#Tips Official

[aurorasulphur]

Disclaimer: none of these answers are official, and may not work for your particular use case. If there is a specific feature that an unofficial app had that you don't know how to replicate on the AO3, let me know in the notes and we might can crowdsource a solution.

A lot of people used the Archive Reader app to access stories on Archive of Our Own, and have been upset that the app is now charging to read longer than an hour a day. AO3 (and its parent organization, the OTW) has made it extremely clear in recent days that this app is unofficial and that there *is* no official app. They encourage people to use the website.

However, there are MANY reasons you might want an app, and in a bunch of those cases, there are ways to do those things without having to provide your login information to a random person running an app. Here is a round-up of solutions to the most common reasons I've seen people give for wanting an app instead of the plain AO3 website.

These solutions are based on the following assumptions:

You know what Archive of Our Own is

You often or primarily access it through a mobile device running iOS or Android

You understand what a browser is

You understand what a browser bookmark is

You understand what a site skin is

Edits:

Edited to clarify that you must be logged in to use custom site skins

Edited to add more tips and tricks from the reblogs

Edited to add new entry about notifications/emails

Edited to add new entry about reading statistics and the tracking thereof

I need a widget on my phone's homescreen, not just a browser bookmark.

You can do this with any website, not just AO3! Instructions here: https://www.howtogeek.com/196087/how-to-add-websites-to-the-home-screen-on-any-smartphone-or-tablet/

I need Dark Mode.

AO3 has a default site skin for Dark Mode, it's just called Reversi. Find it here, or at the bottom of any page on the website. https://archiveofourown.org/skins/929/

If you'd like Dark Mode on your whole browser (and you're on Android), sorrelchestnut has advice here: https://www.tumblr.com/sorrelchestnut/737869282153775104/if-you-want-dark-mode-and-dont-want-to-mess

I need to be able to read stories when I don't have internet.

Every work on the AO3 has a download button, so you can click on that and download the story for offline reading in the ereader app of your choice. More info on how to do that is in the AO3 FAQs: https://archiveofourown.org/faq/downloading-fanworks?language_id=en#accesslater

I need to be able to change the text size of the website itself.

If you have an AO3 account (and you should!!) you can do this with a personalized site skin! There is a simple tutorial here: https://www.tumblr.com/ao3skin/667284237718798336/i-have-a-request-if-you-dont-mind-could-you

I need to be able to change the text size in downloaded stories.

My personal recommendation: Don't download in PDF format. All the other formats you can download in can scale the text size up and down, assuming you open the work in the correct app. For me, I download works in EPUB format and read them on the built-in Books app on my iPhone. I hear good things about Moon Reader on Android as well.

I need to be able to replace Y/N in fics with an actual name.

ElectricAlice has a bookmarklet for that here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34796935

I need to be able to save specific tags and not have to search them up every time.

If you have an AO3 account (which you definitely should) then you can favorite up to 20 tags which will appear on the landing page. The AO3 FAQ explains how that works: https://archiveofourown.org/faq/tags?language_id=en#favtag

I need to be able to save specific filters and be able to apply them to any tag.

Reisling's beautiful bookmarklet has you covered: https://archiveofourown.org/works/33825019

I need to be able to permanently hide certain tags.

The best option is adding this to your site skin. (Must be logged in.) Instructions here: https://www.tumblr.com/ao3css/719667033634160640/how-to-permanently-filter-out-certain-tags-on-ao3

I also hear things about the AO3 Enhancements extension (just for Android/desktop, sorry iOS folks): https://www.tumblr.com/emotionalsupportrats/686787582579851265/browser-extension-everyone-on-ao3-should-know

I need it to save my place on the page and not reload.

This is really mostly a browser error--Firefox on iOS does this to me A LOT. Your best bet is to download the work and read it in an ereader app. A lot of people also will make an ao3 bookmark and write in the notes section which part they were at, but that assumes you aren't falling asleep while reading. (Which is the main reason I have this issue, lol.) For more info on bookmarks, see the FAQ: https://archiveofourown.org/faq/bookmarks?language_id=en#whatisbookmark

I need it to keep track of which stories I've already read/opened/kudos'd.

