Sometimes, we are short on time and prefer to read a webpage later in offline mode. For that, you need to save it completely on your device. Almost every modern web browser supports several methods to download web pages for offline reading. Using these methods, we can save the web page in multiple formats for reading on regular computers as well as on specialized offline readers. In this guide, we'll learn each of these methods through a step-by-step tutorial. These methods include the use of extensions, browser-specific options, command-line tools, and much more. Let's get started!
Webpage saving Methods for both desktop and mobile devices are included in this tutorial. The use of extensions is common among users, which I recommend, but you can use command-line tools too.
When you choose a method to save a webpage, pay attention to the file format it is saved in. That'll be one of the deciding factors why you may prefer a method over others. Let's start saving webpages!
Why Save a Webpage Offline?
Before we start learning different ways to save a complete webpage, let's take a quick look at some of the reasons why we may need to save one.
- To read lengthy articles and posts in offline mode, at one's convenience.
- To take backups of important pages, viz., help docs, wikis, and so on.
- To archive the current version of a webpage that may change in the future.
- To access information in a remote terrain or in flight.
- To save a page for future reference.
- To create persistent archives of data.
Depending on the context and use case, we'll apply the right technique to save a webpage in the correct format. Let's dive into each of these methods.
1. Save a Webpage as HTML (Complete)
This method saves the web page in HTML format and also downloads all the assets needed to render and display the page in offline mode. These assets may be:
- CSS files
- Image files
- JavaScript files
- Fonts and Icons
If it's a static webpage, this method renders it well in offline mode. But if a dynamic page is downloaded in this format, some parts of the page will not display correctly without an active internet connection.
On Chrome / Edge / Brave
- First, open the webpage.
- Press the Ctrl + S key combination. If you are on a Mac, use the Cmd + S keys.
- In the file saving dialogue box, choose the Webpage, Complete option, and select the location where you want to save the webpage.
The web browser will create both an HTML file of the webpage and a folder containing all the required assets to correctly render the page.
On Firefox
If you use Firefox, you have two options to save a webpage in HTML format. These options are:
- Web Page, complete
- Web Page, HTML only
To get the best results, use the Web Page, complete option.
Pros
- Correctly preserves the original look of the webpage.
- The format is universal.
- A saved webpage can be opened in any web browser.
Cons
- This method can create multiple files for correct rendering.
- Dynamic content (if present) will not work in offline mode.
2. Save a Webpage as a Single-File MHTML Archive
You can also save a webpage in .mhtml or .mht format. This format embeds the entire page into a single file. It includes all the assets of that webpage.
Saving MHTML File in Chrome/Edge
If you are using a Chrome engine-powered browser, here's how to save a webpage in the MHTML format:
- Open the webpage you want to save.
- Press the Ctrl + S key combination. If you are on a Mac, use the Cmd + S keys.
- Choose the Web page, Single File (*.mhtml) for the Save as type: option in the file saving dialogue box and choose the desired location to save the file.
Pros
- The entire webpage is packed in a single file.
- Best option to maintain page archives with less clutter.
- Very easy to share.
Cons
- Not supported by Safari and Firefox.
- May not save complex JS-heavy webpages correctly.
3. Use a “SingleFile” Browser Extension (Best for Archiving)
SingleFile is a powerful web browser extension that one can use to save a complete web page as a single HTML file. The saved page's JavaScript processing will be done before saving to ensure it renders completely, whenever required.
How to use SingleFile (Chrome/Firefox/Edge)
Here's how to use this extension.
- Install the extension on your browser. It's available at all the respective browser extension stores.
- Open the webpage you want to save.
- Click the SingleFile extension icon on the top toolbar.
- It'll process the page and will generate a single
.htmlfile on the desktop.
While processing the page, this extension executes the JavaScript and, if required, scrolls the page to capture it fully.
Pros
- It gives you the best results even for complex and dynamic pages.
- One single file is created for easy archiving.
- It is highly configurable through tons of extension options.
Cons
- You are dependent on an extension. It's not available natively in the browser.
- Sometimes, the file size can become very large.
4. Convert the Webpage to PDF
If you want to save a simple text-heavy webpage without any complex elements, converting it to the PDF format is the best option. It's easy to print, share, and read.
Here's how you can save webpages as a PDF file in different web browsers.
On Chrome / Edge / Brave / Firefox
- Press Ctrl + P.
- Choose Save as PDF as the destination. On Firefox, Save to PDF is the required option.
- Feel free to customize the layout at this point.
- Hit the Save button to finish the process.
On macOS Safari
- Click File → Export as PDF.
- Choose the destination folder and save the PDF output.
Pros
- PDF files are easy to read.
- A single file is generated for easy sharing.
- Does not require an active internet connection to read.
Cons
- The web page in PDF format is not interactive.
- For complex layouts, the final PDF output may be slightly or significantly different.
5. Save a Webpage Using Command Line Tools (Advanced)
Technically sound or intermediate-level users on Linux can use command-line tools to save a webpage for offline reading. Here are some powerful options for the same.
wget — Complete Offline Mirror
Here's an example of using wget to save a webpage.
wget --mirror --convert-links --page-requisites --no-parent https://example-domain.comThis command downloads both HTML and the assets to browse the webpage in offline mode.
curl — Save HTML Only
For simple text-heavy pages, use the following command:
curl -o page.html https://example-domain.comAvoid using this command for dynamic and complex webpages.
HTTrack — Full Website Downloader
Use it only if you want to clone the entire website. Here's an example:
httrack https://example-site.com -O ./offline-websiteBefore using this command, make sure you are not cloning an extremely huge website.
6. Use Web Archiving Services (Long-term Storage)
You can also use online web archiving services to save webpages for archiving purposes. Generally, these services are used to save the current version of webpages that may change in the future.
Internet Archive – Wayback Machine
This is a go-to solution when it comes to using a reliable web archiving service. When used:
- It saves the webpage permanently.
- Timestamped snapshots are provided for the saved webpage.
Here's an example, where I'm saving the homepage of my personal website. Simply use the URL in the given format and open it in the web browser.
https://web.archive.org/save/https://www.rajeevedmonds.comIn the above example, https://www.rajeevedmonds.com is the URL I've appended to the saving URL path.
archive.today / archive.is
This is yet another web archiving service that preserves the webpages forever. Simply provide the URL of the webpage you want to archive, and that's it!
The following are some of its features and limitations.
- Snapshots are created quickly. No waiting in the queue.
- This service removes the scripts before archiving the webpage.
- It's a handy option for saving webpages that may get deleted in the future.
Conclusion
If you want to save webpages for offline use, there are several ways to do so. Depending on your needs, you can choose one of these options.
- If you need a clutter-free reading experience, you can opt for a reading app like Instapaper.
- For a perfectly cloned copy, choose the SingleFile extension or use the
.mhtmlformat. - If you want to save a webpage for an indefinite period, use a web archiving service like Wayback Machine.
- For power users,
wgetorHTTrackis your best bet.
So, what are you waiting for? Use one of the methods mentioned above and start saving webpages for offline reading.
