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How to Install RPM Fusion on Fedora 39/38/37 Linux
Last Updated on by Joshua James
RPM Fusion is a well-known software repository for Fedora Linux and its derivatives. It provides users with vast software packages not included in the official Fedora repositories. These packages are generally excluded due to licensing, legal, or patent issues. RPM Fusion aims to make it easier for users to access and install these additional packages, enhancing their Fedora experience.
The repository is divided into different sections to cater to specific user needs. Each section is briefly described below:
Free: The Free repository contains open-source software packages that meet Fedora’s licensing and distribution guidelines. These packages are generally not included in the official Fedora repositories because they conflict with other components or have dependencies that Fedora cannot fulfill. Examples of packages in the Free repository include multimedia codecs and libraries.
Non-Free: The Non-Free repository offers software packages that do not meet Fedora’s strict open-source licensing criteria. These packages are usually proprietary software, such as drivers for specific hardware devices, which are necessary for certain hardware components to function correctly. While these packages might not be open-source, they are still legal to use and distribute in most jurisdictions.
Testing: The Testing repository houses packages under active development or testing. They might not be stable enough for general use, but they can be a valuable resource for users who want to test new features, report bugs, or contribute to package development. Packages in the Testing repository will eventually be moved to the Free or Non-Free repositories once they reach a stable release.
Tainted: The Tainted repository contains packages that might infringe on software patents or have other legal restrictions in certain countries. Users should exercise caution when using packages from this repository and comply with their jurisdiction’s laws. Examples of packages in the Tainted repository include multimedia codecs with patent restrictions.
By understanding these different sections, Fedora users can better determine which repositories they should enable based on their specific requirements. RPM Fusion offers an invaluable resource for enhancing the functionality of Fedora Linux and its derivatives, providing access to a wide array of software packages that would otherwise be unavailable.
The following guide will demonstrate how to import and install RPM Fusion on Fedora Linux using Command Line Interface (CLI) commands.
Table of Contents
Section 1: Pre-installation Checks
Step 1: Update Fedora Linux
Before proceeding with the installation of RPM Fusion repositories, it’s essential to ensure that your Fedora Linux system is up-to-date. This helps prevent potential conflicts and ensures good system maintenance. To update your Fedora Linux system, open the terminal and execute the following command:
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
This command will refresh the repository metadata and upgrade all existing packages to their latest versions.
Step 2: Check for RPM Fusion on Fedora Linux
Before attempting to install RPM Fusion repositories, verifying whether they are already enabled on your system is a good idea. During the Fedora Linux installation process, you might have had the option to set up third-party repositories, including RPM Fusion.
To check if RPM Fusion repositories are already enabled, open the terminal and use the following grep command:
dnf repolist | grep rpmfusion
This command searches the output of dnf repolist for any occurrences of “rpmfusion.” If you don’t have any RPM Fusion repositories in your dnf repo list, the result will come back empty, indicating that you can proceed to the next part of the tutorial.
Section 2: Import RPM Fusion Repositories
This section will teach you how to import and enable the RPM Fusion repositories on your Fedora Linux system.
Step 1: Install and Enable the Free Repository
If you are an open-source enthusiast and only want access to the free software packages, you can install the RPM Fusion Free repository. To do this, open the terminal and run the following command:
This command downloads and installs the RPM Fusion Free repository package, tailored to your specific Fedora version.
Step 2: Install and Enable the Non-Free Repository
For users who require access to both open-source and proprietary software packages, you should install the RPM Fusion Non-Free repository as well. To install and enable the Non-Free repository, open the terminal and execute the following command:
Similar to the previous step, this command downloads and installs the RPM Fusion Non-Free repository package, tailored to your Fedora version.
Step 3: Verify the Installation
After importing and enabling the desired RPM Fusion repositories, it’s important to verify that the installation was successful. To check whether the repositories have been added correctly, open the terminal and run the following grep command:
dnf repolist | grep rpmfusion
This command searches the output of dnf repolist for any occurrences of “rpmfusion.” If the installation was successful, you should see the newly added RPM Fusion repositories in the output.
For users interested in accessing the latest bleeding-edge updates, such as beta releases or new NVIDIA drivers, enabling the RPM Fusion Testing repositories might be helpful. Keep in mind that packages in the Testing repositories may be unstable, so use them with caution.
Step 1: Enable the Free Testing Updates Repository
To enable the RPM Fusion Free Testing Updates repository, open the terminal and run the following command:
This command activates the RPM Fusion Free Testing Updates repository, granting you access to the latest in-development packages that are not yet available in the stable repositories.
Step 2: Enable the Non-Free Testing Updates Repository
Similarly, to enable the RPM Fusion Non-Free Testing Updates repository, open the terminal and execute the following command:
This command activates the RPM Fusion Non-Free Testing Updates repository, providing access to the newest proprietary packages still under development.
