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engrXiv (Engineering Archive) is a free preprint server for engineering research. Its own About page describes it as “dedicated to the dissemination of engineering knowledge quickly and efficiently.” This guide puts the rules that usually sit on separate pages into one place: what the server accepts, how moderation works, what happens if you withdraw a posting, which license applies, and where the server is hosted. Facts below come from engrXiv’s About page, its 2022 hosting announcement and its home page, checked on 2026-10-29.
What engrXiv is
engrXiv is an open preprint server: authors post a manuscript publicly before, or alongside, journal submission, and readers can access it without a subscription. It accepts all manuscript types, including preprints submitted in parallel to a journal and previously published articles that authors want to make Open Access. A preprint on engrXiv is not formally peer reviewed, and the server asks that this status be marked when the work is cited.
Who runs it and what it covers
The server is operated by Open Engineering Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit. It launched in beta in July 2016 under Devin R. Berg. A university library guide describes it as run by a steering committee of engineers and engineering librarians. In January 2022 the project announced it was moving from the Center for Open Science’s OSF, its home since 2016, to Open Preprint Systems (OPS), hosted by PKP Publishing Services. OPS shares its framework with Open Journal Systems; the announcement gave financial security, better user management and a link to the open-source community as the reasons.
Scope rules in one place
- Submissions must be scholarly, plausibly categorized and correctly attributed, and all contributors must have agreed to the submission.
- Non-English submissions need an English title and abstract.
- Claims of free energy or perpetual motion are not accepted.
- Mathematics, theoretical physics, computer science, information technology and cybersecurity need a strong engineering connection.
- Submissions focused on AI or large language models receive extra scrutiny, and heavy use of an LLM may require evidence of human authorship.
Moderation
Every submission is moderated before it becomes public. If a moderator rejects work, the moderator gives a reason, and the author may resubmit after addressing it. engrXiv expects reviews within 3 business days, though some take longer. Moderators do not assess research quality and do not verify copyright, so a posting on the server is a screened preprint, not a vetted result.
License, versions and withdrawal
Content is posted under the CC BY Attribution 4.0 International license, and authors grant engrXiv non-exclusive rights to reproduce and publish the work in perpetuity. Updating a preprint or its metadata is described as the preferred course of action, and a preprint can be updated with a postprint (the author-accepted manuscript). Authors are told during submission that the submission is permanent and cannot be withdrawn, and withdrawal works differently before and after acceptance. Before acceptance, withdrawal leaves no public record. After a preprint is posted, withdrawal needs moderator approval and is granted only for extenuating circumstances; the file is removed, but the title, authors and reason may remain, and the full citation stays in perpetuity.
How to search and use it
The steps below use the interface terms on engrxiv.org.
- Open engrxiv.org. The main navigation lists Announcements, Submit, Archives, About and Support, with a Search link alongside.
- To look for work on a topic, use the Search link. The “Latest preprints” list on the home page shows keyword tags for each item.
- To read earlier postings, open Archives.
- To follow new postings, use the Atom and RSS feed links in the page footer.
- To post a preprint, choose Submit. Register and Login links sit below the main navigation; you need an account to submit.
- Check your manuscript against the scope rules above before submitting: attribution, contributor agreement and, for non-English work, an English title and abstract.
- To change a posted preprint, go to Support, then Edit a Submission. Support also lists a FAQ and Claim Legacy Account, the route for authors who had an account before the 2022 move.
Strengths and limits
Strengths
- Engineering-specific scope, with a non-profit operator and community steering.
- Accepts both preprints and previously published work made Open Access.
- CC BY 4.0 licensing makes reuse terms clear for readers.
- Updating a preprint is explicitly the preferred route.
Limits
- Moderators do not judge research quality or verify copyright, so readers must evaluate the work themselves and authors remain responsible for rights.
- Withdrawal after posting is restricted, and the citation record remains permanently.
- Fields at the edge of engineering (mathematics, computer science, cybersecurity) need a clear engineering link.
- Preprints are not peer reviewed; cite them as preprints. See preprints and preregistration for how that status affects citation and later publication.
Alternatives
Other servers overlap with engrXiv. Follow the links for detail on each.
| Server | Summary |
|---|---|
| TechRxiv | IEEE’s preprint server, launched January 29, 2020, for engineering, computer science and related technology; free to authors; moderated by IEEE. |
| arXiv | Free, open-access repository covering physics, mathematics, computer science and several other fields, with subject categories and moderation. |
| OSF Preprints | Preprint service of the Open Science Framework, run by the Center for Open Science; hosts branded community servers and was engrXiv’s home until 2022. |
For a broader view of how these services differ, see preprint servers explained and the arXiv and OSF comparison.
FAQ
Is engrXiv peer reviewed?
No. Submissions are moderated before posting, but they are not formally peer reviewed, and engrXiv asks that preprint status be stated when the work is cited.
How long does moderation take?
engrXiv expects reviews within 3 business days; some take longer.
Can I post a paper that a journal has already published?
engrXiv accepts previously published articles made Open Access as well as preprints submitted in parallel to a journal.
Can I remove a preprint after it is posted?
Only with moderator approval and only for extenuating circumstances. The file is removed, but the citation record remains in perpetuity.
Where do I find the sign-in?
Register and Login links appear below the main navigation on engrxiv.org.
Sources
- engrXiv, About: engrxiv.org/about (checked 2026-10-29).
- engrXiv blog, “Announcing engrXiv’s new host” (25 January 2022): blog.engrxiv.org (checked 2026-10-29).
- engrXiv home page and navigation: engrxiv.org (checked 2026-10-29).
- University at Buffalo Libraries, engrXiv research guide: research.lib.buffalo.edu/engr-xiv (checked 2026-10-29).
