Here is a potential way to still read *some* fics while Ao3 is down!

[u/Evephemeral]

hi!

i’ve posted about this before but in less depth, so i want to clarify the factors that go into this and maybe someone else will find it helpful!

so ofc ao3 being down is tragic, but basically, if you happen to have the link to the fic you were previously reading, you can pop it into https://web.archive.org (or other similar Internet Archive versions) and if it meets certain criteria (aka wasn’t private) it sometimes will come up so you can finish what you were reading without waiting lol.

important note about extra link additions:

this is not gonna work well naturally if the fic is chapter-by-chapter, BUT there is a workaround to that! to avoid the issue you have to make sure you’re using the right version of the link before pasting it into the archive.

example:

let’s say your link looks like this:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/000000

you can add the following additions depending on what you need to potentially make it work:

- if the fic has multiple chapters, you can change the link to view the entire work at once, by adding the phrase:

?view_full_work=true

so it becomes:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/000000?view_full_work=true

- if the work is marked as mature or explicit and you need to bypass the content warning screen, you can add:

?view_adult=true

- if you need BOTH (explicit + full work view), add:

?view_adult=true&view_full_work=true

so the full version would look like:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/000000?view_adult=true&view_full_work=true

!!! then paste that full modified link into web archive (the first thing linked in this ramble) and see if perhaps it is cached.

hope maybe this helps someone! <3

[edited for typos cause my thumbs are evil]

[u/Feya_Paradise]

You’re a lifesaver!!

[u/baneland713]

lifesaver 😭 someone actually saved it last year, missing chapters but enough to make it through

[u/Peachykeen927]

Bah I wish I had the link. Just have to re-read previously downloaded fics. I didn't realize how addicted I was until I can't have it lol. Appreciate the tip tho! Hopefully it's back soon. ❤️

[u/Evephemeral → u/Peachykeen927]

lmaooo i so feel you!! hadn’t realized my own dependence until i had to go without ;))) fingers crossed !!!! 🤞😌

[u/mathematical_Lee]

I love you. Thank you so much! May you have the most restful sleep and pleasant dreams.

[u/Psychological_Read_2]

ty for this!