What to Do When an App You Love Shuts Down

My search for a Pocket alternative.

If you’re someone who relies on digital tools to manage your workflow, the announcement that an app is shutting down can be crushing.

Earlier this week, Mozilla announced that it is shutting down Pocket, the read-it-later app.

Like many avid Pocket fans, I was shocked. I mourned. I use Pocket all the time, on both my phone and desktop, to save articles I want to read later.

Now what?

It’s not the first time an app I love has shut down, but it’s certainly an instance that will impact me a lot. I use Pocket almost daily; it’s an integral part of my workflows.

I’m used to testing out new apps, so here are the steps I’m going to follow — and what you should do anytime an app shuts down.

Export all of your data

If an app you love is shutting down, find out if there’s an export available. Pocket is offering an export of users’ bookmarks until October 8, 2025.

If an export isn’t available, you should quickly work to figure out how to preserve your data in the app. You might have to download information manually or take screenshots. Start this process quickly, especially if you think it will take a long…