How to Install Calibre on Fedora

Calibre is a comprehensive e-book management application that organizes, converts, and reads e-books in popular formats like EPUB, PDF, and MOBI. It’s an indispensable tool for anyone managing a digital library. Whether you’re syncing e-books to a reader, editing metadata, or converting between formats, Calibre simplifies every aspect of e-book management.

This guide provides a clear, step-by-step approach to installing Calibre on Fedora Linux. You’ll learn how to use the DNF package manager for a stable installation or Flatpak for access to newer versions. By the end, you’ll have Calibre running and ready to manage your e-book collection.

Choose Your Calibre Installation Method

When installing Calibre on Fedora Linux, you have two straightforward methods to choose from. Each method offers distinct advantages depending on your needs:

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
DNF	Fedora Repos	Stable	Automatic via dnf upgrade	Most users who prefer distro-tested packages
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest	Automatic via flatpak update	Users who want the newest features with sandboxing

We recommend the DNF method for most users because it integrates directly with Fedora’s package management and receives automatic security updates. Choose Flatpak if you specifically need the latest Calibre features or prefer application sandboxing.

Preparing Your System for Calibre Installation

Before installing Calibre, first ensure your Fedora Linux system is properly prepared. This involves updating your system to maintain stability and compatibility, as well as verifying that essential tools like DNF and Flatpak work correctly.

Update Your System

Keeping your system up to date is a critical step to avoid compatibility issues with new software installations. First, open your terminal and execute the following command to refresh the package metadata and apply any available updates. Furthermore, if updates are slow, consider optimizing your DNF configuration.

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Specifically, this command performs:

1. Metadata Refresh: Ensures the latest package data is available from Fedora’s repositories.
2. System Updates: Applies security patches, bug fixes, and feature updates to all installed packages.

Regular updates not only improve software compatibility but also ensure optimal system performance.

Verify Flatpak Installation

Fedora Workstation includes Flatpak by default as part of its universal, sandboxed application support. However, minimal or server installations may not have Flatpak installed. To verify Flatpak is available on your system, run:

flatpak --version

Ideally, you should see output similar to:

Flatpak 1.x.x

If the command returns “command not found,” then Flatpak is not installed. In that case, you can add it by running:

sudo dnf install flatpak -y

Furthermore, Flatpak provides access to a wide variety of applications, often offering newer versions compared to Fedora’s standard repositories, while also running them in a secure, isolated environment.

Install Calibre with DNF

The DNF method integrates Calibre directly into Fedora’s system environment. This approach suits users who prioritize stability and prefer a simpler, system-native setup.

To install Calibre using DNF, first open your terminal and run:

sudo dnf install calibre

This command downloads and installs the Calibre package along with any required dependencies from Fedora’s official repositories. For more information about DNF package management, see our guide on DNF5 install examples on Fedora.

After installation completes, verify the installation succeeded:

calibre --version

You should see output similar to:

calibre (calibre 8.x.x)

Install Calibre with Flatpak

Flatpak provides a sandboxed environment for added security. To install Calibre using Flatpak, follow these steps:

Add the Flathub Repository

First, you need to add the Flathub repository to your Flatpak configuration. Flathub is the primary source for Flatpak applications:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Consequently, this command adds Flathub to your system-wide Flatpak configuration, enabling access to applications like VLC and many others.

Install Calibre from Flathub

After adding Flathub, install Calibre from the repository by executing:

sudo flatpak install flathub com.calibre_ebook.calibre -y

Flatpak downloads and installs Calibre in its sandboxed environment, ensuring a clean and isolated setup. After installation completes, verify Calibre is available:

flatpak list --app | grep calibre

You should see output similar to:

calibre    com.calibre_ebook.calibre    stable    system

Troubleshoot Flathub Connection Issues

If you encounter an error like Unable to load summary from remote flathub, then the Flathub repository may be disabled. To resolve this issue, re-enable the repository with:

sudo flatpak remote-modify --enable flathub

Once you re-enable Flathub, retry the installation command.

Launch Calibre on Fedora Linux

Once Calibre is installed, you can launch it using either the command line or the graphical interface, depending on your preference.

Launch Calibre from Terminal

For installations through DNF, simply run the following command in your terminal:

calibre

Alternatively, if you installed Calibre via Flatpak, use this command instead:

flatpak run com.calibre_ebook.calibre

This command opens the Calibre application, allowing you to start managing your e-book library.

