FAQs
Short answers to the questions we get most. Each one links to the full guide if you want the detail.
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General
Is Panels free?
Yes. Panels is free to download, and importing comics, organizing your library and reading them costs nothing. Panels Premium unlocks the advanced features — cloud libraries, OPDS servers, page filters, text detection and more.
Where do I get comics to read?
Panels reads comics you already own, and you can buy DRM-free comics from the Panels Store (purchases sync straight into the app) or from a number of other retailers. There are also plenty of free and public domain comics.
Which file formats does Panels support?
CBZ, CBR, CB7, PDF and comic ePUBs. Container files can hold almost any common image format, including JXL on iOS 17+. Panels is built for image-based books, so text ePUBs aren't supported.
Can I change the app language?
Yes, Panels is available in 11 languages. You change it from the system settings rather than inside the app, and on iOS the option only appears once you have more than one preferred language added.
Importing and libraries
How do I sync my content between devices?
Two ways: put your library in iCloud Drive, or keep it on your own OPDS server. Both let every device see the same collection without storing every file locally.
→ iCloud Drive libraries · OPDS: your own server
Can I still import from Google Drive?
No. Google changed their API scope rules and the cost of staying verified put the integration out of reach for us. You can still get the files in by installing the official Google Drive app and importing through the Files app.
→ Google Drive integration retirement
Does locking content lock everything, or can I lock just some folders?
Just some. Long press any single comic or folder to lock it — everything else stays as it was. Locked content is blurred in Panels and hidden from the file system entirely.
My comics disappeared and Panels says the file isn't available
If your library is in iCloud Drive, iOS offloads files it thinks you don't need to free up space. Your comics are safe in iCloud — mark the ones you want to keep on-device as Keep Downloaded.
How do I move my library to a new device?
Copy the Panels folder across, or just set up your library again if you use iCloud Drive or OPDS. Note that the on-device Panels folder is not included in an iPhone backup.
Reading
How do I sync my reading progress?
Sign in to your Panels account on every device. Your progress, time spent reading and per-comic reader preset upload automatically and follow you around.
Can I change how pages are grouped in double page mode?
Yes. Panels groups pages automatically, but if it gets a comic wrong, long press a page thumbnail and choose Group from this page on to set the grouping point yourself.
Can I share a page?
Yes. Long press the page in the thumbnail carousel and choose share.
How does "Continue reading" work?
When you reach the last page, keep scrolling and Panels jumps to the next title in the same folder. It doesn't work while streaming over OPDS yet.
Can I read something without it showing up in Reading Now?
Yes, that's what Incognito mode is for. Your reading session is still recorded, but it's marked hidden and won't appear in Reading Now.
Panels Premium
What's the difference between Panels+ and Panels 3?
Panels+ is a subscription that unlocks every feature for as long as it's active, including features added in future major versions. Panels 3 is a one-time purchase that unlocks all Panels 3 features forever — when Panels 4 arrives you keep everything you have, but its new features need a new purchase.
I bought Panels on one device. Do I have to pay again on another?
No. Your purchase belongs to your Apple Account, not to a device. Sign in with the same account and restore your purchases. Apple won't charge you twice even if you try to buy it again.
I reinstalled Panels and lost Premium. Do I have to pay again?
No. Open Settings → My Purchases and tap Restore purchases.
Can I share Panels with my family?
Yes. Every Panels purchase — both Panels+ subscriptions and one-time purchases — supports Apple's Family Sharing, for up to five other family members.
Should I buy the current version now, or wait for the next one?
We don't have a fixed release schedule, and Panels 4 will most likely arrive sometime in 2026. Everyone who bought the previous version gets a discount on the next one, so buying now doesn't cost you anything later.
→ Plans