How to Read AO3 Stories in Google Play Books
To read an Archive of Our Own story in Google Play Books, download the complete work as an EPUB or PDF with WP Downloader and upload the file to your Play Books library. You can then read it on the web, Android, iPhone, or iPad.
Download the AO3 story with WP Downloader
WP Downloader is a free web tool, with nothing to install. It supports story links from archiveofourown.org, archiveofourown.com, and archiveofourown.net.
Open the AO3 downloader and copy the link to the work you want to read. An AO3 work link looks like this:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/123456Paste the link into WP Downloader. It will detect the site and prepare the story for download.
Choose a format:
- EPUB is free for everyone.
- PDF requires a free Discord sign-in.
You can also choose whether to include the story’s images. Once the file is ready, save it somewhere you can easily find it.
WP Downloader downloads the whole AO3 story. It does not download individual chapters or lists of works. If the author adds more chapters later, download the story again to get an updated copy. WP Downloader cannot add new chapters to an EPUB you already downloaded.
For a broader walkthrough, see how to download AO3 fanfiction.
Download members-only AO3 stories
You do not need an AO3 account for public stories. If you sign in with your AO3 account, WP Downloader can also fetch members-only stories that your account can read.
Your credentials are used only to fetch the story you requested. WP Downloader cannot bypass age restrictions, locked content, or other access limits. It only downloads content already available to your account.
AO3 support and support for the other fiction archives in WP Downloader were ported from FanFicFare, the open-source fanfiction downloader licensed under Apache-2.0.
Upload the story to Google Play Books
Google Play Books lets you upload your own DRM-free EPUB and PDF files. You can upload the file through the Play Books website on a computer or through the Play Books Android app.
Upload from a computer
First, download the AO3 story to your computer. Open the Google Play Books website and upload the EPUB or PDF from your computer or Google Drive.
After the upload finishes, the story will appear in your Play Books library. You can open it in a web browser or the Play Books mobile app.
Upload from an Android device
If the file is on your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play Books app. Select the EPUB or PDF you downloaded from WP Downloader and add it to your library.
Once the upload is complete, you can open the story from your Play Books library.
Read on an iPhone or iPad
Open the Play Books app on your iPhone or iPad after uploading the story. Sign in with the Google account you used for the upload, then find the story in your library.
You can upload the file from a computer through the Play Books website and read it on your iPhone or iPad.
Choose EPUB or PDF
EPUB works well for stories read in an ebook app and is free to download from WP Downloader. PDF is also supported by Google Play Books, but downloading it from WP Downloader requires a free Discord sign-in.
If the story has illustrations, a cover, or other graphics you want to keep, select the option to include images. Very large files may reach Google’s upload size limit. If that happens, download the story without images and try the upload again.
For other ereaders, see how to send AO3 stories to Kindle or read AO3 stories on Kobo.
FAQ
Can I upload an AO3 story to Google Play Books?
Yes. Download the complete story as an EPUB or PDF with WP Downloader, then upload the file to your Google Play Books library.
Do I need to install WP Downloader?
No. WP Downloader runs in your web browser, so there is nothing to install.
Do I need an AO3 account?
You do not need an account for public stories. Signing in with your AO3 account lets you download members-only stories that your account can read.
Can I download only one AO3 chapter?
No. WP Downloader downloads complete AO3 stories, not individual chapters or lists.
Will my EPUB update when a new chapter is posted?
No. Download the story again with WP Downloader to get a new copy containing the added chapters.