Import Your Omnivore Library into Clip

Omnivore is shutting down. If you rely on that library, you need to move your data immediately. This guide walks you through exporting from Omnivore and…

Omnivore is shutting down. If you rely on that library, you need to move your data immediately. This guide walks you through exporting from Omnivore and importing into Clip.

1. Understand the Export Format

Omnivore exports data as a JSON file. This is a standard text format that stores your notes, highlights, and tags in a structured way. It is not a CSV file. Clip accepts this format for bulk imports. Knowing the file type prevents errors during the transfer process.

2. Export Before Shutdown

Speed is essential. Do not wait for the final deadline to begin.

• Go to your Omnivore dashboard.
• Locate the export settings in the menu.
• Select the option to download your full library.
• Save the resulting .json file to a safe location on your computer.
• Close the browser tab. You do not need to keep the site open.

Having the file offline ensures you can work on the import even if internet access becomes unstable.

3. Import Into Clip

Clip handles imports through its web interface. Follow these steps to move your data.

• Open your Clip account in a browser.
• Navigate to the Import section within settings.
• Upload the JSON file you downloaded from Omnivore.
• Wait for the processing bar to complete. This may take a few minutes depending on your library size.
• Refresh the page to verify the content has arrived.

Clip will match articles to your existing saved items. It will also map your highlights to the correct locations within the articles.

4. What Transfers and What Does Not

The import process moves most core data but has specific limitations.

What transfers:

• Articles: Full text and metadata move from Omnivore to Clip.
• Highlights: Your notes and comments attach to the specific lines in the text.
• Labels: Omnivore tags become Clip labels. The system preserves the naming convention you used.
• Reading Status: Whether you marked an item as read or unread gets preserved.

What does not transfer:

• Comments: The public comment threads on Omnivore articles will not move. These are social features that do not exist in Clip.
• Account History: Your login history or session data remains on Omnivore servers but holds no value for you.
• External Links: If an article link is broken in the export file, Clip will show it as a dead link. You will need to update the URL manually if necessary.

5. Reorganize After Import

The import moves data but does not perfectly align your workflow. You should reorganize immediately.

• Audit Labels: Check your label list. Omnivore tags might differ slightly from your preferred Clip labels. Merge duplicates to keep your library clean.
• Check Highlights: Open a few random articles. Ensure your highlights appear in the right order. Sometimes text changes cause a highlight to shift position.
• Clear Old Folders: If you used Omnivore folders, move those items into Clip labels or collections. Remove the old folder structure to avoid confusion.
• Update Broken Links: Scan for articles that show as broken. Click the edit button and paste the correct URL if you have it stored elsewhere.

Final Thoughts

This migration restores your knowledge base to a platform you control. Clip stores your data locally by default. This gives you full ownership of your notes.

Start the export today. Do not delay. Your ideas are valuable and they deserve a stable home. Use Clip to build that home now.