How to Download Complete Webpage for Offline Reading

 

There are few frustrations greater than experiencing a loss of internet connection while engaged in reading an article, especially when that resource is essential for completing an assignment. Fortunately, there is a solution: you can proactively save web pages for offline reading to mitigate the impact of unreliable internet. Many browsers, applications, and extensions provide effective methods for accomplishing this task.

Download a Web Page in Chrome

Arguably one of the most popular browsers, Google Chrome, has a very simple Save As option.

  To utilize this feature on a desktop computer:

   1. Open the Google Chrome browser and select File > Save Page As.
   2. In the dialog box that appears, enter a name for the page you wish to save and select a destination.
   3. From the Format drop-down menu, select the desired file type for saving the page.

 Select the option for Web Page, Complete to save the full web page along with all associated images and files. This choice preserves the original visual layout; however, it may require additional time to complete the saving process. If your requirement is solely for the text content, opt for Web Page, HTML Only. In the event that you wish to open the web page in Microsoft Word rather than a web browser, choose Web Page, Single File, which will save the page as a Microsoft Word MHTML document.

 1. The method for saving web pages in Chrome on mobile devices varies slightly between iPhone and Android platforms. Chrome allows users to save web pages to a Reading List, which is accessible only when an internet connection is available. However, with some additional steps, it is possible to save a Chrome page on a mobile device for offline reading.

To save a Chrome web page on an Android device:

1. When adding to your Reading List, click on More (the three-dot icon) located to the right of the address bar and select Star.
2. For offline access, opt for the Download option instead.
3. Subsequently, you can find your starred web pages under More > Bookmarks > Reading List, while your downloaded pages will be available in More > Downloads.

 

The process of downloading for offline use on the iPhone presents certain challenges. As of this writing, I have not found the option to save a web page to Downloads, which is available on Android devices. However, it is still possible to add the web page to your reading list.

 Notwithstanding this constraint, I discovered that it is indeed possible to utilize Apple's Shortcuts application to conveniently save PDFs from Chrome. After configuring a Make PDF automation, you can access it through the Share icon located next to the address bar in the Chrome iOS app. Upon viewing the PDF, you have the option to save it directly to your Files.

Later, locate your saved web pages under More > Reading List, and your downloaded PDFs in Apple's Files app.

Download a Web Page With Safari 

 In a manner akin to the mobile version of Chrome, Apple's Safari offers a Reading List designed to help users manage web pages they wish to retain. Furthermore, Safari enhances this functionality by enabling the preparation of these web pages for offline access, provided that the appropriate settings are configured beforehand:

   1. Navigate to Safari > Settings and select the Advanced tab.
   2. Activate the Save Articles for Offline Reading Automatically option.

To save a web page to the Reading List, click on the Share icon next to the URL field and you will see the option.

To access a saved web page, open your Sidebar and select Reading List, an icon that resembles a pair of spectacles.

Safari utilizes iCloud to ensure that your Reading List remains synchronized across all of your Mac computers and iOS devices. Consequently, your Reading List will be updated seamlessly between your Mac and iPhone.

Regarding the iPhone, the process of saving a web page on your mobile iOS device is equally simple as it is on a Mac.

 To begin, ensure that offline reading is activated on your iPhone by navigating to Settings > Safari > Automatically Save Offline. Next, open a web page and select the Share icon, then choose Add to Reading List. You can view your saved articles by tapping the Book icon located in the Safari toolbar and selecting the Reading List tab.

Download Web Pages With an Extension 

The process can be further streamlined by utilizing an extension known as Save Page WE, compatible with both Google Chrome and Firefox. After installation, simply click on the extension icon located in the toolbar to promptly download a web page as a single HTML file, which includes all associated assets such as images, advertisements, and formatting.

For those seeking greater control over the saved page's format, you may access the More options menu (adjacent to the extension icon) and select Options to review various download choices. These options encompass the ability to save Basic Items, Standard Items, and Custom Items.

Download: Save Page WE for Google Chrome | Firefox. 

 

Download a Web Page as a PDF File 

 

To save a web page as a PDF

1. To print from your default browser, go to File > Print. You may also utilize the shortcuts Command + P for iOS devices and Control + P for Windows systems.  
2. In the Print dialog box, choose Save as PDF as your Destination.  

Please be aware that saving a web page as a PDF may result in the inclusion of distracting components such as advertisements and headers, or it may lead to formatting issues. Tools like PrintFriendly are specifically created to focus on text when converting a web page to a PDF, eliminating extraneous elements. 

To produce a PDF of a web page using PrintFriendly:

1. Select the Extensions icon and choose PrintFriendly.
2. You'll see a pop-up with the page in simplified formatting. Use the automatically adjusted article or remove elements manually.
3. When you're ready, click on PDF > Download Your PDF to save the article. 
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   Download: PrintFriendly for Google Chrome | Firefox