Readwise highlights exporter iOS Shortcut

Export your Readwise highlights to local markdown files using this iOS shortcut with the help of iA Writer app. Perfect missing piece for Obsidian users trying to export their book highlights

Prerequsites ☑️

• iA Writer app (paid)
  
• Readwise subscription
  

Features ⚡️

• Exports all the highlights from your books in Readwise to Markdown files 🤩
  
• Works with Obsidian vaults on iCloud as they are local MD files.
• Exports only the latest highlights which are taken after you last run. ⏰
• Saves the files based on the title of the Book (Customisable) 📚
• Well document (commented) shortcut steps so you can customise as you like 📝
• Not just books, but also all the items like podcasts (Airr), articles (Instapaper or Pocket) to MD files

Demo

A tweet where I demonstrate running the shortcut - https://twitter.com/aravindballa/status/1378191066302586881

Screenshot of the exported file in iA Writer

Limitation

This doesn't work with Automations. iOS wants the device to be unlocked to access the apps. So this cannot run at a certain time, for example update the files while you sleep.

If the highlights in your first run have more than 4000 characters, it might not export all the items from Readwise. If you happen to rn into this issue, I’d be happy to help if you DM me on Twitter.