How to Install LaTeX on Windows 10 (MiKTeX, TeX Live, and Editors)

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LaTeX is the standard tool for writing math-heavy papers, theses, and technical documents. On Windows 10, “installing LaTeX” really means two things: a TeX distribution (the engine that turns .tex files into PDFs) and an editor to write in. This guide walks through the easiest setup for beginners (MiKTeX plus TeXstudio), the full TeX Live alternative, VS Code for programmers, and how to test that everything works.

Quick Answer

Download and install MiKTeX from miktex.org, then install the free TeXstudio editor from texstudio.org. Open TeXstudio, paste a sample document, and press F5 (Build & View). The first build downloads any missing packages automatically and shows your PDF.

LaTeX editor on Windows showing a document source on the left, a compiled PDF preview on the right, and the Build and View button highlighted
After installing a TeX distribution and an editor, click Build & View (1) to compile your .tex file into the PDF preview (2).

Choose a TeX Distribution

MiKTeX TeX Live
Download size Small (a few hundred MB) Large (roughly 8 GB for the full install)
Packages Installed on demand when a document needs them Almost everything installed up front
Updates Continuous, through MiKTeX Console Yearly release, plus package updates through tlmgr
Best for Beginners, limited disk space Offline use, matching university or journal setups

Pick one; you don’t need both. Installing both can cause conflicts.

Option A: Install MiKTeX (Recommended for Beginners)

  1. Go to miktex.org/download and download the Windows installer.
  2. Run the installer and accept the license.
  3. Choose Install only for me (easier, no admin rights needed) or for all users.
  4. Under Install missing packages on-the-fly, choose Yes so packages install without prompting, or Ask me first.
  5. Finish the installer. Then open MiKTeX Console from the Start menu and click Check for updates, then Update now.

Option B: Install TeX Live

  1. Go to tug.org/texlive and download install-tl-windows.exe.
  2. Run it and choose the installation scheme. The full scheme gives you everything.
  3. Click Install. The full install downloads many packages and can take an hour or more depending on your connection.
  4. TeX Live includes the TeXworks editor, so you can start writing right away.

Install an Editor

  • TeXstudio (texstudio.org): Free, beginner-friendly, with autocomplete, a built-in PDF viewer, and math and symbol panels. It detects MiKTeX or TeX Live automatically.
  • TeXworks: Simple editor included with MiKTeX and TeX Live.
  • VS Code + LaTeX Workshop extension: Great if you already use VS Code. Note that LaTeX Workshop uses latexmk by default, which needs Perl. TeX Live includes Perl; with MiKTeX, install Strawberry Perl from strawberryperl.com.

Test Your Installation

  1. Open your editor and create a new file.
  2. Paste this sample:
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\title{My First Document}
\author{Your Name}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\section{Introduction}
Hello, LaTeX on Windows!
\begin{equation}
  E = mc^2
\end{equation}
\end{document}
  1. Save it as test.tex in a folder without special characters in the path.
  2. Press F5 in TeXstudio (or the green play button in TeXworks). A PDF appears with your title, section, and a numbered equation.

You can also check from Command Prompt: run pdflatex –version. If it prints a version number, the distribution is installed and on your PATH.

Troubleshooting

  • “pdflatex is not recognized”: The installer didn’t add LaTeX to your PATH, or the editor was open during installation. Sign out and back in, or restart. For MiKTeX, the folder is usually %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\MiKTeX\miktex\bin\x64.
  • “File xyz.sty not found”: A package is missing. With MiKTeX, allow on-the-fly installation or install it in MiKTeX Console under Packages. With TeX Live, run tlmgr install packagename.
  • Package installation fails: Update MiKTeX first, then change the package repository in MiKTeX Console settings.
  • Bibliography doesn’t appear: Run the build sequence LaTeX, then BibTeX or Biber, then LaTeX twice. TeXstudio’s Build & View can be set to do this automatically.
  • Antivirus blocks the installer: Download only from the official sites above, then allow the installer if your antivirus flags it.

Don’t Want to Install Anything?

Overleaf (overleaf.com) is a browser-based LaTeX editor with a free plan. It needs no installation, supports real-time collaboration, and offers many templates for theses and journals. It’s a good choice for group projects or school computers where you can’t install software.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is LaTeX free?

Yes. MiKTeX, TeX Live, TeXstudio, and TeXworks are all free and open source.

Does the same setup work on Windows 11?

Yes. The steps are identical on Windows 11.

How much disk space do I need?

A basic MiKTeX install needs well under 1 GB and grows as you add packages. A full TeX Live install needs about 8 GB.

Summary

  1. Install a TeX distribution: MiKTeX (small) or TeX Live (complete).
  2. Install an editor like TeXstudio.
  3. Compile a test document with F5.
  4. Use Overleaf if you can’t install software.

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