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📄 Importing PDFs into Wave

Wave now supports importing PDF documents for AI-powered analysis and summarization. This guide walks you through how to import PDFs and what to expect once they’re processed.

Updated today

There are two ways to Import PDFs

Method 1: Import from the Files App

  1. Open Wave and go to the Home tab.

  2. Tap the Import section at the top of your waves list.

  3. Tap Import File.

  4. Browse your device and select a PDF.

  5. Wave will begin uploading and processing automatically.

Method 2: Share from Another App

  1. Open any app that contains a PDF (Files, Mail, Safari, etc.).

  2. Tap the Share button.

  3. Choose Wave from the share sheet.

  4. A preview will appear with the filename.

  5. Tap Process PDF to import.

What Happens After Import

Once your PDF is imported, Wave’s AI will:

  1. Upload the file securely to the cloud

  2. Analyze the document’s full content

  3. Generate a detailed summary, including:

    • High-level overview (5–10 bullet points)

    • Section-by-section breakdown

    • Key facts, numbers, and dates

    • Action items and recommendations (if any)

    • Notable quotes or passages

    • Entities, roles, and stakeholders

    • Notes on document quality issues

  4. Create an auto-generated title based on the document

Processing usually takes 1–3 minutes, depending on length.

Viewing Your PDF

After processing finishes, you’ll see a new PDF session:

  • Summary Tab – Your AI-generated summary with all key insights

  • Transcript Tab – A page-by-page view of the original PDF

Using Wave AI with PDFs

You can interact with your PDF just like you would with any Wave recording:

  • Ask questions about specific sections

  • Request simpler explanations

  • Pull out action items

  • Compare multiple documents

  • Search for names, dates, or topics

Supported PDFs

Wave works well with:

  • Text-based PDFs (contracts, reports, articles, etc.)

  • OCR-enabled scanned documents

  • Multi-page documents of any length

  • Academic papers and research

  • Business, finance, and compliance documents

Tips for Best Results

  1. Text-based PDFs perform best — Selectable text yields the most accurate summaries.

  2. Structured formatting helps — Headings, sections, and clean layout improve comprehension.

  3. Use the Transcript tab — If something looks off, cross-check the original pages.

Finding Your Imported PDFs

Imported PDFs appear in your waves list and can be found under the Import filter alongside your audio imports.

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