Archives: export and import

Bundle your annotations and handwriting into archive files, to move them to another device or keep a copy of your own. The same files work on iPad, Mac and Windows.

Applies to Mendeley and Zotero editions Windows · Mac · iPad Free

Export an archive

  1. Start the export:
    • Mac · iPadSettings › Data › Export data…, or in the library … › Export Library.
    • WindowsSettings › Data › Export data › Export.
  2. Mac · iPadChoose which papers (all of them, the ones you select, or the current collection) and what to include: annotations only, or annotations and handwriting. Handwriting makes the files larger and takes longer.
  3. WindowsChoose a folder. Every paper on this PC with annotations or handwriting is written as its own -archive.json file.
  4. Mac · iPadWhen it is done, save or send the folder from the share sheet.

Papers with nothing to export are skipped. The PDFs themselves are not included, and are never changed.

Import an archive

  1. Start the import:
    • Mac · iPadSettings › Data › Import archive, then Choose a folder or files. You can pick the folder an export made, or single archive.json files.
    • WindowsSettings › Data › Import archive.
  2. Rectoly matches each archive to a paper on this device and shows what it found: the papers matched, and the annotations and handwriting pages they contain.
  3. Check it and choose Import.
  • Importing replaces the annotations of each matched paper with the archive's.
  • Mac · iPadThe annotations from before the import are kept as one earlier version.
  • Mac · iPadArchives made from a different PDF are left out by default, because highlights could land on the wrong words. You can include them anyway.
  • Mac · iPadArchives for papers that are not on this device yet can be imported too. Their annotations appear as soon as the paper arrives.
  • WindowsThe paper must be on this PC. If it is not, download or open it first, then import again.

Import into the paper you are reading

  • Mac · iPadIn the reader's Settings › Export, choose Import archive JSON.
  • WindowsClick Import above the paper and choose Import archive…. To export just this paper, use Export and hand off to writing › Archive….

The paper's annotations are replaced with the archive's.

  • WindowsBefore importing, Rectoly shows how many annotations the archive holds and whether it has handwriting. Handwriting is merged in rather than replaced.
  • WindowsIf the archive names a different PDF, you are warned that annotations may land on the wrong pages.

Moving to another device

  1. Export an archive on the old device, with handwriting if you want it.
  2. Move the files: by AirDrop, a cloud drive, a USB stick or email.
  3. On the new device, open the same papers (or let your library sync), then import.

Archives are free to export and import on every system.

  • Mac · iPadOn iPad and Mac, iCloud backup does this for you across your Apple devices.
  • If you use Mendeley or Zotero, annotations and handwriting already travel with each paper through your library. See Annotation sync and Sharing handwriting.

Updated September 20, 2026