---
title: "Automatically save PDF annotations using iOS | Nutrient SDK"
canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/ios/annotations/annotation-and-bookmark-saving-triggers/"
md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/ios/annotations/annotation-and-bookmark-saving-triggers.md"
last_updated: "2026-05-30T02:20:01.305Z"
description: "Learn how to automatically save PDF annotations in iOS using Nutrient iOS SDK, ensuring seamless document management without losing changes."
---

# Automatically save PDF annotations on iOS

When the [`isAutosaveEnabled`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkitui/pdfconfiguration/isautosaveenabled) configuration property is `true`, [`PDFView`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkitui/pdfview) and [`PDFViewController`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkitui/pdfviewcontroller) will save “dirty” (changed/created/deleted) annotations on several occasions:

- When the view disappears (in `viewDidDisappear(_:)`/`onDisappear(perform:)`, unless Nutrient is presenting a fullscreen view on top of the `PDFViewController`).

- When [`saveAfterToolbarHiding`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkitui/annotationtoolbar/saveaftertoolbarhiding) of the [`AnnotationToolbar`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkitui/annotationtoolbar) is enabled.

- When the app is moved into the background (`UIApplicationDidEnterBackgroundNotification`, `UIApplicationWillTerminateNotification`).

- When `UIActivityViewController` asks for document data or a document URL to share.

- When a document will be digitally signed using `SignatureViewController`.

- When long-term validation is added to a form element.

- When the selected tab of [`PDFTabbedViewController`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkitui/pdftabbedviewcontroller) is changed.

Each time the document is saved, the [`pdfDocumentDidSave(_:)`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkit/pdfdocumentdelegate/pdfdocumentdidsave(_:)) delegate method on [`PDFDocumentDelegate`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkit/pdfdocumentdelegate) is called. If there were no new changes to save, the delegate won’t be called.

Saving can also be controlled on a per-document level by setting [`annotationSaveMode`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkit/document/annotationsavemode-swift.property).

## Customize autosaving

To customize the autosaving behavior, override the [`handleAutosaveRequest(for:reason:)`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkitui/pdfviewcontroller/handleautosaverequest(for:reason:)) method on [`PDFViewController`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkitui/pdfviewcontroller). Use this only when you really understand what you’re doing, as there might be unintended side effects, such as sharing not working as expected.

## Manual saving

Saving can always be triggered from the main thread by calling [`save(options:)`](https://www.nutrient.io/api/ios/documentation/pspdfkit/document/save(options:)) on a document. It’s not recommend to call this on a timer, because it can interrupt the creation of annotations if the user is drawing when the save occurs.
---

## Related pages

- [Save PDF annotations on iOS](/guides/ios/annotations/annotation-saving-mechanism.md)
- [Embed annotations in PDF on iOS](/guides/ios/annotations/save/embed-into-pdf.md)
- [Save PDF annotations to external storage on iOS](/guides/ios/importing-exporting/annotation-providers.md)