AO3 (Archive of Our Own) down? Here's why it's not working currently

Update 31/10/25 – 11:45 pm (IST): Almost like clockwork, AO3 is down once again, a month after the previous widespread outage. There are close to 7 thousand reports on Downdetector, indicating an outage.

Meanwhile, X and Reddit are also filling up with complaints about AO3 not working at the moment. The team has confirmed the ongoing outage, but there’s no ETA for a fix.

Update 30/09/25 – 12:08 pm (IST): AO3 is currently undergoing a seemingly unplanned outage. Many users are flocking to Downdetector and X to report that the platform is down and not working. Since this isn’t a several-hour-long maintenance, it’s likely that services will be restored soon.

Original article published on September 26, 2025, follows:

If you’ve been frantically refreshing Archive of Our Own only to find yourself staring at a “down for maintenance” screen, don’t panic. The beloved fanfiction site isn’t broken — it’s just getting some much-needed improvements.

AO3 officially went dark at 7:30 am UTC today for scheduled maintenance that’s expected to last about 20 hours. The site’s administrators warned users about the upcoming maintenance with a post on X a couple of days ago.

As expected, many readers are lamenting their lack of preparation — from someone who couldn’t download a fic in time to others joking about having to “touch grass” during the outage. Check out some of the other reactions in the screenshot below:

But seasoned AO3 users came prepared. Many downloaded their favorite stories beforehand or discovered new reading apps during the downtime. Some even suggested this forced break might be the perfect opportunity to read physical books or catch up on other activities.

Reddit’s r/AO3 community had been bracing for the inevitable flood of “Is AO3 down?” posts, with moderators practically begging users to remember the announced maintenance schedule.

The good news? This planned maintenance should improve your future browsing experience once the site returns. Until then, downloaded fics and patience are your best friends.