Web Archives

A browser extension to view archived and cached versions of a website on multiple archiving sites.

URL

Github | Chrome | Firefox | Edge | Opera | Safari (current version: 7.1.0, Oct 2025)

Description

Web Archives is a browser extension that opens archived or cached versions of a URL across multiple services (e.g., Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, Archive.today, Memento). You trigger lookups from the toolbar or the context menu; the extension then sends the selected URL to the chosen archive and opens results in a new tab. It does not crawl or store pages itself. Typical pivots include checking historical versions, retrieving removed pages, and comparing captures across archives.

Example use case: You are investigating a website that frequently updates its content or might remove sensitive pages. Web Archives enables you to quickly check archived versions from different platforms to track changes or retrieve deleted content.

How to use

You can start searches directly from the context menu or the browser toolbar.

Fetch the archives of a current page from the extension menu

Open the extension menu and select the desired engine. This will open a new tab with the results.

You can also fetch on all engines simultaneously

Fetch the archives for a link using the context menu

If your target is a link available in the current page, you can right-click on the link, select "Web Archives" context menu and then select the desired engine.

You can use Web Archives' context menu on a link

Fetch the archive of a given URL from the clipboard

From the extension menu, select the URL Mode and then copy-paste the target URL.

The URL Mode allows you to fetch for a URL without opening it, that makes you check a resource passively, without interacting with the target.

Change behavior to open new tabs in the background

By default, Web Archives will open the results in a new tab and switch focus to it. If you prefer to open the tab in the background and view the results later, you can adjust this behavior in Options > Miscellaneous > Open new tabs in the background.

Now tabs will open in the background and you can switch focus to it later.

You can also choose the desired engines and re-order them in the Options.

Cost

The tool is free and open source.

Level of difficulty

Requirements

  • Platforms/browsers: Chrome, Firefox (also on Android), Edge, Opera, and Safari (macOS). Safari requires macOS ≥12.0. Mozilla Add-ons

  • Install: Store listings — Chrome v7.1.0 (updated 2025‑10‑13), Firefox v7.1.0 (updated 2025‑10‑12), Safari v7.1.0 (updated 2025‑10‑13). Opera listing currently v4.1.0 (2023‑07‑20). Edge listing exists, but the version/date isn’t visible in the static page capture here. To verify: open the Edge listing in a browser for the precise version/date.

  • Auth/tokens: None. The tool only forwards the URL you choose to the selected archive. Mozilla Add-ons

  • Supported engines/features (examples): – Wayback Machine; Archive.today (aka archive.is / archive.ph); Memento Time Travel; Megalodon (JP); Perma.cc; Ghostarchive; WebCite; Yandex Cache. GitHub – New in v7.1.0: search archived repositories on Software Heritage. Apple – Search modes: Tab (current page) and URL (custom). Trigger via toolbar or right‑click. Mozilla Add-ons

  • Permissions: Requires access to tabs and to read the current page URL; on Firefox, “Access your data for all websites” is listed. Chromium‑based variants may need a setting to allow access to search results pages (Opera notes this explicitly). Mozilla Add-on

Limitations

  • Results depend entirely on third‑party archives’ coverage and uptime; no capture is guaranteed. Wayback’s help notes gaps and that some pages aren’t archived or may only have nearest‑date captures. help.archive.org

  • Google Cache is deprecated: Google removed cache links (Feb 2024) and later killed the cache: operator (Sep 2024), so any “Google cache” engine entries will not work. The Verge

  • Archives may exclude pages due to robots policies or site‑owner/legal requests; password‑protected or form‑gated content generally isn’t archived. help.archive.org

  • Privacy context: the extension sends the URL you select to the chosen service (discloses investigative interest to that service). Mozilla Add-ons

  • Store version skew: Opera’s public listing is older (v4.1.0, 2023‑07‑20) while Chrome/Firefox/Safari are on 7.1.0; confirm Edge store version manually if needed.

Ethical Considerations

Use lawfully and proportionately. Be mindful that querying archives can reveal interest in a target resource to third‑party services; minimize unnecessary lookups and avoid soliciting or sharing sensitive personal data. For methodology and evidentiary handling, align with the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations (OHCHR) and your organizational policies.

Guides and articles

GitHub README (project overview & screenshots), dessant/web‑archives. GitHub Search engines list (official wiki), supported archives and notes. GitHub Firefox Add‑ons “About this extension”, usage, permissions, modes. Mozilla Add-ons Chrome Web Store overview, description, version/date, privacy declaration. chrome.google.com Wayback Machine help: Using the Wayback Machine, how captures/coverage work. help.archive.org

Tool provider

Armin Sebastian (@dessant on GitHub) is an EU-based developer specializing in open source browser extensions. Presences: armin.dev (listed on Chrome store).

License: GPL‑3.0‑only, see LICENSE in the repository and AMO license field

Advertising Trackers

Extension declares “no data collected” on the Chrome Web Store, and “Data Not Collected” on the Mac App Store. Individual archive services set their own cookies/policies; not assessed here. The tool itself does not use tracking cookies but the archving sites/search engines may use them. Be mindful of the their privacy policies.

Page maintainer

Martin Sona

Last updated

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