How do you download a website's source code in 2026?

Do you want to download the source code for a website How can you see what's behind a page? The method depends on your goal: a single page, an entire website, or an open-source project. Here are the three approaches, from the simplest to the most technical.

Method 1: The Simple Approach (for a single page)

This approach allows you to’access the source code of a web page with just one click, right from your browser.

1. Go to the page and make a right click.
2. Select the option «View page source code».
3. A new tab opens with all the HTML code of the page.

To go even faster, use a keyboard shortcut. The best known: Ctrl+U on PC and Cmd+U on a Mac.

These shortcuts work on Chrome, Firefox and Opera, but not natively on Edge or Safari.

Beware of limits of this method. You only retrieve the HTML response returned by the server. The files CSS and the JavaScript are not downloaded when this page is simply displayed.

It's the ideal tool for understand the structure on a web page, locate a specific piece of code, or view the tags associated with the SEO. To retrieve all the resources from an entire site, use the following method.

Do you want to take it a step further and retrieve images from a web page ? Be sure to check out our article dedicated to this topic.

Method 2: The Comprehensive Approach (for an Entire Site)

Do you want to download the source code for an entire website, and not just a single page? That's possible with more advanced tools, called «rippers» or site vacuum cleaners. They retrieve the complete structure : HTML pages, images, style sheets, links to videos, or attached documents. You get a locally browsable copy, available without an internet connection.

The go-to free resource in this field is HTTrack. This tool downloads an entire website from the server to your PC without going back through the server once the copy is complete.

What it copies HTTrack

HTTrack is not limited to HTML. It also retrieves:

• the files CSS that control the appearance of the pages; ;
• the scripts JavaScript present in the code; ;
• them pictures and other resources (icons, fonts, documents); ;
• them internal links, designed to run locally.

Result: a working copy which you can open in your browser just like the real website. This lets you explore how a website works offline, at your own pace.

Before using a ripper to retrieve data On a website, check to see if it's allowed. Some websites prohibit copying their content without permission. Check the Terms and Conditions of Use (Terms of Use), the privacy policy and the file robots.txt before you get started.

If you're unsure, ask the site owner directly for permission.

Method 3: The Professional Approach (for code submissions)

This method is intended for open source projects shared publicly. If you're not a developer, methods 1 and 2 are sufficient in the vast majority of cases.

Developers often publish their code on platforms such as GitHub, GitLab Where Bitbucket. These platforms host code repositories which contain all the files and resources necessary for an application or website to function properly. You can retrieve the source code from there legally and free.

In practical terms, you can Clone the repository using Git by copying his URLs from the platform, then by running this command:

git clone https://github.com/nom-utilisateur/nom-du-projet.git

Git is a tool 100 % free that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Cloning a repository allows you to:

• Download all files the project from the server; ;
• access the’complete history changes (the commits) ;
• Stay up to date by syncing with the original repository via git pull.

This is the most reliable solution for a developer. You access the source code as written by its author, along with all its data and resources, completely legally.

Have you tried another method? Let us know in the comments.