How to Install Wike on Fedora Linux

Wike is a native Wikipedia reader for GNOME that provides direct access to Wikipedia’s full content from your desktop. Whether you’re researching technical topics without switching to a browser, building a personal knowledge base with bookmarks and collections, or reading articles in any of 300+ supported languages, Wike integrates Wikipedia into your desktop workflow. This guide shows you how to install Wike on Fedora Linux using either the official repository or Flatpak, with full desktop search integration and bookmark management. Both installation methods have been tested on Fedora Workstation 40 and 41 with GNOME 46.

However, Wike is not included by default in Fedora installations. You can install it through the official AppStream repository for distro-tested stability, or alternatively via Flatpak from Flathub for faster upstream updates and application sandboxing.

Choose Your Wike Installation Method

Wike is available through Fedora’s official repositories and as a Flatpak on Flathub. The repository version receives testing through Fedora’s QA process and updates with your system packages, while the Flatpak version ships upstream releases faster and runs in a sandboxed environment. Choose based on your preference for stability versus access to the latest features.

Method	Channel	Stability	Best For
Fedora AppStream	Official repos	Stable, distro-tested	Most users who prefer system-integrated packages with standard update cycles
Flatpak	Flathub stable	Frequent updates	Users who want the latest release with sandboxing and isolated dependencies

For most users, the Fedora AppStream method provides the best balance of stability and integration. Alternatively, choose Flatpak if you need features from the latest upstream release or prefer sandboxed applications.

Method 1: Install Wike via Fedora’s Appstream

First, update your system before installation:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Next, install Wike from the Fedora AppStream repository:

sudo dnf install wike -y

Finally, verify the installation:

rpm -q wike

You should see output showing the installed package with version and Fedora release number:

wike-3.1.1-2.fc41.noarch

Method 2: Install Wike via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak provides sandboxed application installation with isolated dependencies. As a result, this method delivers upstream updates faster than distribution repositories while maintaining application security through containerization.

Verify Flatpak Installation

Flatpak enables sandboxed application installation. However, if you previously removed Flatpak, reinstall it:

sudo dnf install flatpak -y

Enable Flathub for Wike Installation

Then, add Flathub to access Flatpak applications:

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

Install Wike via Flatpak Command

Now, with Flathub enabled, install Wike system-wide:

flatpak install flathub com.github.hugolabe.Wike -y

Afterward, verify the installation:

flatpak list --system | grep Wike

You should see the application listed:

Wike     com.github.hugolabe.Wike     3.1.3     stable     flathub

Troubleshoot Wike Flatpak Installation

If Flathub was previously disabled or removed from your system, you may encounter this error during installation:

error: Unable to load summary from remote flathub: Can't fetch summary from disabled remote 'flathub'

To resolve this, first check if Flathub is disabled:

flatpak remotes --show-disabled

If Flathub appears in the disabled list:

flathub    system

Then, re-enable the Flathub repository:

flatpak remote-modify --enable flathub

Next, verify Flathub is now enabled:

flatpak remotes

You should see Flathub listed with system-wide access:

Name    Options
flathub system

Finally, retry the installation command after confirming Flathub is active.

Launch Wike Wikipedia Reader

Launch Wike from Terminal

If you installed Wike via DNF, simply launch it with:

wike

Alternatively, for Flatpak installations, use the full application identifier:

flatpak run com.github.hugolabe.Wike

Launch Wike from Applications Menu

Open the Activities overview and search for Wike, or find it in the Utilities or Internet category of your applications menu. On first launch, Wike opens to the main interface with English Wikipedia selected by default. You can change the language immediately in Preferences if needed.

Using Wike

Basic Article Search

Type your search query in the top search bar when you launch Wike. As you type, instant suggestions appear below, displaying matching Wikipedia articles. Press Enter or click a suggestion to load the full article with Wikipedia’s original formatting, images, and references intact.

GNOME Desktop Search Integration

Press Super (Windows key) to open the Activities overview, then start typing any topic. Wike integrates directly with GNOME Shell’s search, displaying relevant Wikipedia articles alongside your files and applications. Click any result to open it immediately in Wike without launching your browser.

Manage Bookmarks and History

Click the star icon in the header bar to bookmark any article for quick access later. Open the hamburger menu and select Bookmarks to view your saved articles and organize them into a personal knowledge base. Wike also tracks your reading history automatically, so you can revisit previously viewed articles from the same menu without searching again.

Configure Language and Display Settings

Click the hamburger menu and select Preferences to access Wike’s settings. In the General tab, change the Wikipedia language to any of 300+ available options. Your selection applies instantly without restarting. The Appearance tab lets you increase or decrease text size for comfortable reading, toggle between light and dark themes, or adjust article column width for optimal display on your monitor.

Manage Wike

Update Wike

Check for updates regularly to receive bug fixes, new features, and security patches. For repository installations, Wike updates alongside your system packages:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

For Flatpak installations, update Wike specifically or all Flatpak applications:

flatpak update com.github.hugolabe.Wike

After updating, verify the new version:

flatpak info com.github.hugolabe.Wike | grep Version

Remove Wike

To remove Wike installed via DNF:

sudo dnf remove wike

For Flatpak installations:

flatpak uninstall com.github.hugolabe.Wike

After removing Wike, clean up unused Flatpak dependencies like shared runtimes and libraries that other applications don’t need:

Preview what will be removed before proceeding. This shows which runtimes and extensions are no longer needed by any installed application:

flatpak uninstall --unused --dry-run

If the preview shows only unused components, proceed with removal:

flatpak uninstall --unused

To completely remove Wike’s user data including bookmarks, reading history, and preferences:

Back up this directory before deletion if you want to preserve your bookmarks or reading history. Copy it to another location with cp -r ~/.var/app/com.github.hugolabe.Wike/ ~/wike-backup/ before proceeding:

rm -rf ~/.var/app/com.github.hugolabe.Wike/

Conclusion

You now have Wike installed with full Wikipedia access and desktop integration. Whether you chose the AppStream repository for system-integrated updates or Flatpak for faster releases and sandboxing, you learned how to verify the installation, launch the application from terminal or GUI, and customize language and display settings. Test the GNOME desktop search integration by pressing Super and typing a topic to see Wikipedia results appear instantly alongside your files. For daily research workflows, bookmark frequently referenced articles and switch to dark mode in Preferences for comfortable evening reading. Update Wike regularly through your chosen installation method to receive new features and security patches.