Fanfiction.net: How to download fanfiction from Fanfiction.net and check if Fanfiction.net is down

Welcome. This is how you use Fanfiction.net, download fanfiction from Fanfiction.net, and check if fanfiction.net is down. Plus, answers to all your questions about Fanfiction.net.

What Is FanFiction.net?

FanFiction.net, often called FFN, is one of the oldest and largest fanfiction archives on the internet. Readers use it to find fan stories based on books, movies, TV shows, anime, games, and more. Writers use it to publish their own stories, get reviews, and build a loyal audience.

The correct main address is https://www.fanfiction.net/, or alternatively, https://m.fanfiction.net/ (mobile friendly).

Only this version works reliably.

Short versions like https://fanfiction.net/ or just typing fanfiction.net without www often fail or give errors.

Short domains like ff.net are not the official site and usually do not work.

There is also a mobile version at https://m.fanfiction.net/, which has a similar layout with fewer elements on screen.

How FanFiction.net Is Organized

The top menu groups stories into big categories.

• Anime
• Books
• Cartoons
• Comics
• Games
• Movies
• TV Shows
• Misc, Plays, and other smaller groups

Each category contains specific fandoms. For example, under Books you will find Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Twilight, and many others.Under Games you will find Pokémon, Final Fantasy, and more.

At the top of the site you also see several useful links:

• Browse to explore categories and fandoms
• Search to look up stories or authors by keyword
• Just In to see the newest chapters and stories
• Community for groups and themed rec lists
• Login / Sign Up for your free account

You can read stories without an account.

However, an account gives you useful features.

• Follow authors and stories
• Add stories to Favorites
• Leave reviews and private messages
• Customize a public profile

How to Browse Fanfiction on FanFiction.net

Browsing is the easiest way to discover new stories.

Open https://www.fanfiction.net/.

Click one of the main categories, for example Books.

Click the fandom you like, for example Harry Potter.

You now see a large list of stories from that fandom.

Using Filters While Browsing

On each fandom page you can filter the list.

Common filters include:

• Language
• Genre
• Rating (K, K+, T, M)
• Characters
• Status (All, In-Progress, Completed)
• Word count range
• Sort by update date, publish date, reviews, or favorites

Adjust the filters to match what you want.

Then click the filter or Go button to refresh the list.

Some practical examples:

• To see only finished stories, choose Status: Completed.
• To find long stories, set a minimum word count.
• To find popular stories, sort by Favorites or Reviews.

How to Search on FanFiction.net

Search is helpful when you have a specific idea in mind.

Basic Search

Click Search at the top of the site.

Choose if you want to search for Stories or Authors.

Type a story title, author name, or keyword.

Click the search button.

You will see a list of matching results.

Searching Inside a Fandom

You can also search inside a single fandom.

Open a fandom page, for example Harry Potter.

Use the filters on that page and the small search box, if present.

Type words such as time travel, AU, cross-over, or a pairing name.

Combine this with filters for rating, status, and word count.

This creates very precise searches.

Example:

• Fandom: Harry Potter
• Status: Completed
• Word count: over 100,000
• Genre: Adventure and Romance
• Characters: Harry and Hermione

FanFiction.net does not use tag systems like AO3.

You depend on summaries, genres, and filters to find what you want.

How to Download Fanfiction from FanFiction.net

FanFiction.net does not offer official download buttons for EPUB or PDF.

If you want to read offline, you must use third-party tools.

Always download for personal use only.

Do not repost or redistribute stories without the author’s permission.

Downloading with Browser Extensions

FicLab

FicLab is a browser extension that adds a Save button to many fanfiction sites, including FanFiction.net.

It is best known for Firefox, and some users adapt it for other browsers.

It lets you save stories as EPUB, Kindle formats, or sometimes PDF.

