Archive of Our Own, commonly known as AO3, is a nonprofit online archive where fans can discover, read, and publish fanfiction and other transformative works. It hosts stories from thousands of fandoms, including books, movies, television shows, anime, video games, and many other types of media.



With such a large collection, archive of our own the website may seem overwhelming to new users. Fortunately, the most important features are easy to understand once you know how the search system, filters, tags, and account tools work.



Find Stories Through Search



Begin with a fandom you already enjoy. You can also search for a character, relationship, author, or keyword.



When you get your results, use filters to make the list more specific. You can narrow works by:



Fandom

Characters

Relationships

Rating

Language

Word count

Completion status

Additional tags

Archive warnings



These filters are particularly useful when searching within a large and active fandom.



Review Tags Before Reading



Tags help explain what a work is about. Authors can use them to describe characters, relationships, themes, genres, and other elements.



Before opening a story, read its summary and check the tags, rating, and warnings. This can help you understand what to expect and decide whether the work fits your preferences.



As you browse more often, you will also learn which tags can help you discover similar stories.



Reading Works on AO3



Many public stories can be read without an account. Open a work from the search results and begin reading.



For stories with several chapters, navigation controls make it easy to continue reading.



An account provides additional features, including bookmarks, subscriptions, and comments. You can save stories, follow authors or ongoing works, and keep track of content you want to revisit.



Some works may be restricted to logged-in users.



Save Your Favorite Discoveries



Bookmarks are useful for saving stories you want to return to later. This is especially helpful when you are browsing a large number of works.



Subscriptions allow you to follow an author or individual story. They can help you keep track of new chapters and updates.



These features can make it easier to organize your personal reading list.



Publish Your Own Fanfiction



AO3 is also a place where writers can share their fan-created works. Users can publish fanfiction and other eligible transformative works.



When posting a story, you can select the fandom and add characters, relationships, ratings, warnings, tags, and a summary.



Accurate tags and clear descriptions help readers understand your work and make it easier to find through relevant searches.



Tips for First-Time Users



You do not need to learn every feature on your first visit. Start with a fandom you already know and perform a basic search.



Experiment with the filters and pay attention to tags used by stories you enjoy. Over time, you will discover which combinations produce the best results.



Before reading, check the summary, rating, tags, and warnings. If you enjoy a story, bookmark it or subscribe to the work or author.



Final Thoughts



AO3 provides a large nonprofit archive where fans can explore, read, and publish creative works across countless fandoms. Its detailed search and tagging system makes finding specific stories much easier.



The best way to learn the platform is to explore at your own pace. Start with a familiar fandom, test different filters, understand the tags, and save interesting works. With practice, AO3 becomes a straightforward place to discover new fanfiction.