View source for Help:Contents

{{short description|Main page of the help namespace}}
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This page provides '''help with the most common questions about Wikipedia'''.

You can also search all Wikipedia's help pages using the search box below, or browse the '''[[Help:Menu|Help&nbsp;menu]]''' or the '''[[Help:Directory|Help directory]]'''.
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<h2 id="read-heading">'''Read''' or '''find''' an article</h2>

The '''[[Wikipedia:FAQ/Readers|Readers' FAQ]]''' and our '''[[Wikipedia:About|about page]]''' contain the most commonly sought information about Wikipedia.

For simple searches, there is a search box at the top of every page. Type what you are looking for in the box. Partial matches will appear in a dropdown list. Select any page in the list to go to that page. Or, select the magnifying glass "Go" button, or press {{key press|enter}}, to go to a full search result. For advanced searches, see '''[[Help:Searching]]'''.

There are other ways to browse and explore Wikipedia articles; many can be found at '''[[Wikipedia:Contents]]'''. Also see our '''[[Wikipedia:General disclaimer|disclaimer]]''' for cautions about Wikipedia's limitations.

For  '''[[Help:Mobile access|mobile access]]''', press the {{Plain link|url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents|name='''mobile view'''}} link at the very bottom of every {{Plain link|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents|name='''desktop view'''}} page.

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<h2 id="edit-heading">'''Edit''' an article</h2>

Contributing is easy: see '''[[Help:Editing|how to edit a page]]'''. For a quick summary on participating, see  '''[[Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia|contributing to Wikipedia]]''', and for a friendly tutorial, see '''[[Help:Introduction|our introduction]]'''.  For a listing of introductions and tutorials by topic, see '''[[Help:Getting started|getting started]]'''.  The '''[[Wikipedia:SMOS|Simplified Manual of Style]]''' and '''[[Help:Cheatsheet|Cheatsheet]]''' can remind you of basic wiki markup.

'''[[Wikipedia:Be bold|Be&nbsp;bold]]''' in improving articles! When adding facts, please '''[[Help:Introduction to referencing/1|provide references]]''' so others may verify them. If you are affiliated with the article subject, please see our '''[[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest|conflict of interest guideline]]'''.

The '''[[Help:Simple guide to vandalism cleanup|simple guide to vandalism cleanup]]''' can help you undo malicious edits.

If you're looking for places you can help out, the '''[[Wikipedia:Task Center|Task Center]]''' is the place to go, or check out what else is happening at the '''[[Wikipedia:Community portal|community portal]]'''. You can practice editing and experiment in {{If IP|a '''[[Wikipedia:sandbox|sandbox]]'''|your '''[[Special:MyPage/sandbox|sandbox]]'''}}.
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<h2 id="report-heading">'''Report a problem''' with an article</h2>

If there is a problem with an article about yourself, a family member, a friend or a colleague, please read '''[[Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons/Help|Biographies of living persons/Help]]'''.

If you spot a problem with an article, <em>you</em> can fix it directly, by clicking on the "Edit" link at the top of that page. '''[[#edit-heading|See the "edit an article" section of this page]]''' for more information.

If you don't feel ready to fix the article yourself, please post a message on the article's '''[[Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines|talk page]]'''. This will bring the matter to the attention of others who work on that article. There is a "Talk" link at the beginning of <em>every</em> article page.

Alternatively you can '''[[Wikipedia:Contact us - Readers|contact us]]'''. If it's an article about you or your organization, see '''[[Wikipedia:Contact us - Subjects|Contact us – Subjects]]'''.
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<h2 id="create-heading">'''Create a new article''' or '''upload media'''</h2>

Check '''[[Wikipedia:Your first article|Your first article]]''' to see if your topic is appropriate, then the '''[[Wikipedia:Article wizard|Article wizard]]''' will walk you through creating the article.

Once you have created an article, see '''[[Wikipedia:writing better articles|Writing better articles]]''' for guidance on how to improve it and what to include (like reference '''[[Wikipedia:Citing sources|citations]]''').

For contributing images, audio or video files, see the '''[[Help:Introduction to uploading images/1|Introduction to uploading images]]'''. Then the '''[[Wikipedia:File Upload Wizard|Upload wizard]]''' will guide you through that process.
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<h2 id="gethelp">'''Stuck?'''</h2>

Answers to common problems can be found at '''[[Wikipedia:FAQ|frequently asked questions]]'''.

Or check out '''[[Wikipedia:Questions|where to ask questions or make comments]]'''.

