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Import Readwise highlights and notes

Import Readwise highlights and link them to library books.

6 min read · Updated September 2026

What this connection does

This Readwise integration imports highlights and notes already stored in your Readwise account and connects only to Readwise. KOReader has a separate direct-to-MyBibliotheca plugin; it does not require or use Readwise.

The connection is one-way: Readwise is the source and MyBibliotheca never writes highlights, notes, tags, or changes back to Readwise. Keep Readwise as the place where you manage your original highlight collection.

Before you connect

You need a Readwise account and personal access token. It grants access to your export, so treat it like a password.

Imported highlights stay private. Each account has 100 MB for Readwise passages, notes, tags, and related annotation text; this limit does not apply to library books.

Connect Readwise

Get your Readwise access token →

  1. While signed in to Readwise, open readwise.io/access_token and copy the access token shown there.
  2. In MyBibliotheca, open Settings and find the Readwise section.
  3. Paste the token into Readwise access token, then choose Connect Readwise. MyBibliotheca encrypts it before storing it.
  4. Choose Sync now to import your saved Readwise books, highlights, and notes.

Choose what to import

  1. In Settings → Readwise, choose whether future synced highlights include highlighted passages, notes, or both.
  2. Choose Save preferences before your next sync.
  3. Turning off notes or highlights affects future imports only; it does not remove content already imported or change Readwise.

How book matching works

Readwise records link to existing books; they do not create library entries. Auto-match requires one exact title and author (case and extra spaces ignored), or one title if there is no author. ISBN, ASIN, covers, and fuzzy matches are not used.

  1. For multiple editions, duplicate titles, or no exact match, open Books waiting to be matched in Settings.
  2. Choose a book from your library and select Confirm link, or choose Keep it unmatched for now.

Use the title and author—not the cover alone—when confirming a match. Once linked, the match is kept until you explicitly unlink it.

Syncing and deletions

Choose Sync now or enable daily sync in Settings. Syncs import changes since the last success and remove deleted highlights. A failed sync leaves existing data unchanged.

Where imported data appears

Settings → Readwise shows totals and unmatched books. Linked annotations appear newest first under Highlights and notes on the book page. Manage originals in Readwise; imports do not change book details, shelves, or history.

Disconnect or replace a token

Disconnecting removes the saved token and stops future syncs; imported data stays in MyBibliotheca.

To replace a revoked token, get a new one at readwise.io/access_token and connect again. Existing imports are not duplicated.

To delete the imported copy and its book matches, choose Settings → Readwise → Remove imported Readwise data and type REMOVE. This does not delete Readwise originals.

Troubleshoot: token or connection

  1. If the token fails, copy a fresh token from readwise.io/access_token while signed in to the correct Readwise account. Do not use your password.
  2. If Readwise rejects a saved token, generate a new token and reconnect.
  3. If Readwise is unavailable, wait a few minutes and retry Sync now. Failed syncs leave imported data unchanged.
  4. If Readwise rate-limits the connection, wait before retrying.

Troubleshoot: missing highlights, notes, or a book

  1. Confirm the item is in the connected Readwise account, then choose Sync now.
  2. For missing passages or notes, enable the matching Sync highlights or Sync notes preference, save, then sync again after the item changes in Readwise.
  3. Unchanged totals usually mean there were no new Readwise changes.
  4. For an unlinked book, open Books waiting to be matched. Similar titles, editions, or author spellings need a manual match.
  5. If you chose Keep it unmatched for now, switch the preference back to Ask me to match it to show the waiting-book list again.

Troubleshoot: storage limit

  1. A sync stops before saving anything from that sync when imported annotation content would exceed the 100 MB account limit.
  2. Turning off Sync notes can reduce the size of future updated imports, but it does not remove notes already stored. Disconnecting also does not remove imported content.
  3. To start over, remove imported data in Settings, disable notes if appropriate, then sync again. If highlights alone exceed the limit, reduce the Readwise collection or contact support.