If you have an account (which you should) then the "My History" page keeps track of every fic you've ever clicked on. No, it isn't searchable or sortable, but it does exist. For fics you've kudos'd, I have yet to find a solution for iOS. For desktop or Android, you can use this excellent userscript: https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/5835-ao3-kudosed-and-seen-history

@the-sleepy-archivist and @inkandarsenic have a solution for iOS here to use userscripts: https://www.tumblr.com/the-sleepy-archivist/737895174683885568/this-is-a-great-guide-one-thing-i-can-help-with and https://www.tumblr.com/inkandarsenic/737827438571192320/the-user-scripts-will-also-work-on-ios-there-are

I need an app because the website's search is terrible.

(I genuinely don't understand this one but I have seen it multiple times so on the list it goes!!) The search bar at the top of the screen is a keyword search. If you'd rather search within a specific field (like title or tag) then you'll want to click on the word "search" at the top of the screen and select Work Search or Tag Search. To search users, use People Search. To search Bookmarks, use Bookmark Search. (If this is you, please tell me what the heck you mean by "search is bad" and how an app helped with this.)

I need to be able to sort stories by date posted/number of bookmarks/alphabetical/etc.

You can do this using the filters sidebar. Pick a tag you want to filter on (like a fandom, character, or relationship) and then click on the "Filters" button. The sidebar will pop out and you can sort and filter on a boggling array of specifics. A good filtering guide: https://www.tumblr.com/saurons-pr-department/718665516093472768/if-there-is-something-you-dont-want-to-see-in

I need to be able to mark stories to read later.

AO3 has this feature built in! If you have an account (which you should) there is a "Mark for Later" option on every work.

Edit: Thispersonishuman reminded me that History and Mark For Later can be disabled, so if you're not seeing the Mark for Later option, check your settings.

I need to be able to listen to stories using text-to-speech.

Microsoft Edge web browser has a built in text to speech function. Supposedly it works on both iOS and Android, but I have not personally tested that. iOS also has a native accessibility feature in settings for text to speech that will work on the Books app, so I assume Android has a similar functionality. A bunch of people in the reblogs have more in-depth Android recommendations here: https://www.tumblr.com/protect-namine/737957194510794752/seconding-voice-aloud-on-android-for-tts-my, https://www.tumblr.com/smallercommand/737884523093704704/i-use-voice-for-tts-on-android-its-got-some, and https://www.tumblr.com/doitninetimes/737869463749263360/for-text-to-speech-on-android-you-can-also-check

I need to have in-app notifications for updates/I can't ever find story updates in among the rest of my emails/checking my email stresses me out.

Set up a separate email address using a free service like gmail, and use that email address JUST for AO3. Then the only emails in that inbox will be your story updates. I use Apple's Mail application for all my inboxes, but it's very easy to use the Gmail app instead, and you could log in to JUST the ao3 email and set it to notify for every email.

(Also as a general PSA: don't use your work, school, or military email as your AO3 email. Just don't.)

I want statistics like how many hours I spent reading, how many words I read, what my most read tags were, stuff like that.

So we've finally hit something that isn't easy and that requires a hell of a lot of manual work. Short version: AO3 does not track this data because they don't want to. (Mostly due to privacy concerns.) The lack of this tracking is a feature, not a bug. You can crunch these numbers yourself, but it will take a hell of a lot more effort, and it's something I personally found is not worth the effort the couple of times I have tried to crunch those numbers. If you are willing to download your history to an actual computer (not a tablet or chromebook) using Calibre, you can get a rough idea of your most popular tags via their tag browser, but it won't play nice with typos synned to a Common Tag (Canonical Tag/filterable tag) like ao3 does. (If anyone has used an app that gave you stats on this, please let me know in reblogs/replies/via ask how that worked because I am very curious.)

I need an app because <other reason>.

The AO3 Unofficial Browser Tools FAQ might cover your use case: https://archiveofourown.org/faq/unofficial-browser-tools?language_id=en If not, give a shout and we'll see what other tumblr users suggest!

[miainbetween]

Okay, this is just me writing down sudden realisation that I had about shifting and stuff. I don’t know. Rambling as usual.