New users having problems editing Wikipedia should ask at the '''[[Wikipedia:Teahouse|Teahouse]]'''. More complex questions can be posed at the '''[[Wikipedia:Help desk|Help desk]]'''. Volunteers will respond as soon as they're able.

Or {{edit|Special:MyTalk|'''ask for help on your talk page'''|section=new|preload=Help:Contents/helpmepreload|preloadtitle=Help me!}} and a volunteer will visit you there!

You can get live help with editing in the '''[[Wikipedia:IRC help disclaimer|help chatroom]]'''.

For help with technical issues, ask at the '''[[Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)|Village pump]]'''.
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<h2 id="questions-heading">'''Factual questions'''</h2>

If '''[[Special:Search|searching Wikipedia]]''' has not answered your question (''for example, questions like "Which country has the world's largest fishing fleet?"''), try the '''[[Wikipedia:Reference desk|Reference Desk]]'''.  Volunteers there will attempt to answer your questions on any topic, or point you towards the information you need.
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<h2 id="directories-heading">'''Directories'''</h2>

*''' [[Wikipedia:Directory|Directory]]''': main list of directories and indexes.

<h3 style="font-size: 85%;">Help related</h3>

* '''[[Help:Directory|Help directory]]''': for informative, instructional and consultation pages.
* '''[[Wikipedia:Request directory|Request directory]]''': for  services and assistance that can be requested on Wikipedia.

<h3 style="font-size: 85%;">Protocols and conventions</h3>

* '''[[Wikipedia:List of policies|Policy directory]]''': official policies for "English Wikipedia".
* '''[[Wikipedia:List of guidelines|Guideline directory]]''':  official guidelines for "English Wikipedia".
* '''[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Contents|Manual of Style directory]]''': pages related to the style manual of Wikipedia articles.

<h3 style="font-size: 85%;">Community related</h3>

* '''[[Wikipedia:Department directory|Departments]]''': for the different divisions of Wikipedia.
* '''[[Wikipedia:Editor's index to Wikipedia|Editor's index]]''': for everything an editor needs to know to work on Wikipedia.
* '''[[Wikipedia:Essay directory|Essay directory]]''': for Wikipedia namespace essays.
* '''[[Wikipedia:Dashboard|Dashboard]]''': for current discussions taking place throughout Wikipedia.
* '''[[Wikipedia:WikiProject Council/Directory|WikiProjects]]''': for people who want to work together as a team to improve Wikipedia.

<h3 style="font-size: 85%;"> MediaWiki software</h3>

* '''[[Help:Wikitext|Wikitext]]''': for the syntax used by Wikipedia to format a page.
* '''[[Help:HTML in wikitext|HTML]]''': for HTML5 elements, or tags and their attribute.
* '''[[Wikipedia:Template index|Templates]]''': for templates used within Wikipedia.
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<h2 id="topic-heading">'''Help''' by topic</h2>

* '''[[Help:Menu|Help Menu]]''': for searching by subject matter.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Navigating Wikipedia|Navigating Wikipedia]]''': for searching and browsing the encyclopedia.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Joining Wikipedia|Joining Wikipedia]]''': how to get involved.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Editing Wikipedia|Editing Wikipedia]]''': has general help for editors.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Links|Links and references]]''': has help for creating links, or dealing with references
* '''[[Help:Menu/Images and media|Images and media]]''': how to use images, videos and sound files.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Tracking changes|Keeping track of changes]]''': how to track the evolution of a page, or follow a user.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Policies and guidelines|Policies and guidelines]]''': for community standards.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Asking questions|Asking questions]]''': volunteers will attempt to answer.
* '''[[Help:Menu/The Wikipedia community|The Wikipedia community]]''': how to submit or debate a proposal.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Resources and lists|Resources and lists]]''': has resources for editors.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Account settings and maintenance|Account settings]]''': has tips and tools for registered users.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Technical information|Technical information]]''': has tools for advanced users, and troubleshooting.
* '''[[Help:Menu/Site map|Site map]]''': is the above twelve pages on a single page.
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<h2 id="tip-heading">'''Tip''' of the day</h2>

{{Wikipedia:Tip of the day/{{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}}}
{{center|''[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia tipster|Become a Wikipedia tipster]]'' –  [[Wikipedia:Tips|Tips library, by subject]]}}
<div role="note" style="margin: 0.2em 0; font-size: 85%; text-align: center;">To add this auto-updating daily tip to your user page, use '''{{tl|totd}}'''</div>
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<h2 id="searches-heading">Additional '''searches'''</h2>

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'''Search [[Wikipedia:FAQ|Frequently Asked Questions]]'''
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