Getting Started
Start with whichever Social Archiver client fits your workflow. Web, mobile, Chrome, and Obsidian all connect to the same Social Archiver account and can share the same archive library when you sign in with the same email address.
What You Need
- Internet connection for archive processing and sync
- Email address for passwordless sign-in
- One Social Archiver client to start with: web, mobile, Chrome, or Obsidian
One Account, Multiple Clients
Each client signs in separately, but the same email address points to the same Social Archiver account. Your archive library, inbox/archive state, tags, notes, highlights, sharing state, and deletes sync where supported by that client.
Choose Your First Client
Web App
Use the web app when you want the fastest start without installing anything.
- Open social-archive.org
- Sign in with your email address
- Choose your username when prompted
- Use the private owner views to browse All, Inbox, Archive, Starred, Shared, Notes, Tags, and Authors
- Paste a supported URL to create your first archive
The web app is also where public timelines live. Your public timeline URL uses your username: https://social-archive.org/{username}.
Mobile App
Use the mobile app when you mostly save from social apps or mobile browsers.
- Install Social Archiver from the App Store or Google Play
- Sign in with your email address
- Choose your username when prompted
- Share a post from another app to Social Archiver, or paste a URL in the app
- Browse cached archives offline when available
The mobile app can be used on its own. It does not require Obsidian.
Chrome Extension
Use the Chrome extension when you capture content while browsing on desktop.
- Install Social Archiver from the Chrome Web Store
- Sign in with your email address
- Open a supported social URL and use Archive Current Page
- Use the right-click menu or
Ctrl+Shift+S(Cmd+Shift+Son Mac) for faster capture - Use Clip for generic web pages when you want to preview and edit Markdown before saving
The Chrome extension can archive supported URLs, clip web pages, and import selected Instagram saved-post collections from your logged-in browser session.
Obsidian Plugin
Use the Obsidian plugin when you want archives written as local Markdown notes in your vault.
Option 1: BRAT Plugin
Using BRAT (Beta Reviewers Auto-update Tool) allows you to receive automatic plugin updates:
- Install and enable BRAT from Obsidian's Community Plugins browser
- Open Settings -> BRAT
- Click Add Beta Plugin
- Enter repository:
https://github.com/hyungyunlim/obsidian-social-archiver-releases - Enable Social Archiver in Settings -> Community Plugins
Option 2: Manual Download
- Download the latest release from GitHub Releases
- Extract
main.js,manifest.json, andstyles.css - Copy them to
.obsidian/plugins/social-archiver/in your vault - Reload Obsidian (
Cmd/Ctrl + R) - Enable Social Archiver in Settings -> Community Plugins
After installation, open Settings -> Social Archiver and sign in with your email address. If you already started on web, mobile, or Chrome, use the same email address.
Obsidian Community Plugin Store
Social Archiver is currently under review for the Obsidian Community Plugin store. Until it is approved, install the Obsidian plugin through BRAT or manual download.
Account Setup
First-time setup is the same idea on every client:
- Enter your email address
- Open the magic link from your inbox
- Choose a username if this is your first sign-in
- Return to the client and start archiving
Choose Username Carefully
Your username is used for your public timeline URL (https://social-archive.org/{username}) and cannot currently be changed later.
Why do I need an account?
Social Archiver uses server infrastructure to fetch and process online content. Account authentication protects the service from abuse and lets your clients sync the same archive library.
Create Your First Archive
You can create the first archive from any client:
- Web app: Paste a supported URL in the signed-in archive workspace
- Mobile app: Share a post to Social Archiver from another app, or paste a URL in the app
- Chrome extension: Use Archive Current Page, the right-click menu, or the keyboard shortcut
- Obsidian plugin: Use the ribbon icon, Command Palette, Timeline View archive button, or clipboard archive command
After you submit a URL:
- Archive entry is created in your Social Archiver library
- Background processing starts to fetch text, metadata, link previews, images, and videos where supported
- Live progress updates appear in supported clients
- Automatic retry runs if processing fails temporarily
- Synced clients update with the archive and supported state changes
In the Obsidian plugin, the archive can also be written as a Markdown note with frontmatter and local media references. Obsidian must be open and connected when the plugin writes files into your vault.
Add More Clients Later
You can add another client at any time. Install or open the client, sign in with the same email address, and let sync bring in the supported archive data.
Sync Notes
- Social Archiver sync is separate from Obsidian Sync, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, and other file sync tools.
- Obsidian's Sync Existing Archives imports server archives into your vault.
- Mobile sync supports offline reading and queued changes when connectivity returns.
- Delete sync between the server and Obsidian can be bidirectional when enabled.
- Some client-specific features are local to that client, such as Obsidian Markdown file paths or local AI CLI tools.
Recommended Starting Points
- Start with web if you want to try Social Archiver immediately.
- Start with mobile if most of your saving happens from phone apps.
- Start with Chrome if you save while browsing on desktop.
- Start with Obsidian if you want every archive written into a Markdown vault from day one.
Next Steps
Important
Only archive content you have permission to save. Respect copyright laws and platform terms of service.