Edit: I just had the coolest realisation as I was voice typing so this is mostly unedited to keep the authenticity. I hope you find it helpful.

I just thought about subliminals, let’s say the becoming pretty kind. Think: having fuller lips or prettier nose or maybe even freckles. I remember this time — I was watching a girl’s video (it was a few years back) where she was talking about how she used subliminals to change her appearance and even people started complimenting her and asking her how that happened.

And I’m just like — she just shifted to multiple realities where her features had very little changes until finally she found herself in a reality where: 1) she fitted her own vision of pretty; 2) people, I guess, noticed or were aware of the change in her appearance and gave her external validation.

I mean that that girl created and shifted to her desired reality, completely unaware of it. (Edit: Basically, she just decided — even unconsciously so — that this is where she wanted to go. This is what she wanted to experience. She wanted her appearance changed and she wanted people to notice that. And her reality reflected that.)

Wait…

As I was “writing” this I was like thinking of saying something like “because if you stay in the same reality there is no way that your features would change”. But …. what do you mean? That’s not true. There is no ONE reality. There’s only moments. And they’re constantly shifting—

My ears just started ringing and I’m honestly about to cry. I don’t know. I got so emotional all of a sudden…. I think as I am voice typing this I came to the realisation that there is no ONE reality. (And definitely not one in which you are “stuck”.) There is the universe. And there is being. And you’re constantly shifting whether you want to or not. (It’s inevitable.)

The thing is… YOU decide WHERE you shift to. Not when. Not if. WHERE.

Like… almost on command…

[holyyaparoni]

I honestly imagine yuta in a no curses AU, absolutely HATING geto’s guts, like he was there when stsg broke up so like he saw how devastated gojo got when geto left and that too in front of a kfc so he holds resentment towards him and when they eventually do get back together and that too with like minimal efforts or apologies from geto, yuta will try his best to break them up and always ruining their dates and cockblocking them 😭😭😭

[stormingfrost]

Kinda obsessed with the historical context of Rise of the Guardians. Pitch wanting the Dark Ages to come back, which historically was the decline of culture and records. The Guardians rose at the same time as the Renaissance with the rise of culture, knowledge, and science. (Tooth in particular mentions that she hasn’t been out in the field for 440 years, give or take, which would put that smack dab in the middle of the Renaissance) 

The way Pitch doesn’t want the world to change, the way the Guardians change in tune with the world. The way Jack, who lived in has a human in the 17th or 18th century, who lived in the time after the Renaissance and lived witnessing the world all the way to the modern era, is there to show the Guardians how much they missed and how they can further change and improve for the more modern world. These characters are immortal beings who have so much power over the world, it makes so much sense that when they fall and rise in power it impacts the world that they want to influence, for better or for worse. 

[hualianschild]

saw this on my tl and oh op is so right

credits to @/melondenden on X

[lilybug-02]

Hii! First of all, I absolutely ADORE your HK AU, the whole Idea and your art style are perfect imo!

If that's not too much to ask, could you please tell us something about your process of drawing humans (and maybe also bugs)? Dewi and his dad always look so adorable, I was hoping to take a peek at your drawing secrets

Hello! And thank you!!! 💕💟💗☮️

I wouldn't be the first to admit it, but I have trouble drawing humans, like- A LOT of trouble. My consistency is that of bread, as in it's different every time I make it 😅. But I have to remind myself that I draw for fun, not for quick improvement. Uh anyways-

When I draw anything, especially humans, I make a quick and simple rough draft of their position and expression. This helps me feel "prepared" for lineart.

Sometimes I'll do multiple rough draft sketches, usually if the final piece is going to be very detailed.

For my personal style of art, I give humans big eyes and noses, with very flexible mouth movements. Here's a neat speedpaint :)

Never be afraid to use references!!! (even if it's annoying and takes time -w-)

Humans (and bugs) can be challenging to draw at times, but its important to keep things basic.

And sometimes you can get silly with it, Charlie Brown simple style.

