You can download Wikipedia to read without an internet connection using free tools built for this purpose
Wikipedia itself does not offer a download button on its website. Instead, you use a separate program that pulls Wikipedia's content and saves it to your computer or device. The most common tool is Kiwix, which downloads Wikipedia in a compressed file format and lets you search and read articles exactly as they appear online — but without needing to stay connected.
The process takes three steps: download the Kiwix program, download a Wikipedia file through it, and then open articles. The whole thing takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed and which version of Wikipedia you choose. You can download the full English Wikipedia (about 90 gigabytes) or smaller versions that cover specific topics or languages.
Key Takeaways
- Kiwix is the most reliable free program for downloading Wikipedia, and it works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.
- You download a compressed Wikipedia file through Kiwix itself rather than from Wikipedia's main website, which keeps file sizes manageable.
- Full English Wikipedia takes roughly 90 gigabytes of storage space, but smaller versions covering specific topics or languages are available.
- Once downloaded, you can search Wikipedia articles and read them offline exactly as they appear on the live website.
Download and install Kiwix on your computer
Go to kiwix.org in your web browser. On the homepage, you will see a large button labeled "Download Kiwix". Click it. The site will detect your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux) and show you the correct version to download.
Click the download link for your system. A file will start downloading — it is usually between 50 and 100 megabytes, so it takes a few minutes on most connections. Once the download finishes, open the file and follow the installer instructions. On Windows, this means clicking "Next" through a setup wizard. On Mac, you drag the Kiwix icon into your Applications folder. On Linux, follow the command-line instructions shown on the download page.
After installation, open Kiwix. You will see a mostly empty window with a search bar at the top and a message saying "No content available". This is normal — you have not downloaded any Wikipedia content yet.
Download a Wikipedia file through Kiwix
In Kiwix, look for a menu option called "Get Content" or "Download Content" (the exact name varies by version). Click it. A new window will open showing available Wikipedia files organized by language and size.
You will see options like "Wikipedia - English (Full)" and "Wikipedia - English (No Images)". The full version includes all articles and pictures and takes about 90 gigabytes. The no-images version is roughly 20 gigabytes and loads faster on slower computers. There are also smaller versions covering specific topics — for example, "Wikipedia - Medicine" or "Wikipedia - History" — which take only a few gigabytes each.
Choose the version you want and click the download button next to it. Kiwix will show you a progress bar. Depending on your internet speed and the file size, this can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. You can close Kiwix and come back later — most versions will resume the download if it gets interrupted.
Once the download finishes, the file appears in Kiwix's library automatically. You do not need to move it or extract it yourself.
Search and read Wikipedia articles offline
After the file downloads, open Kiwix and you will see the Wikipedia content listed in the left sidebar. Click on it to select it. The search bar at the top becomes active. Type any topic you want to read about — "photosynthesis", "World War II", "Python programming" — and Kiwix will search through the downloaded content.
Click on an article from the search results and it opens in the main window. You can click links within articles to jump to related topics, just like on the live Wikipedia website. The experience is nearly identical to browsing Wikipedia online, except there is no internet required and no ads.
You can have multiple Wikipedia files downloaded at once. For example, you might download both the full English Wikipedia and a specialized version focused on medicine. Kiwix lets you switch between them using the sidebar.
Download Wikipedia on your phone or tablet
Kiwix also works on Android and iOS devices. On Android, go to the Google Play Store, search for "Kiwix", and install the official app. On iOS, open the App Store, search for "Kiwix", and install it.
Once installed, open the app and tap "Get Content" or the download icon. You will see the same list of Wikipedia files available for download. Choose one and tap to download it. Because phones and tablets have less storage space than computers, you might want to download a smaller version — for example, Wikipedia without images, or a topic-specific version.
After the download finishes, you can search and read articles in the app exactly as you would on a computer. This is useful if you travel or spend time in places without reliable internet.
What to do if the download fails or gets stuck
If a download stops partway through, close Kiwix completely and open it again. Most downloads will resume from where they left off rather than starting over. If the download keeps failing at the same point, your internet connection may be unstable — try downloading at a different time or on a different network.
If you see an error message saying "File corrupted" or "Download failed", delete the incomplete file from Kiwix's library (right-click it and select delete) and try downloading again. This usually solves the problem.
If Kiwix itself will not open after installation, restart your computer. If it still will not open, uninstall it completely, restart again, and reinstall the latest version from kiwix.org. This fixes most installation problems.
Storage space and file size considerations
Before you download, check how much free space your device has. Full English Wikipedia requires about 90 gigabytes. If your computer or phone does not have that much free space, you have two options: delete other files to make room, or download a smaller version of Wikipedia.
The "No Images" version of Wikipedia is about 20 gigabytes and includes all the text but removes pictures. Topic-specific versions like "Wikipedia - Science" or "Wikipedia - History" are typically 5 to 15 gigabytes each. You can download multiple smaller versions instead of one large one.
After you download a Wikipedia file, it stays on your device until you delete it. You do not need to re-download it each time you use Kiwix. If you want to update it to the latest version of Wikipedia, you can delete the old file and download a new one, or check Kiwix for an update option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download Wikipedia in languages other than English?
Yes. When you click "Get Content" in Kiwix, the list of available files includes Wikipedia in dozens of languages — Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic, and many others. Each language has its own full and partial versions. Download the language you want to read, and Kiwix will search and display articles in that language.
Do I need an internet connection to use Wikipedia after I download it?
No. Once the file is downloaded and stored in Kiwix, you can search and read articles completely offline. You only need an internet connection to download the file in the first place.
How often should I re-download Wikipedia to get the latest articles?
Wikipedia updates constantly, but Kiwix files are usually released once a month. If you want the most current version, you can delete your old file and download a new one monthly. For most purposes, a file that is a few months old is still useful — major articles do not change drastically between releases.
Can I download Wikipedia on a Chromebook or tablet that does not have much storage?
Yes, but you will need to download a smaller version. Choose "Wikipedia - No Images" or a topic-specific version like "Wikipedia - History" instead of the full Wikipedia. These take 5 to 20 gigabytes instead of 90. You can also download multiple small versions and delete them when you are done reading.
What if I want to download Wikipedia but also keep using the live website?
You can do both. Kiwix is a separate program that does not change how Wikipedia works online. You can have Wikipedia downloaded in Kiwix for offline reading and still visit wikipedia.org in your browser whenever you have an internet connection. They do not interfere with each other.