Browser Extension

The Backdrop browser extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave. You can install it from each browser's respective extension store. Simply search for “Backdrop” and add the extension to your browser. Once installed, the Backdrop icon will appear in your browser toolbar.

Click the Backdrop icon while browsing any page to archive it instantly. The extension captures the current page directly from the live DOM, which means it can often access content that server-side archiving cannot — including pages behind paywalls or behind bot-protected walls. You can choose which formats to save: HTML, PDF, screenshot, or readable text.

Select any text on a page to highlight it or tag it as an entity (person, organization, place, or topic). Highlights and entities are synced to your Backdrop account and appear in the Annotations and Entities sections of your dashboard. This makes it easy to reference important passages later without re-reading the entire page.

The extension can capture full-page or visible-area screenshots directly from your browser. Screenshots are saved to your account and can be annotated with ovals and notes using the built-in screenshot editor. This is useful for capturing content that changes frequently or for visual reference.

Backdrop supports keyboard shortcuts to speed up common tasks. For example, Ctrl+Shift+Y captures a YouTube timestamp, saving the current video position so you can return to it later. You can view and customize all available shortcuts from your browser's extension management page.

To sync your archives across devices, sign into your Backdrop account from the extension. Click the extension icon, then select “Sign in.” Your session is stored securely and persists between browser restarts. Once signed in, every archive you create from the extension is immediately available in your dashboard.

Your archives sync across all browsers where you install the Backdrop extension and sign into the same account. Archive from Chrome at work, highlight on Firefox at home — all your content stays in sync. This makes Backdrop a seamless companion regardless of which browser you prefer.