I saved my Pocket library before it’s too late, and you should too

After I heard that Mozilla is shutting down read-it-later app Pocket, I used to be furious. Like many customers of the service, I adored the studying expertise on the platform, which served me distraction-free content material that I curated through the years. This features a stash of long-form articles that I add to every day. For probably the most half, Pocket labored after I wanted it to, so I by no means felt that I wanted another. However as the tip attracts close to, I’ll have to start the seek for a Pocket different.

Earlier than I can discover a new service, I have to save my library from wreck. In case you’re a equally scorned Pocket consumer, you’re possible questioning how you can do exactly that. After going by way of the process myself, right here’s what you’ll want to know.

Pocket’s information export facility will enable customers to save lots of a listing of the articles they’ve saved and annotations earlier than the service terminates later this yr. The characteristic isn’t accessible by way of the Android app, so that you’ll want an internet browser to finish the method.

First, go to Pocket’s export internet web page. In case you haven’t but, you’ll have to log in to your Mozilla account. Click on the Export CSV file hyperlink. It will take you to a web page headlined “Your export is on the way in which!”

It’s additionally a good suggestion to confirm that you just nonetheless have entry to your authentic electronic mail tackle used on your account. You are able to do that by clicking the “right here” hyperlink as seen beneath.

Importantly, relying on how a lot content material you will have tucked away, you could have to attend as much as seven days earlier than your exported content material is prepared. Personally, mine took slightly over ten minutes to arrange.

You’ll obtain an electronic mail with a hyperlink to your content material obtain. Click on the click on to obtain hyperlink. It’ll take you to a obtain hyperlink of a .zip file that features your saves.

Notice that this hyperlink is barely obtainable 48 hours after the e-mail is delivered, however the exported information is obtainable for 3 days. In case you miss the unique electronic mail, you’ll be able to re-request a obtain hyperlink.

What’s included in my Pocket export?

The .zip file has a folder known as “annotations” and consists of a .json file. This consists of all of the markups and notes you’ve made on articles you’ve learn. Your precise studying checklist is saved as a .csv file. In case you have been anticipating particular person .html recordsdata for every of your saved articles, you’ll be sorely disillusioned.

However, that .csv file might be learn by a number of read-it-later apps. Notably, Readwise, Raindrop.io, Karakeep, and Instapaper all assist information import by way of the file kind.

Whereas Pocket’s web site, apps, and APIs will shutter on July 8, 2025, the ultimate date to export your Pocket information is October 8, 2025. I counsel you do it sooner reasonably than later.