titles.
When you find a book that catches your eye, tap on it to view the details page. Instead of buying it immediately, look for the “Want to Read” button and tap it. This adds the book to your wish list and downloads a free sample so you can preview the content.
If you don’t see the “Want to Read” button immediately, tap the three-dot menu icon on the book’s page – you’ll find the option there. This simple action tells the system to start monitoring that book’s price.
Activating Price Drop Notifications
Here’s where the magic happens. Go back to the Books app’s main screen and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner. This takes you to your account settings where all the good stuff is hidden.
Look for “Notifications” in the menu and tap it. You might see a prompt asking you to “Allow Notifications on this iPad” – definitely say yes to this. Without notification permissions, the feature can’t alert you when prices drop.
Find the “Price Drops” option and toggle the switch to turn it green. That’s it – you’re now officially set up to receive automatic price alerts for every book on your wish list.
Customizing Your Alert Experience
Don’t forget to fine-tune how these notifications appear on your iPad. Head to your device’s main Settings app (the gray gear icon), scroll down to “Notifications,” and tap “Books.”
Here you can decide whether you want alerts to show up on your lock screen, in notification center, or as banners. You can also choose whether you want sound alerts or just visual notifications. Personally, I recommend enabling lock screen notifications so you never miss a deal, even when your iPad is sleeping.
Making the Most of Your New Money-Saving Setup
Strategic Wish List Building
The key to maximizing your savings is being thoughtful about which books you add to your wish list. Instead of buying books impulsively, make it a habit to add interesting titles to your “Want to Read” list first. This creates a buffer that often leads to significant savings.
Focus on adding newer releases and popular titles to your list, as these tend to go on sale more frequently than older or niche publications. Bestsellers and award winners are particularly good candidates because publishers often use promotional pricing to boost their visibility.
Timing Your Purchases
Apple Books typically runs major sales during holiday periods, back-to-school seasons, and when new iPad models are released. However, individual book prices can drop at any time based on publisher decisions or promotional campaigns.
The notification system means you don’t need to worry about timing – you’ll be alerted whenever a price drops, regardless of when it happens. Some deals last for days, while others might only be available for a few hours, so having instant notifications gives you the best chance of catching every savings opportunity.
Beyond Books: Other iPad Money-Saving Features
Once you’ve got your book price alerts working, consider exploring other ways your iPad can help you save money. The device offers subscription management tools that help you identify and cancel unused services that might be draining your budget monthly.
You can also use your iPad to access library services like Libby, which provides free access to thousands of books through your local library system. This creates a perfect combination – free books through your library for immediate reading, and discounted books through price alerts for purchases you want to keep permanently.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you’re not receiving notifications after setting everything up, double-check that your iPad’s “Do Not Disturb” mode isn’t blocking them. Also verify that you’ve allowed notifications both in the Books app settings and your iPad’s main notification settings.
Sometimes it takes a few hours for the system to start monitoring your wish list books, so don’t worry if you don’t see immediate activity. The feature works in the background and will alert you as soon as any price changes occur.
Remember that this feature only works with books available through Apple’s Books store. It won’t track prices for Kindle books, physical books, or books from other digital platforms.
Start Saving Today
Setting up price drop notifications on your iPad takes less than five minutes but can save you hundreds of dollars over time if you’re a regular book buyer. It’s one of those “set it and forget it” features that continues working in the background, ensuring you never pay full price unnecessarily.
The next time you discover an interesting book, resist the urge to buy it immediately. Add it to your wish list instead and let your iPad do the deal hunting for you. You might be surprised how often books go on sale – and how much money you can save by being patient and letting technology work in your favor.