AO3 Ratings & Warnings Explained
Understanding AO3's rating system and archive warnings helps you find content you'll enjoy and avoid content you don't want to encounter.
Content Ratings
Every work on AO3 must have a content rating. This helps readers quickly understand what level of mature content to expect. Here's what each rating means:
General Audiences
Content suitable for all ages. No mature themes, violence, or adult content.
Typical content:
Family-friendly adventures, platonic friendships, light humor, cozy scenarios.
Teen And Up Audiences
May contain mild violence, infrequent coarse language, and mild suggestive themes. Comparable to a PG-13 movie.
Typical content:
Action scenes, kissing, mild profanity, emotional drama, peril.
Mature
Contains explicit sexual content, graphic violence, or mature themes. Not suitable for minors.
Typical content:
Explicit violence, sexual content (not extremely graphic), dark themes, intense emotional content.
Explicit
Contains extremely graphic sexual content and/or violence. Adults only.
Typical content:
Graphic sexual content, extreme violence, very dark themes.
Not Rated
The author has not assigned a rating. Proceed with caution as content could be anything.
Typical content:
May contain any level of content - check tags carefully before reading.
Quick Comparison
| Rating | Violence | Sexual Content | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | None/Minimal | None | None/Very mild |
| T | Mild | Implied/Kissing | Mild profanity |
| M | Graphic | Explicit (not graphic) | Strong language |
| E | Very graphic | Very graphic | Any |
Archive Warnings
Archive Warnings are mandatory tags that alert readers to specific content that many people prefer to avoid. Authors must choose at least one warning option for every work.
No Archive Warnings Apply
The work does not contain any of the major archive warnings. Safe to read without encountering major character death, violence, or non-consensual content.
Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
The author has chosen not to specify which warnings apply. The work may or may not contain triggering content. Read additional tags carefully or proceed with caution.
Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Contains detailed, explicit depictions of violence that may be disturbing to some readers.
Major Character Death
One or more major characters die during the story. This is for deaths that significantly impact the narrative.
Rape/Non-Con
Contains non-consensual sexual content. This warning is for any sexual activity without consent.
Underage
Contains sexual content involving characters under the age of 18.
How to Filter by Ratings & Warnings
Filter While Browsing
- 1 Go to any fandom, ship, or tag page
- 2 Find the "Filters" sidebar on the right
- 3 Check ratings to include or click minus (-) to exclude
- 4 Do the same for archive warnings
Set Default Preferences
- 1 Log in to your AO3 account
- 2 Go to "My Preferences"
- 3 Scroll to "Preferences" section
- 4 Set your default exclusions for warnings
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings" mean?
This means the author has opted not to specify which major warnings apply. The story may or may not contain triggering content like major character death, violence, or non-consensual content. Check the additional tags carefully or proceed with caution.
What's the difference between Mature and Explicit?
Mature (M) works contain sexual content or violence but not in extremely graphic detail. Explicit (E) works contain very graphic, detailed sexual content or extreme violence. Both are for adult readers, but Explicit is more intense.
Can I hide works with certain ratings completely?
Yes! In your AO3 preferences, you can set default skin options that hide adult content. You can also use filters on any browse page to exclude specific ratings.
What if a fic is mis-rated?
If you believe a work is incorrectly rated (e.g., Explicit content marked as Teen), you can report it to AO3's Policy & Abuse team. They review reports and may ask the author to change the rating.
Read AO3 fanfiction on the go
Fanfict Reader is the best way to browse, search, and read AO3 fanfiction on your iPhone. Download for free and start reading your favorite stories today.