Support
Please read this before emailing for support. I can only handle a limited volume of email, and the most common questions have been answered here to save time for both of us. Thank you for understanding.
I can’t install the Read Later bookmark.
I apologize, but I can’t provide any email support for this issue. It’s very difficult to diagnose problems with certain browsers or settings, and there’s simply not enough time in the day to give people a good level of service on this particular issue.
I’m always working to make this easier, but I’m restricted by limits in web browsers. In particular, this process is very easy on Firefox, Safari, and Chrome, but very difficult on Internet Explorer and the iPhone version of Safari.
I save pages to read later, but they don’t appear in the iPhone app.
Please ensure that you’re using the same account name on both the web browser (where you’re saving articles) and the iPhone app (where you’re reading them). Your account name is displayed:
- On the website: In the upper-right, after “Hello”.
- In the iPhone app: In the Settings screen, under Account.
Don’t feel bad — this is a very common mistake.
When I click Read Later, I’m redirected to Instapaper’s login page every time.
Please enable third-party cookies for: www.instapaper.com
This is a common problem if you’ve adjusted your cookie settings from the defaults.
When I click Read Later, nothing happens, or it hangs after “(Saving…)”. I probably use Firefox.
Please make sure that you do not have any add-ons or settings that would interfere with Javascript’s operation. This includes the Firefox NoScript add-on and some types of ad-blocking software.
Why can’t it save pages from (site)?
There are many reasons why certain pages aren’t accessible offline or in Text view. The most common:
- It requires a login. The Instapaper server must fetch a copy of the page without knowing your username, password, or session details. Pages such as GMail messages or travel itineraries generally can’t be reached without logging in, so Instapaper cannot access them for offline saving.
- It does not allow this type of access. Some sites block access to web crawlers, which will block or restrict Instapaper from saving them.
I’m always working to improve page compatibility, but the web is vast, complex, and always changing — I can never guarantee perfect or complete compatibility with every site.
If a certain site is very important to you, please tell me and I’ll try to prioritize it if it’s technically feasible.
Why does it only save page 1 of a multi-page article?
Instapaper saves exactly the page you were viewing when you clicked Read Later, so if you’re only on page 1 of an article, it only saves page 1.
I’m working on improving this for the future. For now, many users find it helpful to click Read Later on the “Print”, “Printer Friendly”, or “Single Page” versions of articles.
Why doesn’t it update my site every day?
Instapaper does not currently do what you probably intend by bookmarking the front page of a site, such as a blog or news site. Pages are generally only downloaded once.
The idea is to use Instapaper on the individual post or story pages, not the front page.
What is your refund policy for Instapaper Pro in case I don’t like it?
Please try Instapaper Free first before buying Instapaper Pro!
- Most features work the same way. Pro simply adds more.
- The Read Later bookmark installation is identical.
- Compatibility with websites is identical.
So if you’re having trouble installing the bookmark, or your favorite site doesn’t work, please don’t buy Pro thinking that it will solve these problems. I don’t want you to buy it for the wrong reasons and be disappointed when it doesn’t.
If you buy Instapaper Pro and end up wanting a refund, Apple must process it. iPhone app developers have no control over this, nor can we issue refunds directly. Please contact Apple.
PDF support?
Instapaper currently does not support PDF files. They may sometimes work, but the reading experience for PDFs isn’t very good on iPhones for a variety of practical and technical reasons, so official PDF support is unlikely to happen for the foreseeable future.
Will you have a Palm Pre, Android, BlackBerry, or Symbian app? Can my Zune even run apps?
At the moment, there are no plans for native apps on other mobile platforms. I simply don’t have enough time to develop and maintain more native clients, especially for devices that I don’t own.
New Kindle files overwrite the old ones.
Only the most recent file is kept on the home screen. Previous files are kept in the “Periodicals: Back Issues” folder. This is how the Kindle handles newspapers and magazines, which Instapaper is considered. See here.
Why does my iced coffee taste so bland?
It’s probably diluted with too much melted ice. Brew it more strongly and chill it before serving — never pour hot coffee over ice.
The ice should only be used to keep it cold, not to make it cold.
You can also try cold-brewing, although mine didn’t work out.
You haven’t answered my question, or I’d like to leave feedback, or I have a suggestion, or I’d like to buy your company for a lot of money.
Please email me: instapaper@marco.org. I read and appreciate every message, but cannot guarantee a response for everything. Again, thank you for understanding.