Wikipedia apps: How mobile tools change how you edit and use Wikipedia

When you open a Wikipedia app, a mobile interface designed to let users read and edit Wikipedia articles directly from smartphones and tablets. Also known as Wikipedia mobile app, it turns your phone into a tool for fixing typos, adding sources, and updating facts—no laptop needed. More than half of all Wikipedia views now come from mobile devices, and the apps aren’t just for reading. They’re built for contribution. You don’t need to be an expert to fix a broken link, correct a date, or add a citation. The apps simplify editing with buttons, forms, and guided workflows that hide the messy wikitext behind the scenes.

These apps rely on other key tools to work well. TemplateWizard, a built-in tool that helps users create infoboxes and citations using simple forms instead of code cuts down errors by 80%, making it easier for newcomers to contribute correctly. Wikipedia bots, automated programs that handle repetitive tasks like fixing broken links or reverting vandalism keep the platform clean while you focus on real content. And behind the scenes, A/B testing, quiet experiments that compare small interface changes to see what helps users edit better shapes how buttons are placed, how menus work, and even how the keyboard appears when you start typing. These aren’t flashy updates—they’re quiet improvements that make editing feel natural on a small screen.

People use these apps everywhere. A student on a bus fixes a citation. A librarian in a rural town adds local history. A retiree in Brazil corrects a spelling mistake in a medical article. The app doesn’t care where you are—it just asks you to help. That’s the power of mobile editing: it turns waiting in line, commuting, or relaxing into moments of contribution. And because these edits happen in real time, Wikipedia stays current. News breaks? Someone with a phone can update the page before a news site even publishes.

But mobile editing isn’t just about convenience. It’s about access. In places where computers are rare but smartphones are common, Wikipedia apps are the only way many people can participate in building global knowledge. That’s why the tools are designed to work on low-end phones, slow networks, and small screens. They’re built for the real world, not just the tech bubble.

Below, you’ll find guides that show you exactly how to use these tools—whether you’re fixing a typo, avoiding common mistakes, or understanding how the app keeps your edits safe and accurate. No theory. No fluff. Just clear steps, real examples, and the tools that let you make a difference from anywhere.

Leona Whitcombe

WMF Engineering Roadmap: Key Priorities for MediaWiki and Mobile Apps in 2025

The WMF engineering roadmap focuses on modernizing MediaWiki and improving mobile apps for faster, more accessible Wikipedia experiences worldwide-prioritizing reliability, inclusion, and community trust over flashy features.