Common Problems and Quick Fixes

Most issues fall into a few common categories, and most of them have a simple fix. This page covers the questions we get asked most often and the steps that usually solve them.

A shorter version is also available inside the app under Settings → Troubleshooting.

Many issues have the same underlying cause: Archive Learning displays fanfiction directly from AO3 (Archive of Our Own) through a built-in browser, and translations are provided through Google Translate. If AO3 or Google services are blocked or restricted where you live, you may run into loading or translation problems. In most cases, a VPN solves them.

Archive Learning is not affiliated with AO3 and is not a standalone fanfiction reader. It's a language-learning tool designed to help you learn from the fanfiction you already read.

Contents

  1. Getting into AO3
    1. The captcha won't let me through
    2. AO3 won't open at all
    3. "Too many requests" error
  2. Reading and Translation
    1. Double-tap doesn't translate
    2. Translation is slow or unavailable
    3. The translation looks wrong
    4. Japanese, Chinese, Korean
  3. Saving and Studying Words
    1. I saved a word but can't find it
    2. "Similar word already saved"
    3. How a word becomes "learned"
  4. Your Data
    1. Words don't sync between devices
    2. Updating the app and your words
  5. Still need help?

Getting into AO3

The captcha won't let me through

AO3 uses Cloudflare for protection. If Cloudflare sees traffic that looks unusual, it may ask you to complete a captcha before letting you continue.

This often happens when you're using:

  • A VPN
  • A proxy
  • A shared mobile network IP address

Try the following:

  • Turn your VPN off and reload the page.
  • If AO3 only works through a VPN, switch to a different server or country. Germany and the Netherlands usually work well.
  • Wait a minute and refresh the page. Cloudflare often removes the restriction automatically.

If you're stuck in a captcha loop, send us a diagnostic log (Settings → Export diagnostics log) and we'll investigate.

AO3 won't open at all (blank page or a connection error)

In some countries AO3 is blocked by the internet provider itself.

Try the following:

  • Turn on a VPN and try again.
  • If you're already using a VPN, switch to a different server or country.
  • Connect to the VPN before opening the app.
  • If AO3 works in your browser but not in Archive Learning, make sure the app isn't excluded from VPN routing. Some VPN apps allow you to choose which apps use the VPN connection.

We can't bypass provider-level blocks ourselves, but AO3 is usually accessible through a VPN.

I got a "Too many requests" error

This is a temporary rate limit, not a ban.

AO3 or Google may temporarily restrict requests coming from the same IP address when too many arrive in a short period of time. This is especially common on shared VPN servers.

Usually the solution is simple:

  • Wait a few minutes and try again.
  • Switch to a different VPN server or country.

The limit normally clears on its own. You don't need to reinstall the app.

Reading and Translation

Double-tapping a word doesn't translate it

This is a known iOS limitation.

On some versions of iOS older than 17.0, the system doesn't always recognize a double-tap on a single word, so the translation popup never appears.

Possible workarounds:

  • Update to iOS 17.0 or later if your device supports it.
  • Use a long press to select the word instead.

We're working on a proper fix.

Translation is slow, times out, or says "unavailable"

Translations are provided through Google Translate and require access to Google services.

If you see messages such as "Translation timed out" or "Translation unavailable", the problem is usually the connection rather than the word itself.

Check the following:

  • Make sure your internet connection is working.
  • If Google services are blocked in your region, use a VPN or switch VPN servers.
  • If you're offline, only words available in the offline dictionaries can be translated.

The translation looks wrong

Archive Learning translates words and phrases in context rather than using a simple dictionary lookup. Because of this, the result may differ from the translation you'd expect for an isolated word.

If a translation looks incorrect:

  • Select the entire phrase instead of a single word.
  • Check the surrounding sentence.
  • Edit the saved translation manually if you'd prefer different wording.

When will Japanese, Chinese, and Korean be available as reading languages?

This is one of our most frequently asked questions.

Japanese, Chinese, and Korean require a different approach from most other languages because words aren't consistently separated by spaces. That makes it much harder to identify where a word begins and ends, which is essential for features like tap-to-translate.

For example, 大 ("big") and 切 ("cut") together form 大切, which means "important". Looking at the characters separately produces a completely different result.

Because of this, support for these languages requires different technology from what we currently use for most languages.

We'd rather take our time and do it properly than push out something half-finished.

Japanese and Korean are already available as interface languages (Settings → Interface Language).

Support for reading Japanese, Chinese, and Korean is still in development. Chinese is currently being tested with manual text selection.

Saving and Studying Words

I saved a word but can't find it

Saved words are stored in your dictionary on the Words tab.

Inside a fic, saved words are underlined:

  • Red = still learning
  • Green = learned

If you can't find a word, it may have been saved under its base form (see below), or you may be viewing a different fic.

Why does the app say "Similar word already saved"?

Archive Learning stores words by their base form.

For example:

  • run
  • runs
  • running
  • ran

are treated as the same word.

When you save another form of a word that's already in your dictionary, the app warns you instead of creating a duplicate entry.

This helps keep your study list clean and prevents duplicate quiz questions.

If you want a separate entry anyway, choose Save anyway.

How does a word become "learned"?

Archive Learning uses spaced repetition.

Words reappear after gradually increasing intervals. The more consistently you answer correctly, the less often you'll see them again.

You can choose your study intensity in Settings:

Relaxed
  • 5 new words per day
  • Longer review intervals
Standard
  • 10 new words per day
  • Moderate review intervals
Intensive
  • No daily limit
  • Short review intervals

You can also mark words as learned manually or return them to learning at any time.

Your Data

Why don't my words sync between devices?

Archive Learning does not support cloud sync.

We don't use accounts or store user data on our servers. Your words, library, and learning progress remain on the device where they were created.

This means:

  • Nothing is uploaded automatically.
  • We don't keep copies of your reading data.
  • Your privacy stays in your hands.

As a result, data doesn't automatically appear on your other devices.

To move your data to another device:

Settings → Data → Export all data

Then import the exported file on the new device.

Will updating the app delete my words?

No.

Updating Archive Learning does not delete your words, learning progress, or library.

Because everything is stored locally, we still recommend creating backups from time to time.

Available export options:

  • Export all data — creates a complete backup that can be restored later.
  • Export words as CSV — exports your vocabulary list for Excel, Google Sheets, and similar tools.

Be careful with Clear everything in the danger zone.

This option permanently removes:

  • Your dictionary
  • Learning progress
  • Library
  • AO3 login session

The app will restart as if it had just been installed.

This action cannot be undone.

Still need help?

If none of the suggestions above solved the problem, get in touch. Most of the answers on this page exist because someone asked us the same question before.

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