How to Archive a Webpage to the Internet Archive

Updated 14 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Archiving a webpage to the Internet Archive creates a permanent, time-stamped snapshot of that page, preserving its content even if the original site goes down or changes. You can do this for any public URL, and you don’t need an account for the basic method. This guide covers the two easiest ways: using the “Save Page Now” feature on the Wayback Machine website and using the same feature via a direct URL.

What You’ll Need

The full URL (web address) of the page you want to archive.
A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.) with an internet connection.
Optional: A free Internet Archive account if you want to save pages that require login or want to keep a personal list of your archives.

Step-by-Step

Copy the page URL. Go to the webpage you want to archive. Copy the entire address from the browser’s address bar. Make sure it includes the “https://” or “http://” part.
Open the Wayback Machine. In a new browser tab, go to web.archive.org. This is the Internet Archive’s main service for saving and accessing web pages.
Find the “Save Page Now” box. On the Wayback Machine homepage, you’ll see a large box with a URL field and a button that says “Save Page Now” (or just “Save”).
Paste the URL and click “Save Page Now.” Click inside the URL field, paste the copied address, then click the button. The page will start loading and processing.
Wait for the confirmation. After a few seconds (or longer for large pages), the Wayback Machine will show a new page with the archived snapshot. The URL will change to something like web.archive.org/web/2025/.../your-page.com. That means the save was successful.
Verify the archive. Scroll through the saved snapshot. It should look like the original page. You can also copy the new URL and share it; anyone with that link can view the archived version anytime.
Optional: Save without visiting the site. If you prefer, you can directly go to web.archive.org/save/ followed by the full URL (e.g., web.archive.org/save/https://example.com) in your browser’s address bar. This triggers the same saving process.
Optional: Create a free account. If you plan to archive many pages or want to manage your saves, create a free account at archive.org/account/signup. Once logged in, you can access “My web archives” from the Wayback Machine to see a list of pages you’ve saved.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting the “http://” or “https://” – The archive needs the full protocol. If you paste just “example.com”, it might not work. Always copy the full address from the address bar.
Archiving a page that requires login – The Internet Archive’s crawler cannot log in to websites. If the page is behind a paywall or a login form, the archive will only capture the login screen or a blank page.
Archiving a page with dynamic content – Pages that load content via JavaScript (like infinite scroll feeds or interactive maps) may not capture all elements. The archive captures what it can, but some parts may be missing.
Clicking “Save” multiple times – Each click creates a new snapshot. If you click twice, you’ll have two different captures, which is fine but can clutter your list.
Assuming the archive is immediate – Sometimes the save process takes up to a minute, especially for large pages with many images. Don’t close the tab too early.

Tips

Use the “Save Page Now” with a custom timestamp? Not needed – the archive automatically records the exact date and time.
Check if the page is already archived – Before saving, you can search the Wayback Machine for the URL to see if a previous snapshot exists. This is useful if you want to compare changes over time.
Archive a page that is about to change – If you’re citing a news article or a product page that updates frequently, save it immediately to capture the current version.
Use the “Save Page Now” API for automation – If you’re tech-savvy, you can use the Internet Archive’s API (e.g., https://web.archive.org/save/URL) to automate saving pages from a script.
Save a collection of pages – For a multi-page website, you can use the “Save Page Now” feature on each URL individually. There’s no batch save on the public interface, but you can use a tool like the “Wayback Machine” browser extension (available for Chrome and Firefox) to save the current page with one click.

Troubleshooting

The save fails or times out. This can happen if the page is extremely large or the server is slow. Try again after a few minutes. If it still fails, try using the “Save Page Now” URL directly (web.archive.org/save/ + your URL).
The archived page looks broken (missing images, styles). This is common for pages that rely heavily on JavaScript or external resources. The archive does its best, but some elements may not load. You can try archiving a static version of the page (e.g., print view) if available.
You get a “Page cannot be crawled” error. The site may have a robots.txt file that blocks the Internet Archive’s crawler. Unfortunately, you cannot override this. You can try a different URL (e.g., a printer-friendly version) or contact the site owner.
You don’t see the confirmation page. Sometimes the save happens but the confirmation page doesn’t load. Check the Wayback Machine’s search box for your URL – if a new snapshot appears, it worked.
The page is not archived because it’s a PDF or video. The Wayback Machine can archive PDFs and other files, but the save process may be slower. For videos, the archive may only capture the page, not the video file itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an account to archive a webpage?

No, you can save any public webpage without an account. However, having a free account lets you see a list of pages you’ve saved and archive pages that require a login (though the login content won’t be captured).

Is archiving a webpage legal?

Generally, yes. The Internet Archive is a non-profit library that archives the web for historical purposes. However, if you are archiving content that is copyrighted, you should ensure you have the right to do so. The archive itself stores the page as it appears publicly.

How long does it take for the archive to appear?

Usually within a few seconds to a minute. The time depends on the size of the page and the load on the Internet Archive’s servers. You can check the Wayback Machine’s search box for your URL to confirm.

Can I archive a page that is behind a login?

No, the crawler cannot log in. It will only capture the login screen. If you need to archive a page that requires authentication, you might have to save it manually (e.g., using a browser’s “Save as PDF” feature) and upload that file to the Internet Archive as an item.

Does the archive capture everything on the page?

Mostly, but not always. It captures the HTML, images, CSS, and some JavaScript. However, content loaded dynamically after the initial page load (e.g., infinite scroll, interactive charts) may be incomplete. For critical pages, consider using a browser extension that saves the full rendered page.

Can I delete an archived page?

Yes, if you have an account and you are the owner of the original page, you can request removal via the Internet Archive’s “Remove a page” form. However, this is not always granted, as the archive’s mission is to preserve history.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.