reMarkable Paper Pure · Customization
Custom templates on the reMarkable Paper Pure
How to use the built-in template set, and how to add your own template images through developer mode and SSH.
For most people the built-in templates are enough, and adding your own is an advanced job: developer mode, SSH, copying image files, and hand-editing a JSON list, all of which a firmware update can undo. If you only need one specific layout, sending it in as a PDF and writing on that is a far simpler route than a true custom template.
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Use the built-in templates first
Open a notebook, open the page menu, and choose "Template". The built-in set is large — lined at several spacings, dotted, grid, checklists, planners, music, storyboard and more. Each page can use a different one, so try these before going further; most needs are covered.
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Understand what a custom template is
A custom template is a full-screen background image the device draws behind your writing. reMarkable stores templates as PNG files plus an SVG, listed in a "templates.json" file. Adding one means placing the files and editing that list — which needs developer mode and SSH.
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Enable developer mode and connect over SSH
Turn on developer mode in Settings (this wipes the device, so sync and export first), then connect the USB cable and run "ssh root@10.11.99.1" with the password shown on the device's licenses screen.
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Copy your template image to the device
Prepare a PNG at the screen resolution with light-grey lines on white. From your computer, use "scp yourtemplate.png root@10.11.99.1:/usr/share/remarkable/templates/". Add a matching SVG in the same folder if you have one.
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Register the template in templates.json
Edit "/usr/share/remarkable/templates/templates.json" and add an entry for your template — a name, the filename without extension, an icon code, and the categories it should appear under. Copy an existing entry's structure exactly and change the values.
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Restart the interface and test
Restart the device, or the "xochitl" UI process, so it re-reads the list. Open a notebook, open the template picker, and your template should appear in the category you set.
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Expect to re-apply after firmware updates
A firmware update can replace "templates.json" and remove your files. Keep copies on your computer and a note of your JSON edits so you can re-add them quickly. This is more likely on the Paper Pure's newer platform, which updates often. Community tools exist to automate re-applying templates.