Introducing Story Downloads: Peace of Mind for Every Family

Andrew Ronald

Simirity Founder | Father of two

30th March, 2026

Recently, someone reached out to us with a question that I believe many people share.

He was thinking about using Simirity to collect his family’s stories, but he had one concern before starting. If he put in the time and effort, how could he be sure it would be worth it? Would Simirity still be there to keep those stories safe in the future and could he download them for peace of mind?

That’s a very fair question. When you put real time and emotion into saving your family’s stories, you want to be sure it’s not for nothing.

Here’s our honest answer.

A lady on her laptop using the story downloads feature in the Simirity app — Optionally save your family’s stories on a local device

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The Fear of Losing Stories

Digital platforms come and go. Some services that seemed permanent shut down suddenly, leaving families with nothing. Most apps, even the good ones, focus on getting your content in, not making it easy to take it out.

It’s simply how most platforms are designed. Your data stays in their system and structure, and getting it back in a useful way is often not a priority.

We don’t think that’s good enough. This is especially true for the content families add to Simirity, like voice recordings of grandparents, stories written for future generations, and memories that exist nowhere else.

Why Your Stories Are Safe in Simirity

I want to share something that should matter more than any policy document.

Simirity is a family business, and we have hundreds of our own stories saved there. These include stories about my ancestors, my parents’ memories, my children growing up, and stories from my wife’s family that I only learned about after we started using the app together.
The idea of turning off a server and leaving all that behind is something we could never do, because it would affect my own family as much as anyone else’s.

This isn’t a legal promise. It’s simply the truth, and one we accepted when we set out on this journey.

Beyond our word, we want to give you something practical. Now, you have the option to download any story you have access to, whether it’s your own or one shared with you.

Each download includes everything: a PDF with the story’s text and details, plus every media file—every photo at its highest quality, every video, every voice recording, and every attachment. These are real files, all in a single folder named after the story, saved on your device and fully under your control.

To download a story, open it in the app, tap the three-dots menu in the top right corner, and choose Download Story. You’ll get a ZIP file with everything inside.

Screenshot showing the option to download your story. — Click on the options button on the top right of all stories, then select ‘download story’

Click on your ZIP file to convert it into a folder containing all story elements:

Screenshot showing the story download folder. — Your story folder contains all media files, metadata and the story PDF

We recommend creating a ‘Simirity Stories’ folder on your computer where all your stories can live.

Downloading stories isn’t necessary since they are all saved in the cloud, but it’s an option for your peace of mind.

Stories Are Still Best Experienced In Simirity

Please be aware that downloading a story isn’t the same as experiencing it within Simirity.

Stories within the Simirity app are far richer than any file type can replicate. They contain voice recordings, videos, interactive maps and more that can’t be viewed in a single file. Furthermore:

Family members can add comments to stories and media
Clickable links navigate your around your family’s archive
Memories come back to life with story anniversary notifications
Everything is searchable in a way that a folder of files just can’t replicate

The download is your safety net, something solid and real that’s completely yours. But for living with your stories every day, the Simirity app is the best place to enjoy them.

The Future For Your Stories

Story downloads is just the first step, not the final solution.

We’re working toward something more complete: a version of your family library that lives on your own device. Stories, relationships, and media will all be linked together, browsable without an internet connection, and updated quietly in the background whenever you’re online.

The goal is simple. Your family’s stories should never depend on Simirity’s uptime, ours, or anyone else’s. They should be yours in every way—something you can open, explore, and pass on, no matter what happens to us.

We’ll share more details as we get closer. For now, the download feature is real and is available from today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download all stories in Simirity, or just some?

You can download any story you have access to, whether it’s your own or one shared with you.

How do I download a story?

You download stories one at a time. Open the story, tap the three-dots menu in the top right corner, and select Download Story. There’s no limit to which stories you can download or how often.

What’s actually in the download?

You’ll get a ZIP file with three things: a PDF of the story with the full text and details; all the media files from the story, including every photo, video, voice recording, and attachment; and a summary file with the story’s key details like title, author, dates, location, and more. Everything in the story comes with you.

Can the people I’ve shared a story with also download it?

Yes. Anyone you’ve given access to a story, whether it’s a family member in Simirity or someone with a Private Link, can also download it, including all its media files. Sharing a story means giving people the ability to keep a copy, so keep that in mind when deciding who to share with.

Is downloading the best way to share a story with someone?

Not usually. If you want someone to experience a story as it was meant to be read, with voice recordings, photos, and videos all in the right place, there are better options. In Simirity, you can share any story with specific family members or groups. If they’re not on Simirity, you can create a Private Sharing Link so anyone can view the full story in a browser without an account. Downloading is for peace of mind. Sharing links are for connecting.

Can I download all my stories at once?

A full library export is something we’re actively working towards. For now, stories are downloaded individually, which keeps each download fast and reliable, given how much media a single story can contain. In the meantime, we’d suggest downloading your most important stories first as a starting point.