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HOW TO DOWNLOAD SCRIBD DOCUMENTS FOR FREE

Originally marketed as the “YouTube” for documents, Scribd began its operation as a
way for anyone to publish and host their documents and writing online. Born out of
the need for one of the site’s creators to host his father’s medical research
without having to pay for publication and wait over a year for the documents to be
published, the site gained notoriety in 2009 after signing a deal with several
publications, including The New York Times, Huffington Post, TechCrunch, and
several other blogs and publications to host their documents, as well as for their
Scribd Store, which allowed users to sell digital copies of their work online.

Since then, Scribd has morphed into an online subscription service, built to read
millions of eBooks, comics, and more online with a Netflix-like subscription
service. Despite this refocus on more mainstream titles and novels, Scribd is still
used by millions of people daily to host and share online documents using the
platform built by the site itself. In the site’s documents section, you’ll find
historical papers, political documents, poll results, and plenty of other
information for use in your college assignments, term papers, or just as a general
document of interest. And while viewing these articles is free by itself, albeit
with some limitations on certain documents, downloading this information to your
computer is limited for often than not.

While you should avoid downloading and using others’ documents without paying for a
monthly Scribd decision, at the end of the day, certain users—students specifically
—may find it difficult to pay for the research and other documents provided on the
website. Luckily, there are some ways around these restrictions. Though the two
methods outlined below are both occasionally hit or miss, they often can be used to
bypass the Scribd security and subscription measures, making it easy to view the
documents necessary for your next project or paper. Here’s what to do.
how-to-download-scribd-documents-for-free-3

METHOD ONE: UPLOADING DOCUMENTS

Our first method for downloading Scribd documents on the web today relies on
uploading a document of your own to a Scribd account, in order to gain access to
the document you want to download. We’ll be performing our test in Google Chrome,
though you should be able to accomplish this in any modern browser, including
Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. Start by heading over to Scribd.com and
signing up for a new account. Alternatively, if you already have an account with
Scribd, you can use your existing account by logging in. Scribd supports accounts
with both Facebook and Google sign-ins, so starting a new account is as easy as
clicking a button and linking your account. Once you’ve signed in, find the
document you want to download and copy the URL down to an outside source, like a
Google Keep note or Word document.

From here, you’ll want to click the “Download” option on the right side of your
display. This will automatically redirect you to a page designed to help you set up
your Scribd subscription, complete with a 30-day trial. Above this page, however,
you’ll see an option to upload files from your computer, with a button that reads
“Select Files to Upload.” Click this button and, on your computer, prepare any kind
of document. If you have a word processor installed on your computer, like Word or
Apple Pages, you can use that to create a short, meaningless document. Alternately,
you can use Google Docs to create a free document on your computer, and download it
to your device. The document can contain anything, including straight gibberish; we
recommend using a Lorem Ipsum generator if you’re having trouble figuring out what
to write. When your document is uploaded, provide a title for the new file and hit
“Save.”

Now, grab that URL we saved earlier in this process and paste it into the address
bar at the top of your web browser. A download button should load on your device,
and you’ll be able to save the Scribd document to your computer.

METHOD TWO: USING THE PAGE SOURCE CODE

The second of two methods used for viewing Scribd documents, this involves using
Google Chrome to view the page’s source code to gain access to the page’s info. As
mentioned above, we’ve experienced some hit or miss results with this method, but
since it only takes a couple minutes of your time to try, it’s worth trying anyway.
You’ll know this method has failed if you receive a message that announces an
invalid key error. Otherwise, let’s get going with your Scribd document. This was
originally our top-recommended way to download Scribd documents without paying for
a membership, but we’ve heard from enough users having difficulty with this process
to demote it to a backup method.

how-to-download-scribd-documents-for-free-2

Start by navigating Chrome (or your browser of choice, though we’ve only tested
this in Chrome) to the Scribd document you’re looking to save to your computer.
Though Scribd also carries full-length novels and other works of fiction, we
recommend only using this for nonfiction documents and other sources for your
projects, papers, and research. Inside your document’s preview, right-click the
document and select “View Page Source” from the menu. This will open a new tab in
your browser, displaying the source information for your Scribd target.

In this new page, hit Ctrl+F to open the Find in Page UI in Chrome. In this field,
enter the phrase “access_key,” and upon finding the result in the Scribd source
code, highlight and copy the code to your computer. It should be an alphanumerical
code, and appear as ‘key-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.” Now head back to the original document
page in your browser and look at the URL in the top of the browser. This time,
we’re looking for the document ID number in the URL of your specific page. Unlike
the access key, the document ID is listed in the URL, and consists of several
numbers. The URL should appear as “‘https://www.scribd.com/read/NUMBER/DOCUMENT
TITLE.” We’ll be using the number portion of that link in a moment.