Step 3: Verify the Enabled Testing Repositories
After enabling the desired RPM Fusion Testing repositories, it’s essential to verify that they have been added correctly. To check whether the Testing repositories have been enabled, open the terminal and run the following grep command:
dnf repolist | grep rpmfusion
This command searches the output of dnf repolist for any occurrences of “rpmfusion.” If the Testing repositories were successfully enabled, you should see them listed in the output.
RPM Fusion provides “tainted” repositories for both free and non-free software. These repositories contain packages that some countries may consider illegal, such as playing DVDs using libdvdcss. This section will guide you through installing these tainted repositories and provide examples.
To install the tainted RPM Fusion Free repository, which includes support for free and open-source software packages, execute the following command:
sudo dnf install rpmfusion-free-release-tainted
Step 2: Install libdvdcss
Now that you have installed the tainted RPM Fusion Free repository, you can install packages like libdvdcss for DVD playback. Run the following command to install libdvdcss:
Step 4: Install Additional Tainted Proprietary Support Packages
With the tainted RPM Fusion Non-Free repository installed, you can now install additional tainted proprietary support packages, such as firmware. Use the following command to install these packages:
sudo dnf install \*-firmware
Step 5: Verify Installed RPM Fusion Repositories
Once you’ve completed the installation process, you can verify the presence of all installed RPM Fusion repositories using the grep command. To check the dnf repolist, execute:
dnf repolist | grep rpmfusion
Section 5: RPM Fusion Command Examples
This section will teach you how to search for and install packages from the RPM Fusion repositories. Popular applications like Discord and Telegram, which are not available in Fedora’s default repositories, can now be installed.
Step 1: Install Discord Example
To install Discord using the DNF package manager, run the following command:
sudo dnf install discord
Step 2: Install Telegram Example
Similarly, to install Telegram using the DNF package manager, execute the following command:
sudo dnf install telegram
Step 3: Search for Packages
To search for packages available through the DNF package manager, including those in the RPM Fusion repositories, use the dnf search command. For example, to search for Discord, run:
sudo dnf search discord
Step 4: Install DNF Utilities
For better search results, you can install the dnf-utils package, which includes additional tools for managing packages:
sudo dnf install dnf-utils
Step 5: Use the Repo Query Command
After installing dnf-utils, you can use the repoquery command to gather more information about a package. Continuing with the Discord example:
sudo repoquery -i discord
This command will display detailed information about the Discord package, such as the repository from which it is sourced.
Step 6: Install RPM Fusion AppStream Metadata
RPM Fusion repositories also provide packages for GNOME and KDE Discover. To install the required metadata, run:
sudo dnf groupupdate core
Step 7: Install RPM Fusion Multimedia
RPM Fusion repositories include packages and updates for multimedia playback and GStreamer compatibility.
To install multimedia packages for GStreamer enabled applications, execute:
To install sound and video packages required by some applications, run:
sudo dnf groupupdate sound-and-video
Step 8: Install Multimedia Codecs
RPM Fusion repositories provide various multimedia codecs that might not be available in Fedora’s default repositories due to licensing restrictions. To install these codecs, execute the following:
Section 7: Additional RPM Fusion Commands with Fedora Linux
This section will discuss additional RPM Fusion commands that can be used with Fedora Linux. We’ll cover how to disable RPM Fusion Testing Updates, remove RPM Fusion repositories, and reinstall them if needed.
Disable RPM Fusion Testing Updates
If you no longer require the RPM Fusion Testing repository, you can disable it by executing one of the following commands that correspond to the repository you previously enabled.
To remove the RPM Fusion repositories from your Fedora system, you’ll need to find their names and use the dnf remove command. Follow the steps below to remove the appropriate repositories.
Remove the Free Repository:
sudo dnf remove rpmfusion-free-release
Remove the Non-Free Repository:
sudo dnf remove rpmfusion-nonfree-release
Remove the Free (Tainted) Repository:
sudo dnf remove rpmfusion-free-release-tainted
Remove the Non-Free (Tainted) Repository:
sudo dnf remove rpmfusion-nonfree-release-tainted
Removing these repositories will prevent your system from receiving updates or installing packages from the RPM Fusion sources.
Conclusion: Installing RPM Fusion on Fedora Linux
This guide covers the essential steps to install and configure RPM Fusion repositories on Fedora Linux. We have discussed enabling and disabling RPM Fusion repositories, managing multimedia packages, installing tainted repositories, and removing the repositories when necessary. By following the steps and instructions provided, you can effectively manage your Fedora Linux system and gain access to a wider range of packages and updates.
Additional Resources and Links
Fedora Linux, we have compiled a list of official resources that you can refer to:
RPM Fusion Official Website: Visit the official RPM Fusion website for comprehensive information, documentation, and support related to RPM Fusion repositories.
Fedora Linux Documentation: Access Fedora Linux’s official documentation to learn more about the operating system, its features, and best practices for managing your system.
RPM Fusion Wiki: Explore the RPM Fusion Wiki to find detailed guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting tips that can assist you in resolving any issues you may encounter while using RPM Fusion repositories.
