Read AO3 Stories on a Flight Without Wi-Fi

Download the Archive of Our Own story before you leave, save it on the device you are taking, and check that it opens in airplane mode. WP Downloader can save the complete story as an EPUB or PDF.

Download the AO3 story before your flight

WP Downloader is a free web tool with nothing to install. You need an internet connection while downloading the story.

1. Open the AO3 Downloader.
2. Copy the Archive of Our Own story URL from archiveofourown.org, archiveofourown.com, or archiveofourown.net. A story link looks like this:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/123456

3. Paste the link into WP Downloader.
4. Choose EPUB or PDF. EPUB is free for everyone. PDF requires a free Discord sign-in.
5. Choose whether to include the story’s images.
6. Download the file and save it somewhere easy to find on your phone, tablet, or computer.

For AO3, WP Downloader downloads the whole story. It cannot download an individual chapter or a list. If the author adds chapters later, download the story again. WP Downloader cannot update an EPUB you already have.

You can sign in to your AO3 account if you need to download a members-only story that the account can read. Signing in is optional, and WP Downloader does not bypass access restrictions.

See how to download AO3 fanfiction for a longer walkthrough.

Choose a format and reading app

Your choice depends on the device and app you will use during the flight.

Phone or tablet

Choose EPUB if your reading app opens EPUB books. Choose PDF if you plan to use a PDF reader or another app that does not open EPUB files. Creating a PDF with WP Downloader requires a free Discord sign-in.

Open the downloaded file in your chosen app while you still have internet. Once the EPUB or PDF is saved on the device, you can open it without a connection.

Kindle app or Kindle e-reader

Download the story as an EPUB or PDF, then use Amazon’s Send to Kindle service before your flight. You can send the file by email to your Kindle’s Send-to-Kindle address, with the Send to Kindle app, or through the web.

Amazon converts an EPUB and places the book in your Kindle library. It can then appear on Kindle e-readers and in the Kindle app. Delivery needs an internet connection, so send the file before boarding.

When sending the file by email, use an address approved for your Kindle account. Send to Kindle no longer accepts MOBI files, and WP Downloader does not create MOBI or AZW3 files.

Complete the AO3 to Kindle guide before you travel.

Kobo

Download the AO3 story as an EPUB and follow the guide to reading AO3 stories on Kobo. Finish downloading the file and preparing the device while you still have internet access.

Test the story in airplane mode

Check the story before leaving home to make sure the complete file is available offline:

1. Open the downloaded story in the app or on the device you are taking.
2. Confirm that the story opens.
3. Turn on airplane mode.
4. Close and reopen the reading app.
5. Open the story again.

If the story opens again, it is ready for the flight. If it does not, reconnect to the internet and check that the EPUB or PDF has been downloaded or delivered to that device.

For Kindle, allow enough time for Send to Kindle to deliver the book. Open it once before turning on airplane mode.

Preflight checklist

Before leaving, check that:

• You downloaded the whole AO3 story through WP Downloader.
• The EPUB or PDF is saved on the device you are carrying.
• Your reading app can open the chosen format.
• Any Kindle copy has been delivered and opened.
• The story still opens in airplane mode.
• You downloaded the story again if the author added new chapters.

FAQ

Can I read an AO3 story without Wi-Fi?

Yes. Download the story as an EPUB or PDF while you have internet. Once the file is saved on your device, you can open it without a connection.

Should I choose EPUB or PDF for a flight?

Choose EPUB for an app or e-reader that supports EPUB books. Choose PDF if you plan to use a PDF reader. EPUB is free for everyone through WP Downloader, while PDF requires a free Discord sign-in.

Can I send the story to Kindle after boarding?

Send it before your flight. Send to Kindle needs an internet connection to deliver the book to your Kindle library.

Does WP Downloader download one AO3 chapter at a time?

No. For Archive of Our Own, WP Downloader downloads whole stories only. It does not download single chapters or lists.

Will my downloaded EPUB gain new chapters automatically?

No. If the AO3 story is updated, paste its link into WP Downloader and download it again.