Import / Instapaper
Bring an Instapaper export
into Aside.
Export a CSV from Instapaper, then pick that file in Aside on iPhone. This is a file import. Aside does not connect to Instapaper.
Instapaper is current. On the Instapaper website, open Settings → Export and download the CSV.
Start on iPhone · No sign-in needed for the Local Library
In the other app
Export the file
- 01
Open Instapaper on the web
On the Instapaper website, the export lives in Settings, not in the iOS app.
- 02
Settings → Export
Open Settings → Export and download the CSV (URL, Title, Selection, Folder, Timestamp, Tags).
- 03
Put the CSV on iPhone
Save instapaper.csv in the Files app, then pick it in Aside.
Aside
Open the file in Aside
- 01
First-run ImportIntroductionSheet
The first time you open Aside, ImportIntroductionSheet offers “Import saves from these apps”. Choose the file there.
- 02
Empty Home: Import existing saves
If Home has no saves, tap “Import existing saves” (feed-empty-import).
- 03
Account, below Storage: account-import
Open Account. Below the Storage row, tap “Import from other apps” (account-import). This is not the Storage settings page.
What comes across
- url — the saved link
- title — the Instapaper title
- tags — Instapaper tags
- addedAt — the Instapaper timestamp
- folderPath — a named folder maps to folderPath; Unread is not a folder
- archived — the Archive folder maps to archived
What stays behind
- notes — Instapaper CSV notes are always nil
- selection — the Selection body is not imported
- javascript: and data: URLs — skipped, not saved
A few things to know
Before you begin.
What if the file is dirty or truncated?
Aside skips broken rows when it can, or says the file cannot be read. Use the original Instapaper CSV. A rewritten spreadsheet may not import.
What about javascript: or data: bookmarks?
Aside skips javascript: and data: URLs. They are not saved.
What about a duplicate URL?
A URL already in Aside is not added again. Importing the same file twice does not duplicate those saves.
What if the file is large?
A large library can take a while. Stay in Aside until it finishes, or pause and continue later. Leaving the App may pause the import.