How to Read AO3 Stories in Apple Books

To read an Archive of Our Own story in Apple Books, download it as an EPUB with WP Downloader and add the file to Books on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The imported story will appear in your Library.

What you need

WP Downloader is a free web tool, and you do not need to install anything. You only need the link to the AO3 work you want to read. It will usually look like this:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/123456

The tool supports links from archiveofourown.org, archiveofourown.com, and archiveofourown.net.

WP Downloader saves the whole story. It cannot download a single AO3 chapter or a list. If the author publishes more chapters later, download the story again to create an updated EPUB.

Download the AO3 story as an EPUB

Apple Books opens EPUB and PDF files. EPUB is free for everyone through WP Downloader. PDF requires a free Discord sign-in.

To download the story:

1. Open the AO3 downloader.
2. Paste the AO3 work link into the box.
3. Choose EPUB as the output format.
4. Choose whether to include the story’s images.
5. Download the finished file to your device.

You can also paste the link into the box on the WP Downloader home page. The tool will detect that it comes from Archive of Our Own.

You do not need to sign in for public stories. If a story is limited to signed-in AO3 members, you can sign in with your AO3 account. WP Downloader uses your credentials only to fetch the story you requested, and it can download only content that your account can already read. It does not bypass members-only access, age restrictions, paywalls, or other locked content.

For a broader walkthrough, see how to download AO3 fanfiction.

Read the story in Apple Books on iPhone or iPad

After downloading the EPUB:

1. Open the Files app or Safari’s downloads.
2. Find the EPUB file.
3. Open the Share menu.
4. Choose Books.

Apple Books will import the file and add it to your Library. Open the Books app and select the story when you want to read it.

These steps also work for a PDF downloaded from WP Downloader. Apple Books can open both file types on iPhone and iPad.

Read the story in Apple Books on Mac

After downloading the EPUB on your Mac, add it to Books in either of these ways:

• Open Books and drag the EPUB file into the app.
• In Books, choose File, then Add to Library, and select the EPUB.

The imported story will appear in your Library. You can follow the same steps with a PDF downloaded from WP Downloader.

Getting updated chapters

WP Downloader cannot add new chapters to an EPUB you already have. When an AO3 story is updated, return to the AO3 downloader, paste the work link again, and download a new copy.

Import the new file into Apple Books to read the version of the whole story that was available when you downloaded it.

Other ways to read AO3 stories

For instructions for other e-readers, see how to send AO3 stories to Kindle or how to read AO3 stories on Kobo.

WP Downloader’s support for AO3 and other fiction archives was ported from FanFicFare, the open-source fanfiction downloader.

FAQ

Can Apple Books open an AO3 EPUB?

Yes. Apple Books opens EPUB files on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Download the story as an EPUB with WP Downloader, then import it into Books.

Can I use a PDF instead?

Yes. Apple Books also opens PDF files. WP Downloader requires a free Discord sign-in for PDF downloads, while EPUB is free for everyone.

Can WP Downloader download one AO3 chapter?

No. For Archive of Our Own, WP Downloader downloads the whole story. It does not download individual chapters or lists.

Do I need to sign in to AO3?

Not for public stories. You can sign in to reach members-only stories that your AO3 account is allowed to read.

Will my EPUB receive new chapters automatically?

No. WP Downloader does not update an existing EPUB. Download the story again when you want a copy with newly published chapters.