Typical usage:

• Install FicLab from the official browser extension store.
• Restart the browser if needed.
• Open the first chapter page of the story on FanFiction.net.
• Look for a FicLab or Save button on the page.
• Click it and choose your desired ebook format.
• Save the file to your device.

You can then read the file in apps like Calibre, Kindle apps, or other ebook readers.

FanFictionDownloader

FanFictionDownloader is a name used for tools that convert FanFiction.net stories into ebook files.

Some versions are programs you install.

Others are simple tools that appear as a button or web interface.

General process:

• Install the FanFictionDownloader tool or open its website.
• Copy the URL of the story you want from FanFiction.net.
• Paste the URL into the tool.
• Choose the output format, such as EPUB or PDF.
• Click Download or Convert.
• Wait for the tool to create and offer the file.

Because these tools are third-party, always check reviews and community comments before using them.

Downloading with Online Converters

Online converters run entirely in your browser.

You paste a story URL, and the site generates ebook files for you.

FicHub

FicHub is a popular online fanfiction downloader.

It supports FanFiction.net and many other archives.

Usage is simple.

• Open https://fichub.net/.
• Copy the FanFiction.net story URL (usually the first chapter page).
• Paste the URL into FicHub’s input box.
• Click Export.
• Wait while FicHub fetches the story.
• Download your preferred format, such as EPUB, MOBI, PDF, or Zipped HTML.

You do not need to install anything.

You only need a modern browser.

FF2eBook (ff2ebook.com)

FF2eBook is another website that converts FanFiction.net stories to ebook format.

It is focused specifically on fanfiction sources.

• Open https://www.ff2ebook.com/.
• Copy the story URL from FanFiction.net.
• Paste the URL into FF2eBook’s form.
• Select your desired format, usually EPUB.
• Click Convert or Create Ebook.
• Download the finished file.

If a converter fails, try another one.

FanFiction.net sometimes changes its HTML or protection settings, so tools need updates.

Tips for Large Stories

Long stories can take more time to convert.

Be patient and avoid refreshing the page while the file is being generated.

Always keep your browser updated to avoid issues with security checks on FanFiction.net.

Top Popular Genres and Fandoms on FanFiction.net

Exact rankings change over time, but some fandoms remain consistently huge.

Here are very popular groups you will see on FanFiction.net.

• Harry Potter fanfiction
• Naruto fanfiction
• Twilight fanfiction
• Pokémon fanfiction
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians fanfiction
• Supernatural fanfiction
• Hetalia: Axis Powers fanfiction
• Avatar: The Last Airbender fanfiction
• Marvel and Avengers fanfiction
• Multi-fandom crossovers such as Harry Potter and Naruto together

These fandoms have very high story counts and active readers.

They are good starting points if you want to test the site.

Is FanFiction.net Down?

Sometimes FanFiction.net loads slowly or shows error pages. Often, users type fanfiction.net in the browser URL, which will result in an error. You MUST type www.fanfiction.net to access the website (include www.)

You can also easily check if the problem is on your side or global:

Using IsItDownRightNow

IsItDownRightNow is a website that monitors whether other websites are up.

You can use it to check FanFiction.net.

• Go to https://www.isitdownrightnow.com/.
• Type fanfiction.net into the search field.
• Click Check or the search button.
• Read the report to see if FanFiction.net is down or up.

If the report says the site is up, the issue may be your internet provider, DNS, or device.

Using GeoPeeker

GeoPeeker shows how a website loads from several locations worldwide.

• Go to https://geopeeker.com/.
• Enter https://www.fanfiction.net/ as the URL.
• Start the test.
• Look at the screenshots from different regions.

If the site loads in some countries but not in others, it may be a regional block or routing issue.

Always test using the full URL with https://www. at the start.

Do not test with https://fanfiction.net/ only, because that version often fails.

Is FanFiction.net Blocked in China or Other Countries?

Internet censorship rules change often.

Archive sites with user-generated content can be blocked or partially blocked.

