Import Your Kobo Highlights

PastReads makes it easy to import your highlights and notes from your Kobo e-reader. Our import system processes your Kobo database file to preserve all your reading insights, including book information, highlights, and notes.

Choose Your Preferred Import Method:

Use the web uploader

Drag and drop your KoboReader.sqlite file (max 50 mb). Quick and easy, no software needed.

Use PastReads Sync for Desktop

Connect your Kobo and sync with one click. No file size limits, and everything is done locally on your desktop.

Download PastReads Sync

Quick Start

Connect your Kobo e-reader to your computer using a USB cable.
Your Kobo may ask for approval to connect to your computer, if so click "Connect".

Open the PastReads Import modal on the website, or open PastReads Sync on your Desktop and choose Import Kobo highlights

On the website, locate KoboReader.sqlite in the .kobo folder on your Kobo drive and drag it into the import modal.

The .kobo folder is hidden by default.

Here's how to show hidden files:

On Mac: Press ⌘ (Command) + ⇧ (Shift) + . (Dot)
On Windows: Click "View" in File Explorer, then check "Hidden items"

Or, in PastReads Sync, click Sync from connected Kobo when your device is detected. If your Kobo is not automatically detected, locate KoboReader.sqlite in the .kobo folder on your Kobo drive and drag it into the import modal.

What Gets Imported

When you import highlights from your Kobo device, PastReads automatically processes:

📚 Book titles and author information
🔍 Highlight content with original formatting
📝 Notes attached to your highlights
📅 Highlight dates
🔄 Multiple highlights from the same book

Duplicate Detection

PastReads includes advanced duplicate detection, so you don't need to worry about importing the same highlights or notes multiple times. The system automatically checks for existing highlights and safely skips duplicates without creating redundant entries.

Your Data

When you sync your KoboReader.sqlite file:

🔒 We extract your highlights, notes, and book information
💻 With the Desktop app, your SQLite file is processed locally on your Desktop and never uploaded
🗑️ With the web uploader, the SQLite file is immediately deleted from our servers after processing
✨ Only the extracted highlights and notes are stored in your PastReads library

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues:

File Not Found: Make sure your Kobo is properly connected and mounted as a drive
Import Fails: Ensure you're selecting the correct KoboReader.sqlite file
No Highlights Appear: Verify that you have highlights saved on your Kobo device

If problems persist, please contact our support team for assistance.