Install the browser extension
How to install the WriteStack extension for Chrome or Firefox, what it does, which browsers work, and which extension version each feature needs.
The WriteStack extension connects WriteStack to Substack through your browser. You need it to schedule Notes on Substack, post them and sync stats. Install it on a computer from writestack.io/extension, which opens the right store for your browser.
Steps
- On a computer, open writestack.io/extension.
- Chrome and other Chromium browsers: Chrome Web Store
- Firefox: Firefox Add-ons
- Click Add to Chrome (or Add to Firefox) and accept the permissions.
- Make sure you're logged in to Substack in the same browser.
- Go back to WriteStack and refresh the page. During onboarding, click I have installed the extension instead.
If WriteStack needs the extension and can't find it, you'll see a Chrome Extension Required (or Firefox Extension Required) dialog. Click Install the extension, then (Refresh after installation).
What it does
The extension runs Substack actions from your own browser, using your Substack login. It is used for:
- Scheduling Notes on Substack. With the extension installed, Add to Queue creates the scheduled Note on Substack right away. Once a Note is on Substack, Substack publishes it itself, so your browser doesn't need to be open at send time. See Sync.
- Syncing Notes that were scheduled without it (from your phone or an AI assistant, for example).
- Posting Notes now, uploading images, videos and link previews, and adding polls.
- Fetching your Notes stats.
- Actions in the Activity Center, Chats and DMs, such as replies and likes.
Supported browsers
| Browser | Supported |
|---|---|
| Chrome | Yes |
| Brave, Edge, Opera, Arc and other Chromium browsers | Yes, from the Chrome Web Store |
| Firefox (version 140 or newer) | Yes |
| Safari | No |
| Phones and tablets | No. You can use WriteStack on your phone, but scheduled Notes wait in WriteStack until you sync them from a computer. |
Minimum versions
Some features need a recent version of the extension. If yours is older, the feature is hidden or you see a message such as "You need to have the extension version 1.5.15 installed to add polls".
| Feature | Minimum extension version |
|---|---|
| Videos in Notes | 1.4.23 |
| Scheduling Notes on Substack | 1.4.68 |
| Auto-restack | 1.4.77 |
| Welcome DMs | 1.5.8 |
| Polls in Notes | 1.5.15 |
| Video covers | 1.5.21 |
Chrome and Firefox keep the extension up to date on their own. To see which version you have, open chrome://extensions (or about:addons in Firefox) and find WriteStack.
Custom domains
If your newsletter uses a custom domain, some features ask the extension for access to that domain. Click Grant access (or Allow access to your domain) when WriteStack asks, and accept the browser prompt.
If it doesn't work
See Sync errors and Substack connection problems.
Add yourself as an author
Add your byline to a Substack post so WriteStack can find your publication during signup.
Write a Note
How to write a Substack Note in the WriteStack editor, including formatting, line breaks, AI help in your own voice, Draft and Ready statuses, importing Notes from a CSV file, and copying a Note.