Guides

How to Export Safari Reading List to HTML or CSV in 2027

Export your Safari Reading List to an HTML bookmark file or CSV. Learn how to extract saved articles from macOS and iOS without losing your links.

Safari’s Reading List is one of the most popular read-it-later tools on macOS and iOS, but Apple does not provide a dedicated “Export Reading List” button. Fortunately, your reading list is automatically bundled into Safari’s bookmark export, and you can easily extract it into a clean HTML or CSV file.

Method 1: Export All Safari Bookmarks & Reading List

Apple bundles your reading list directly inside your overall bookmark backup:

  1. Open Safari on your Mac.
  2. In the top menu bar, click File > Export > Bookmarks….
  3. Choose a destination and save Safari Bookmarks.html.
  4. Your Reading List is preserved inside this file under a special folder named com.apple.ReadingList.

Method 2: Extract Only Reading List Items (Filter to CSV or HTML)

If you only want your reading list articles without mixing in your everyday browser bookmarks:

  1. Open our free Bookmark File Viewer or CSV to Bookmarks HTML tool.
  2. Drop in your Safari Bookmarks.html file.
  3. Filter by folder name: select com.apple.ReadingList.
  4. Click Download CSV or Download HTML to export only your saved reading queue.

Method 3: Direct Access via Terminal & Bookmarks.plist

For developers and power users, macOS stores the raw reading list in a local property list file:

~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist

Using AppleScript or Python, you can parse the ReadingList dictionary to extract article URLs, added timestamps, and preview text.

Organize Your Reading List with Marqly

Safari Reading List lacks cross-platform support for Windows, Android, or Linux. By importing your Safari Reading List into Marqly, you gain permanent archiving, AI-generated article summaries, custom tags, and full-text search across every device.

Frequently asked questions

Does Safari have a separate export button for the Reading List?
No. Safari File > Export > Bookmarks exports everything into one HTML file, placing your Reading List inside a dedicated `<DT><H3>com.apple.ReadingList</H3>` folder.
Where is the Reading List stored on macOS?
It is stored in ~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist under the ReadingList key, containing URLs, page titles, and preview snippets.
How do I convert Safari Reading List to a clean bookmark file or CSV?
Export your bookmarks via Safari > File > Export > Bookmarks. Then drop the HTML file into our free Bookmark File Viewer or CSV tool to isolate just the Reading List items.