Launch Calibre from Activities

To launch Calibre from the Fedora desktop environment:

1. First, open the Activities menu by clicking on the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Next, select Show Applications.
3. Then, use the search bar to type Calibre.
4. Finally, click the Calibre icon to open the application.

Overall, the graphical interface offers an intuitive way to access and manage your e-books.

Initial Configuration: Calibre Setup Wizard

When you launch Calibre for the first time, the setup wizard will guide you through the initial configuration. As a result, this process ensures the application is tailored to your preferences for managing e-books.

Step 1: Choose Your Library Directory

The first step is to choose the directory where Calibre will store your e-book library. By default, Calibre provides a pre-selected path that suits most users. However, you can accept this default or specify a custom location based on your preferences.

• Default Directory: If you have no specific requirements, use the default path provided by Calibre.
• Custom Path: To store your library in a different location, click Change, browse for your preferred folder, and confirm your selection.

Once you select the directory, click Next to proceed.

Step 2: Select Your E-Reader Device

The next step involves selecting a device to optimize e-book format compatibility. Calibre supports a wide range of devices, including popular e-book readers like Kindle, Kobo, and Nook.

• Generic Option: If your device isn’t listed or you’re unsure, choose the Generic option for maximum compatibility across various devices.
• Specific Device: Select your e-book reader from the list for optimized formatting and syncing.

Once you select your device, click Next to continue.

Step 3: Complete the Setup Wizard

The final step is straightforward. Calibre confirms your configuration and finalizes the setup.

• Review the settings you’ve selected.
• Click Finish to complete the process.

At this point, Calibre is ready for use, and the main interface will load, allowing you to start managing your e-book collection.

After completing the wizard, the main application interface opens. Additionally, a built-in quick start guide in your library explains how to add books, convert formats, and sync with e-readers.

Update Calibre on Fedora Linux

Keeping Calibre updated ensures you have the latest features and security fixes. However, the update process depends on your installation method.

Update Calibre via DNF

If you installed Calibre via the DNF package manager, then update it with:

sudo dnf upgrade calibre --refresh

This checks for and applies updates from Fedora’s repositories.

Update Calibre via Flatpak

Conversely, if you installed Calibre via Flatpak, update it by running:

sudo flatpak update

Flatpak automatically fetches and installs the latest version available on Flathub.

Remove Calibre from Fedora Linux

If you no longer need Calibre, follow these steps to remove it based on your installation method.

Remove Calibre via DNF

To remove Calibre installed via DNF, run:

sudo dnf remove calibre

DNF automatically removes unused dependencies when clean_requirements_on_remove is enabled (the default). Additionally, Calibre stores your e-book library separately in ~/Calibre Library/ by default, so your books remain intact after removal. To verify uninstallation, run calibre --version, which should return “command not found.”

Remove Calibre via Flatpak

For Flatpak installations, remove Calibre and its application data using:

sudo flatpak uninstall --delete-data com.calibre_ebook.calibre

The --delete-data flag removes application settings stored in ~/.var/app/com.calibre_ebook.calibre/. Additionally, to clean up unused Flatpak runtimes and dependencies, run:

sudo flatpak uninstall --unused

Remove Calibre User Data (Optional)

Uninstalling Calibre does not remove your e-book library or configuration files. If you want a complete cleanup and no longer need your library, you can remove these directories manually.

Warning: The following commands permanently delete your Calibre library, including all imported e-books, metadata, covers, and reading progress. Back up any books you want to keep before proceeding.

To remove the default Calibre library directory:

rm -rf ~/Calibre\ Library/

Additionally, remove Calibre’s configuration and cache files stored in your home directory:

rm -rf ~/.config/calibre/
rm -rf ~/.cache/calibre/

For Flatpak installations, the --delete-data flag already removes the sandboxed configuration in ~/.var/app/com.calibre_ebook.calibre/. However, if you stored your library outside the sandbox (the default behavior), you still need to remove it manually using the command above.

Conclusion

Calibre is a versatile e-book management tool that empowers Fedora Linux users to organize, convert, and manage their digital libraries efficiently. Whether you chose the DNF package manager for stability or Flatpak for the latest features, you now have a fully functional e-book management system. With support for format conversion, metadata editing, and device syncing, Calibre handles all aspects of digital library management from a single application.