←Back to Blog

How to Backup Entire Websites with One Command Using HTTrack

2025-02-13•3 min read

Have you ever wanted to save an entire website for offline viewing? Maybe you need to preserve important documentation, create a backup of your own website, or save educational content for offline access. HTTrack is a free tool that makes this incredibly simple, and I'll show you how to do it with just one command.

What is HTTrack?

HTTrack is like a time machine for websites. It creates an exact copy of a website that you can browse offline on your computer. Think of it as taking a snapshot of a website that you can access anytime, even without internet connection.

The One Command You Need

Here's the magic command that will download an entire website:

httrack "https://website-to-copy.com" -O "./website_backup" -%v

Let's break down what this means in simple terms:

  • httrack: This starts the program
  • "https://website-to-copy.com": Replace this with the website you want to backup
  • -O "./website_backup": This creates a new folder called 'website_backup' where all the files will be saved
  • -%v: This shows you the progress while it works

How to Get Started

Step 1: Install HTTrack

Before using the command, you'll need to install HTTrack. It's free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux:

  • Windows: Download the installer from the official HTTrack website
  • Mac: Use Homebrew and type: brew install httrack
  • Linux: Use your package manager: sudo apt-get install httrack (Ubuntu/Debian)

Step 2: Run the Command

Open your terminal or command prompt, navigate to where you want to save the website, and run the command above (replacing the example URL with your target website).

What Happens Next?

HTTrack will start downloading the website. Depending on the size of the website, this might take a few minutes to several hours. You'll see a progress indicator showing:

  • How many files have been downloaded
  • The current download speed
  • Estimated time remaining

Accessing Your Offline Website

Once the download is complete, you'll find a new folder named 'website_backup' (or whatever name you chose). Inside, look for 'index.html' and open it in your web browser. You can now browse the entire website just like you would online!

Important Tips

  • Always check if you have permission to download a website
  • Be patient with large websites, they take longer to download
  • Make sure you have enough storage space on your computer
  • Some websites might have restrictions that prevent complete copying

Common Uses

People use HTTrack for many purposes:

  • Backing up their own websites
  • Saving important documentation for offline reference
  • Archiving websites that might disappear
  • Creating offline copies of educational resources

Remember to always respect website owners' rights and terms of service when using this tool.

Categories:

toolswebbackup