FanFiction.net appears to be accessible in some regions and restricted in others.

Reports suggest that:

• In China, Archive of Our Own (AO3) is clearly blocked at the national level.
• FanFiction.net sometimes works for users in China, but some providers may block or throttle it.
• Other countries, such as Malaysia in the past, have blocked FanFiction.net because of “inappropriate” or adult content.

This situation can change at any time.

Always check the rules and laws of your country.

Using VPNs to Access FanFiction.net Where It Is Blocked

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, routes your traffic through another server. This can help you reach sites that are blocked by your internet provider or workplace.

A VPN also encrypts your traffic between your device and the VPN server. However, using a VPN to bypass government blocks may be illegal in some countries. Please note, that this guide is for general information only and not legal advice. Before using a VPN, learn about local laws and the VPN’s terms of service.

Choosing a VPN

For reading fanfiction, you usually want:

• Stable, fast connections
• Servers in different countries
• Apps for your devices (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS)
• A clear and transparent privacy policy

Many tech sites mention well-known VPN brands that you can research further, such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, or Proton VPN.

Always read independent reviews before you decide.

Make sure you are comfortable with how the VPN company handles your data.

Best Alternatives to FanFiction.net

FanFiction.net is large but not the only place to read and post fanfiction.

Many writers cross-post their stories to other platforms.

Archive of Our Own (AO3)

Archive of Our Own is a big non-profit fanfiction archive.

It uses a powerful tag system for fandoms, ships, tropes, and content warnings.

AO3 allows more flexible content, including many types that FanFiction.net does not allow.

However, AO3 is blocked in China.

Wattpad

Wattpad hosts both original fiction and fanfiction.

It focuses on a social and mobile reading experience.

You can follow authors, comment inline, and join communities.

Quotev

Quotev also mixes original and fanfiction content.

It is popular with younger readers and writers.

Tumblr and Fandom Forums

Some writers post directly on Tumblr or link to external archives.

Other writers use specialized forums such as SpaceBattles, Sufficient Velocity, or fandom-specific boards.

These places often host longer works in thread format, with active discussions.

Extra Tips and Common Issues with Fanfiction.net

Cloudflare and “Checking Your Browser” Messages

FanFiction.net sometimes uses Cloudflare security checks.

You may see a “Checking your browser” or similar message before the page loads.

If it keeps looping, try these steps:

• Update your browser to the latest version.
• Make sure JavaScript is enabled.
• Allow cookies for FanFiction.net.
• Temporarily disable aggressive VPN or privacy extensions.
• Test with a different browser.

When a Story Disappears

If a story vanishes from FanFiction.net, the author may have deleted it or moved it.

You can search the title and author name together on other sites such as AO3 or Wattpad.

Some communities and subreddits discuss lost or deleted fanfiction, but many of them respect author wishes and will not share works if the author does not want it shared.

Respecting Authors and Copyright

Always respect the work of fanfiction writers.

Only download stories for your own reading.

Do not upload other people’s stories to other platforms without permission.

Do not sell their work or include it in any paid bundle.

Follow FanFiction.net’s Terms of Service and the laws in your country.

The TLDR.

• FanFiction.net is a huge fanfiction archive with millions of stories. Use https://www.fanfiction.net/ as the main address.
• Browse by category and fandom, then filter by language, rating, genre, status, and word count. Search for specific titles, authors, or ideas inside each fandom.
• For offline reading, use tools like FicLab, FanFictionDownloader, FicHub, or FF2eBook to create EPUB, PDF, and other ebook formats for personal use.
• If the site does not load, check it with IsItDownRightNow and GeoPeeker.
• In some countries, FanFiction.net or similar sites may be blocked.
• Learn your local laws before using VPNs or other tools.
• If you want more advanced features, also look at alternatives such as AO3, Wattpad, Quotev, and fandom forums.

If you have any other questions about Fanfiction.net, then add the question in the comment section, below.