Happy slice of mcp pizzaMCP.pizza

readwise-mcp

MCP.Pizza Chef: readwiseio

This add-on gives your assistant one ability and one only: searching the highlights you have saved in Readwise, either by meaning or by author, title, note, text, or tag. It cannot add, edit, or delete anything, and it does not reach your Reader articles. Readwise has retired this version and now points everyone to its hosted replacement at readwise.io/mcp, which needs no installing at all. You will need a paid Readwise account and its access token.

Deprecated · retired by Readwise for its hosted readwise.io/mcp replacement
Notes
Web/Research
Writing

Use This MCP server To

Find every highlight I saved about a particular idea Pull quotes from a book I read last year Gather my underlined passages by one specific author Search my saved notes for a phrase I half-remember Collect supporting quotes while drafting an article

README

Readwise MCP (Deprecated)

This MCP server is deprecated. Please use the new Readwise MCP server instead: readwise.io/mcp

The new server is hosted — no local installation needed. It supports both Readwise and Reader data, and works with Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible app.

Migration

Replace your existing claude_desktop_config.json entry with the new server. Setup instructions for all clients are at readwise.io/mcp.

If you also want CLI access and agent skills, see readwise.io/cli.

Legacy Installation (not recommended)

Click to expand old installation instructions

Installation in Claude

  1. Please make sure you have Node installed.
  2. Open Claude desktop app.
  3. Navigate to Settings > Developer.
  4. Click Edit Config.
  5. Add the following entry to the claude_desktop_config.json file, replacing ACCESS_TOKEN value with your Readwise Access Token.
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Readwise MCP": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@readwise/readwise-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "ACCESS_TOKEN": "XXXXXXXXX"
      }
    }
  }
}

Troubleshooting

For general troubleshooting guidance, please refer to the official Model Context Protocol Claude Desktop Troubleshooting section.

"Could not attach to MCP server Readwise MCP"

A very likely reason for this to happen is that you have an incorrect npx/Node version set up. If you're using nvm, try running nvm use 18 in your terminal. If not, consider reinstalling Node.

Errors when calling Readwise tools

When using this MCP server, you may occasionally encounter MCP errors during your conversations with Claude. If you experience such errors, we recommend trying to switch between different Claude models (e.g., from Claude 3.5 Haiku to Claude 3.7 Sonnet) as this often resolves the issue.

readwise-mcp FAQ

Is this still maintained?
No. Readwise marks this version deprecated and directs people to its hosted replacement at readwise.io/mcp, which requires no installing and also covers Reader documents.
Do I need a key or a paid account?
Both. It needs a Readwise access token from readwise.io/access_token, and Readwise itself is a paid subscription once the trial ends.
Can I use this to save a new highlight or note?
No. It only searches. The code registers a single search ability and has no way to add, change, or delete anything in your Readwise account.
Can I use this to pull quotes for an essay I am writing?
Yes — describe the topic and it returns matching highlights along with their book or article details, ready to quote.
Does it cover my Reader articles and saved links?
No. This version reaches highlights only. Readwise says the newer hosted server covers both Readwise and Reader.
Which apps does it work in?
It runs on your computer through Claude Desktop's settings file, and the same block works in other apps that read that format. Readwise lists Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, Claude Code, and Cursor for the newer hosted version.
How hard is the setup?
You paste a short block into Claude's settings and drop in your token. Node has to be installed first, and a mismatched Node version is the most common reason it fails to start.