Now, open up a new tab in Chrome. We’re going to create a new URL using the
information provided us by both the access key, the document ID number, and the
following partial URL: “http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?
document_id=NUMBER&access_key=key-ACCESS_KEY”. When you’ve pasted this URL into
your new tab, replace the number section with the document ID and the access key
area with the access key you grabbed earlier. Following this, you’ll have to wait a
few minutes for the page to load as your documents begins to download from the
Scribd servers. Once your document has finished loading, use the print option to
print to PDF, and your document will be saved to your computer.

If this method doesn’t work for you, and you receive some form of error message
from Scribd, retry using the first method listed above. Users have reported to us
that their preferred method uses the document upload method listed above.

***
These are far from the only two methods for saving Scribd documents on your
computer, but they’re by far the most simplistic and most reliable. And while other
options exist, including using Greasemonkey as a script editor inside Chrome or
Firefox to download the documents without workarounds, both methods above keep your
browsers clear of any unwanted plugins while also providing a fast method to unlock
Scribd information from your account. Neither method is perfect, but both have seen
their fair share of success. Finally, we’ve also updated the above methods to make
sure users are trying the method with greater success first, so make sure to follow
along to ensure that you’re putting effort into the correct method.

POSTED BY JAMIE ON NOVEMBER 16, 2017

30 thoughts on “How To Download Scribd Documents For Free”
Dan JANUARY 10, 2018 AT 5:56 PM
Use Mozilla Firefox for this. Will not work on Chrome.
Reply
Nimi JANUARY 4, 2018 AT 1:45 PM
The uploader has changed to pick only from local directory. So we can no longer
give a web address. The changing key and doc id method downloads an swf file. So
neither works:-(
Rusty JANUARY 4, 2018 AT 10:42 PM
Same. Could use an update.
Nimi JANUARY 5, 2018 AT 3:55 AM
I found a way to do it. You have to save an empty file as said above. Once done, a
link will be provided for you to share the document. Copy the link address.Now
right click on that box and choose inspect. Find the link address there and replace
it with the document address you want to download. Now if you select the view
button.. it will take u to the document where u can download it.
struggling OCTOBER 3, 2017 AT 8:40 AM
just try method 2 guys, much simpler – from a desperate person who has been
struggling for 15 mins to download one single file
Reply
Anon SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 AT 9:00 PM
A method that works currently is simple. You see, they load the pages then put the
block over it. in firefox, you can go to tools, page info, media, and it will show
you all loaded pages.
So scroll all the way through the document, then select all the image files in the
media section that are actually pages, and you’ll have your data

Reply
febri SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 AT 7:46 PM
Thank you, you make my day.
if someone confuse with 2nd option just try this.
1. sign up to scribd
2. upload whatever file use generator to fillc contain with word
3. if done, then open your url that you want to download, it will be downloadable
Daniel SEPTEMBER 23, 2017 AT 8:10 AM
Where does the download button appear I can’t see it?
Dave SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 AT 2:53 PM
Do you see all the way on the right side and almost all the way at the top, how
there is an icon of four arrows, pointing away from each other? Then immediately to
the left is a printer icon, and to the left of that, an arrow pointing down. The
arrow pointing down is the download. Good luck!
johnny SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 AT 2:49 AM
how do you download from method 1 thru firefox?
Nath OCTOBER 14, 2017 AT 9:47 PM
From computerhope.com :
“To view the source code of a web page in Mozilla Firefox, follow the steps below.
Press Ctrl+U on your computer’s keyboard.
Or
Open Mozilla Firefox and navigate to the web page of your choice.
Press the Alt key to bring up the browser’s menu bar.
Select Tools, Web Developer, and then Page Source.
Tip: With the latest versions of Firefox, pressing the F12 key or Ctrl+Shift+I
brings up the interactive developer tool. This tool provides much more interaction
with the source code and CSS settings, allowing users to see how changes in the
code affect the web page immediately.
View a section of the page’s source code
Highlight the portion of a web page for which you’d like to view the source code.
Right-click that highlighted section, and then click View Selection Source.
Tip: Use the Firebug add-on to not only view the source code of a page but change
and view those changes live through the browser.”

