# Auto Archiver (otlite)

Automatically archive web content from various sources.

- Takes: URL
- Install: `otlite install auto-archiver`, into its own virtualenv
- Pinned: [auto-archiver==1.2.9](https://pypi.org/project/auto-archiver/1.2.9/)
- Command: `auto-archiver`
- Python: older than 3.13
- Verified: 24 Sept 2026, version 1.2.9 on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, Python 3.12.14
- Licence: MIT; 1,122 GitHub stars
- Source: https://github.com/bellingcat/auto-archiver

otlite is the no-Docker edition of OTInstaller for Linux and macOS: [install it](https://otinstaller.com/otlite) with `curl -fsSL https://get.otinstaller.com/otlite | sh`.

## Run it

| Input | otlite command | Auto Archiver receives |
| --- | --- | --- |
| URL | `otlite run auto-archiver -- url:https://example.com` | `auto-archiver --url https://example.com` |

Arguments after `--` that aren't typed inputs go to the tool unchanged.

## Before you run it

- **Dual-use.** otlite prints this before installing it: You are solely responsible for how you use these tools and for complying with all applicable laws. Use them only on targets you are authorized to investigate.
- **Needs a login or API key.** Set it up before the first lookup; batch runs skip it unless you pass `--include-credentialed`.
- **Needs Python older than 3.13.** Its dependency pdqhash has no wheel for 3.13 or newer and needs a C++ compiler. otlite checks your Python before installing and says which version to use; `otlite doctor` lists the tools your Python can't run.

## API keys

- `GOOGLE_API_KEY` (optional): `otlite keys set GOOGLE_API_KEY`
- `GOOGLE_CREDENTIALS` (optional): `otlite keys set GOOGLE_CREDENTIALS`
- `AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID` (optional): `otlite keys set AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID`
- `AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY` (optional): `otlite keys set AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY`

Keys live in `~/.otlite/.env`, readable only by you, and each tool receives only the keys it declares.

## What a run leaves

- `results/auto-archiver/https_example.com/<time>_auto-archiver_https_example.com_<run id>.txt`
- `results/auto-archiver/https_example.com/<time>_auto-archiver_https_example.com_<run id>.meta.json`
- `results/auto-archiver/https_example.com/<time>_auto-archiver_https_example.com_<run id>.envelope.json`

The envelope is the same shape for every tool: the tool and version, the input, timing, exit code and status, the emails, domains, IP addresses and URLs found in the output, and the output file's path, hash and size. `otlite results --tool auto-archiver` lists saved runs, `otlite extract auto-archiver` pulls out indicators and `otlite diff auto-archiver https://example.com` compares the two latest runs.

## With other tools

Batch runs skip it: needs API keys or setup; pass --include-credentialed.

## Related tools

- [Instaloader](https://otinstaller.com/otlite/tools/instaloader.md): Download pictures (or videos) along with their captions and other metadata from Instagram
- [Torbot](https://otinstaller.com/otlite/tools/torbot.md): Dark Web OSINT Tool
- [Paramspider](https://otinstaller.com/otlite/tools/paramspider.md): Mining URLs from dark corners of Web Archives for bug hunting/fuzzing/further probing
- [Finalrecon](https://otinstaller.com/otlite/tools/finalrecon.md): All In One Web Recon
- [Yark](https://otinstaller.com/otlite/tools/yark.md): OSINT for YouTube made simple
- [Onionsearch](https://otinstaller.com/otlite/tools/onionsearch.md): OnionSearch is a script that scrapes urls on different

[All 47 otlite tools](https://otinstaller.com/otlite/tools) · [otlite docs](https://otinstaller.com/docs/otlite.md)