You can download Wikipedia in full, but the file is enormous and the method depends on what device you're using
A complete download of all Wikipedia articles in English is about 20 gigabytes when compressed — roughly the size of 5,000 high-quality photos. The official way to get it is through Wikimedia, the nonprofit that runs Wikipedia. You won't download it through Wikipedia's website itself; instead, you'll use a specialized tool or download a pre-packaged version from a third party that has already done the work.
The reason this matters: Wikipedia's servers are built for browsing one article at a time, not for serving a 20GB file to thousands of people. Downloading the full database is legal and encouraged by Wikimedia, but it requires patience and the right tool for your situation.
Key Takeaways
- The complete English Wikipedia is about 20 gigabytes compressed, which requires significant storage space and download time on most home connections.
- Kiwix is the most common tool for reading downloaded Wikipedia offline on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.
- You can download a pre-packaged Wikipedia file from Kiwix's website or build your own from Wikimedia's raw database dumps.
- Offline Wikipedia works best for reference and reading; it does not include the ability to edit articles or see the most recent changes.
Using Kiwix: The easiest method for most people
Kiwix is free software that lets you read Wikipedia and other reference sites offline. It handles the technical work of downloading and organizing the data, then gives you a searchable interface that works like Wikipedia's website.
Go to kiwix.org, download the version for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux), and install it like any other program. When you open Kiwix for the first time, it will show you a library of available downloads. Find "Wikipedia" in the list, select the English version, and click the download button. Depending on your internet speed, this will take several hours to several days. Kiwix will resume the download if your connection drops, so you can close the program and come back to it.
Once the download finishes, you can search Wikipedia exactly as you would online — type a topic, click an article, follow links between pages. Kiwix stores everything locally on your device, so there's no internet required after the initial download.
Downloading Wikipedia on a phone or tablet
Kiwix also has versions for Android and iOS. The process is the same: install the app, open it, browse the library, and download the Wikipedia file. On a phone, the full 20GB download may not fit, so Kiwix offers a smaller "lite" version with the most-read articles only — about 3 gigabytes.
If you have an Android phone, you can also download Wikipedia through other apps like Wikipedia Offline or Offline Reader for Wikipedia, though Kiwix is the most widely used. iOS options are more limited; Kiwix is the primary choice for iPad and iPhone.
Phone storage fills quickly, so consider whether you actually need the full download or whether the lite version would serve you better. The lite version covers most common searches and takes a fraction of the storage space.
Building your own download from Wikimedia's database dumps
If you want more control — for example, to include only certain categories of articles or to get the absolute latest version — you can download the raw database files directly from Wikimedia and process them yourself. This is more technical and takes longer, but it's the most flexible option.
Go to dumps.wikimedia.org, navigate to the English Wikipedia section, and look for files ending in "articles.xml.bz2". These are compressed files containing all article text. Download one (they're still several gigabytes each), then use a tool like Mediawiki2MediawikiXML or Wpull to convert it into a format you can read offline. This route requires comfort with command-line tools and is not necessary for most people — Kiwix handles this conversion for you automatically.
What you can and cannot do with offline Wikipedia
Offline Wikipedia is read-only. You can search, read articles, and follow links, but you cannot edit pages, leave talk page comments, or upload images. This is by design — the download is a snapshot of Wikipedia at a specific moment, not a live connection to the site.
You also won't see the most recent edits or new articles added after your download date. If you want the latest version, you'll need to download again. Most people update their offline copy once or twice a year, depending on how current they need the information to be.
Storage and download time: what to expect
The full English Wikipedia requires about 20 gigabytes of storage space after compression. On a typical home internet connection (25 megabits per second), a complete download takes 12 to 24 hours of continuous downloading. Slower connections or older devices may take several days.
If your device doesn't have 20 gigabytes free, use the lite version instead (about 3 gigabytes) or download only specific language versions. Kiwix lets you choose which content to download, so you're not forced to take everything.
Plan your download for a time when you won't need your internet connection for other things, or download overnight. Kiwix will pause and resume if your connection drops, so you don't have to start over from scratch.
Why you might want an offline copy
Offline Wikipedia is useful if you have unreliable internet, travel frequently, or want to reduce data usage on a mobile plan. It's also valuable for schools or organizations in areas with limited connectivity — a single download can be shared across multiple devices on a local network.
Some people download it for archival purposes, to preserve a snapshot of Wikipedia at a particular time. Others use it as a reference library when they know they'll be without internet for extended periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is downloading Wikipedia legal?
Yes. Wikipedia content is licensed under Creative Commons, which permits downloading and sharing. Wikimedia actively publishes database dumps specifically so people can download them. You're not circumventing any restrictions or violating terms of service.
Can I share my downloaded Wikipedia with other people?
Yes, as long as you include the attribution and license information. The Creative Commons license requires you to credit Wikipedia and Wikimedia, and to make clear that the content is licensed under CC-BY-SA. Kiwix files already include this information, so sharing a Kiwix download is straightforward.
How often should I re-download to get new articles and edits?
That depends on your needs. If you use Wikipedia mainly for reference on stable topics (history, science, geography), once a year is usually enough. If you follow current events or need the latest information, download more frequently — every few months. Kiwix can update your existing download rather than starting from scratch.
Will offline Wikipedia work without an internet connection?
Completely. Once downloaded, offline Wikipedia requires no internet at all. You can search, read, and navigate between articles entirely on your device. This is the main reason people download it.
What if the download fails partway through?
Kiwix automatically resumes from where it stopped. Close the program, check your internet connection, and open Kiwix again. It will pick up the download where it left off rather than starting over. If you're having repeated failures, try downloading at a different time of day when your connection may be more stable.