Reply
Hyuga SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 AT 11:32 AM
thumb up for 2nd method..TQ
kezzy jones SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 AT 5:04 PM
How did you get it to work? any help here please.
Reply
ididthistoavoidgivingoutmyinfo SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 AT 5:09 PM
Method 2 still works even though they seemed to have redesigned their site a little
and some of the button names have changed.
daniel SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 AT 3:36 AM
Pls what is the new representations on their site
Reply
Raissa AUGUST 30, 2017 AT 8:32 AM
The second method worked for me. On moment that I clicked on “done” on the upload
page, appeared a window with the desired file for me to download it.. Thanks
Reply
Gracias AUGUST 29, 2017 AT 9:45 PM
Thanks a lot .
Method 1 worked for me after pasting the genrerated url in Mozilla firefox browser.
Reply
anonymous AUGUST 22, 2017 AT 4:25 AM
thank you so much……
the second method worked like charm.
i have been looking for the PDF in internet for sometime torrents everything you
name it.
at last i found it in scribd but cant download it due to trails and finally with
your method i got the file.I am really happy cheers.
Reply
Sandun AUGUST 18, 2017 AT 4:56 AM
Thanks a lot.. you are wonderful.. Method 2 Works for me
Reply
Jason AUGUST 15, 2017 AT 3:07 AM
Method 2 works fine for me……thanks a lot
Reply
Sky AUGUST 5, 2017 AT 5:57 AM
Thanks!! Option 2 worked with Internet Explorer for me
Reply
Abdullah Khan JULY 21, 2017 AT 4:28 AM
Method 2 worked, even in google chrome…
Thanks so much <3
Reply
Kaya JULY 20, 2017 AT 9:56 AM
Method 1 worked fine in Internet explorer but the download option did not work. So
you can read it online only. Anyway Thanks man!
Reply
aseem JULY 19, 2017 AT 1:12 AM
method 2 works. Thanks buddy
Reply
dudewa JULY 15, 2017 AT 5:44 AM
method 2 works
Reply
John Stamos JULY 6, 2017 AT 12:09 PM
PEOPLE Method#1 works just fine so long as you open the link in INTERNET EXPLORER
not GOOGLE CHROME.
Nath OCTOBER 14, 2017 AT 10:16 PM
OH thank u! I was wondering why it wouldn’t stop “typesetting”, “rendering”… lol
Reply
G JUNE 30, 2017 AT 7:14 AM
Method 1 works on IE. Method 2 is no longer an option.
Reply
Elly JUNE 22, 2017 AT 7:33 AM
Both methods work for me.
BUT, 1st method doesn’t let me download the file only print it or simply read it
online.
I did manage to get my file with method two �
Thank you

Reply
Funk Dawoop JUNE 22, 2017 AT 3:44 AM
Hello, method 2 worked for me!
Reply
Nachiket JUNE 20, 2017 AT 7:52 AM
None is working for me.
1st method downloads a generic ScribdViewer.swf file.
2nd method doesn’t even show the ‘download’ option in bullet#4.
Please help!

darius JULY 8, 2017 AT 2:38 AM

i think you downloaded from google chrome… right.. use IE
Pete AUGUST 21, 2017 AT 12:22 AM
#1 doesn’t even work with the deprecated IE which shouldn’t be used anymore.
Deepika JUNE 17, 2017 AT 3:33 AM
For me, none are working – can someone help me download one document
Reply
Arno JUNE 15, 2017 AT 2:30 PM
Option 2 works ! Thanks man �
Reply
zztse JUNE 10, 2017 AT 9:07 PM
Seems method 1 and 2 are now being fixed by Scribd. Method 2 is not allowing to
replace the Url with the desired url. Method 1 hold up for excessive long time
forces to leave.
Paige JUNE 14, 2017 AT 9:44 AM
We’re you able to have any success? I did access key URL and it seemed to start
working but then was denied.
cctse JUNE 15, 2017 AT 11:14 PM
Scribd has been sending email to me on the BookID they are checking for plagilism.
So even they are nmot allowing upload and download on checking every documents I
uploaded.
L JUNE 9, 2017 AT 10:49 AM
option two surprisingly works thanks soo much.
Reply
Diego MAY 23, 2017 AT 4:32 AM
2nd method worked just fine, cheers
Reply
MasTTer MAY 17, 2017 AT 7:36 AM
I try the first method and it’s working, thanks! �
Reply
Z MAY 15, 2017 AT 9:24 PM
2nd works like a charm! I owe you one.
Reply
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