[heyimkana]

Hear me out. Jin-woo in a suit. Nothing else. Just Jin-woo in a suit. <3

do not do this to me right now bro i'm gonna start derailing again it's only 10 in the morning HELP

you know what's hotter than jinwoo in a suit tho

jinwoo pushing you down to the bed, standing on his knees before you, gazing down at you with his gleaming eyes and his tantalizing smirk, his suit sliding off his shoulders before he lets it fall to the floor

jinwoo unfastening his tie with one hand like how he did in that one fucking scene, his lips slightly parted, his breathing turns a bit heavy as he's consumed by the filthy things he's planning to do to you

jinwoo rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt to his elbows, saying, "I'm gonna take my time with you tonight, angel." his voice so deep and raspy, his eyes glinting with lust

jinwoo taking off his belt with one hand but not tossing it away just yet. instead he looks down at you, his smirk turning a little wider, a lot sexier, when he asks "will you be a good girl for me tonight?"

[splatoonusna]

An update from the World of Order! Marina provides support to Agent 8's challenges against the Spire of Order with her hacking skills. She can add permanent upgrades, new abilities, & more to 8’s attempts! Additional hacks will unlock as you progress up the Spire & spend Prlz.

[aro-culture-is]

trans aro culture is telling your best friend without a hint of irony "when i change my name legally i'm taking your last name because my family sucks. you're stuck with me now" and them joking that since both of you were planning on platonically getting married to someone to adopt kids anyway you might as well just marry each other

.

[brickparkinglot]

Art i did... Rendered for the first time on digital....

[evuie]

im such a hater of regular human ears on arknights designs in my ideal world i straight up dont think any of the races should have them. sarkaz should have pointy ears of various sizes. phidia and arcosauria should have pointy scaly ears. aegir should have pointy with little fin details and liberi should be pointy with little feather tufts like a horned owl or something.

the only exception i'll make is sankta like they have this weird catholic mutation that makes their ears stubby and round like its trying to mimic the circular designs of haloes and the law and if they fall their ears start growing weirdly too

[miainbetween]

Whenever you think “I want to be there so bad”, “I want to shift so bad” or something close to that—turn it around and say “I am already in my dr”, “I have already shifted”. Try to make it a habit. Remind yourself that you shift with every decision you make—consciously or unconsciously. And maybe even gaslight yourself into thinking that you shifted, you just forgot that you did. Because things happen—your brain may have intentionally decided to make you forget by making something believable up or maybe…maybe someone from a magical reality you were in, erased your memories from when you were a master shifter and rewrote them as they are now. And I’m not saying be delusional. Well, at least not in a way that you think of it as only a fantasy because if we have to think about fantasy and unrealistic stuff just think about the floating rock we live on and the burning ball of—I don’t even know what it is—called sun, keeping us warm. Sound weird? Well, shifting seems like more of possibility now, to me at least.

I just thought of this and thought—why not share it?

[riddlesnap]

Edward was actually sent to Blackgate the first time he was arrested after the events of Arkham Origins. His crimes, serious as they were, weren't deemed extreme enough to send him to a more secure place since his crimes were largely cyber in nature. Extortion and blackmail were his most significant wrongdoings as well as abusing his position of being head of the GCPD's Cyber Crime Division, his actions causing significant civil unrest as people learned of Mayor Hamilton Hill's ties to the Maroni Family, which Edward was responsible for leaking. Enraged at what he considered being punished for simply spreading the truth, Edward instigated one of Blackgate's biggest riots to date, escaping during the chaos before remodelling himself as the Riddler.

[humlase]

Here's this fuckass animation project I didn't do then had to cram in 2 days.

If it looks bad I KNOW. Once again, crammed 10 weeks worth of work into 2 days. I did not sleep.

Thank you to my wonderful partner @agaric25 and super cool friend for doing the voicelines for me. It would be actual ass if I had to do those myself.

additional credits: https://freesound.org/people/M-Murray/sounds/723857/ for the background music.

[everlicious-enby]

WOW this took forever. maybe not my best work but!! it’s also maybe the biggest piece i’ve ever finished so i am choosing to be proud of myself!!!

Song is The Well by the Crane Wives

[hualianschild]

oh my xianle trio <//3