A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Install LaTeX on Windows (2026 Update)

Updated May 2026 — covers MiKTeX 24.x, Windows 11, and the new "missing package on first compile" prompt flow that confuses most first-time users.

Introduction

LaTeX is the typesetting system that powers academic papers, theses, and most STEM textbooks. It produces beautiful documents with precise mathematical notation, automated cross-references, and reproducible output — and it's been the standard in math, physics, CS, and engineering for forty years. This guide walks through installing LaTeX on Windows 10 or Windows 11 in 2026, covers the two main distributions (MiKTeX vs. TeX Live), and includes a troubleshooting section for the errors first-time installers actually hit.

If your goal is to convert LaTeX-heavy notes into flashcards, jump to Scholarly's PDF to Flashcards tool — it preserves rendered math and ships LaTeX equations through to Anki and Quizlet exports cleanly.

Benefits of LaTeX

Before we dive into the installation process, let's explore some of the benefits of using LaTeX:

• Professional Typesetting: LaTeX provides precise control over document layout, ensuring a polished and professional appearance.
• Mathematical Equations: LaTeX excels at typesetting complex mathematical equations and formulas, making it a popular choice among scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.
• Cross-Referencing and Citations: LaTeX simplifies the process of cross-referencing figures, tables, equations, and citations, enhancing document organization and readability.
• Version Control: LaTeX integrates seamlessly with version control systems like Git, allowing for efficient collaboration and tracking of document changes.
• Wide Range of Templates: LaTeX offers a vast collection of templates for various document types, including research papers, theses, CVs, and presentations.

MiKTeX vs. TeX Live: which to install

Two distributions ship LaTeX for Windows. For most students in 2026:

• MiKTeX — smaller initial install (~250 MB), installs packages on-demand the first time you compile a document that needs them. Best for students who want to get going fast.
• TeX Live — much larger (~7 GB full install) but ships every package up front. Best if you're on an unreliable internet connection or in a managed enterprise environment.

This guide uses MiKTeX. Both distributions produce identical output once installed.

Step 1: Downloading MiKTeX

The first step in installing LaTeX on Windows is to download and install MiKTeX, a popular LaTeX distribution for Windows. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the MiKTeX website at https://miktex.org/ and click Download.
2. The page auto-detects Windows and offers the "Basic MiKTeX Installer" (about 250 MB). Download it.
3. Right-click the installer → Run as administrator. Installing as a regular user works but causes permission issues later when MiKTeX tries to install packages on-demand.
4. Accept the license, choose Install MiKTeX for anyone who uses this computer, and pick the default install path (C:\Program Files\MiKTeX).
5. On the "Settings" page, leave A4 as the default paper size (US Letter is fine if you're in the US — most academic templates handle both).
6. Set "Install missing packages on-the-fly" to Yes. This is the setting that saves you 30 minutes of error messages later.

Step 2: Configuring MiKTeX

Once MiKTeX is installed, you need to configure it to ensure smooth operation. Here's what you need to do:

1. Open the MiKTeX Console from the Start menu.
2. In the MiKTeX Console, click on 'Settings' to open the settings window.
3. In the settings window, click on the 'General' tab.
4. Click on 'Refresh FNDB' to update the file name database.
5. Click on 'Update Formats' to update the LaTeX formats.

Step 3: Choosing an Editor

While MiKTeX provides a command-line interface for compiling LaTeX documents, most users prefer using a dedicated LaTeX editor for a more user-friendly experience. Here are some popular options:

• TeXstudio: A feature-rich LaTeX editor with an intuitive interface.
• TeXmaker: A cross-platform LaTeX editor with built-in PDF viewer and code completion.
• Overleaf: An online LaTeX editor with real-time collaboration features.

Choose an editor that suits your preferences and install it on your Windows computer.

Step 4: Writing Your First LaTeX Document

Now that you have MiKTeX installed and an editor set up, it's time to write your first LaTeX document. Follow these steps:

1. Open your preferred LaTeX editor.
2. Create a new document and save it with a .tex extension.
3. Write your LaTeX code, including document class, packages, and content.
4. Save the document.
5. Use the editor's compile command to generate a PDF output.

Troubleshooting: errors you'll actually hit

These are the four issues new MiKTeX-on-Windows installers run into most often in 2026:

"MiKTeX needs to install a missing package" prompt appears on every compile

MiKTeX is offering to install required packages on-demand — this is the expected flow. Click Install the first time you see it. If the prompt loops or stalls:

1. Open MiKTeX Console → Settings → tick Always install missing packages on-the-fly.
2. Restart MiKTeX Console as administrator and re-run Check for updates.

"Sorry, but C:\…\miktex-pdftex.exe did not succeed"

Almost always a missing-package failure that the on-the-fly installer couldn't reach. Fix:

1. Open MiKTeX Console → Packages → search for the package named in the log (e.g. babel-english).
2. Right-click → Install.
3. Recompile.

Editor compiles produce no PDF and no error

The most common cause is that the editor's PATH doesn't include MiKTeX's bin directory. Open a new terminal and run pdflatex --version — if it fails, restart Windows once. The MiKTeX installer adds the PATH entry but already-open processes don't see it until restart.

"Font shape … undefined" warnings

Cosmetic and safe to ignore for a first document. To clear them, add \usepackage[T1]{fontenc} and \usepackage{lmodern} near the top of your preamble.

Beyond installation: getting more out of LaTeX

Once you have a working install, the next quality-of-life upgrades:

• Use VS Code + LaTeX Workshop instead of TeXstudio if you're already a developer — better Git integration, better autocomplete, identical output
• Install a reference manager like Zotero (it generates BibTeX .bib files automatically)
• Try Overleaf for collaboration — same LaTeX engine, runs in the browser, free tier supports 1 collaborator per project
• Use Scholarly's Formula Sheet Generator if you need to extract math from existing PDFs into LaTeX — it produces clean equation arrays ready to paste

Conclusion

That's it. With MiKTeX installed, an editor configured, and on-the-fly package installation enabled, you can compile a .tex file into a publication-quality PDF in seconds. The troubleshooting section above covers 90% of first-week problems — bookmark it.

If you're using LaTeX to write up problem sets or research papers, Scholarly's PDF tools read LaTeX-rendered math without losing notation, so your compiled PDFs slot directly into a study workflow.