MiKTeX is a free and open-source distribution of the TeX/LaTeX typesetting system compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows. It also contains a set of related programs. MiKTeX provides the tools necessary to prepare documents using the TeX/LaTeX markup language, as well as a simple TeX editor, TeXworks. The name comes from the login credentials of the chief developer Christian Schenk, MiK for Micro-Kid.
MiKTeX can update itself by downloading new versions of previously installed components and packages, and has an easy installation process. By default, MiKTeX installs only a minimal set of packages (according to the philosophy of "just enough TeX"), which is useful in case of the limited space. It will then ask users whether they wish to download any packages that have not yet been installed but are required to render the current document. A portable version of MiKTeX, as well as a command-line installer of it, are also available.
What is MiKTeX?
MiKTeX by MiKTeX.org is free Windows software in the pdf tools category. It ranks 10th by popularity among pdf tools in this catalogue. It is written in C, C++, and Pascal. Besides Windows, it is available for macOS and Linux.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE installers for 64-bit Windows. The main installer is 148.9 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 25.12, released on December 31, 2025. The version history goes back to November 22, 2023: 3 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 1.4 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 514,949 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 20 of our languages. On Windows it registers 8 file types, including .tex, .cls, .bib, .sty and .ltx. Similar programs include wkhtmltox, Adobe Acrobat Reader (64-bit) and NAPS2.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Free to use
- Documented silent install
- Also runs on macOS and Linux
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: MiKTeX is a free pdf tool tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is MiKTeX safe to download?
- The file is served by miktex.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
14B42DD9F4B4A7813A8BFD69C8F99316C2888CC4EE26F631F397E163D85D6C62· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 3 versions ›3 versions over 2 years · about 1.4 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25.12Latest | December 31, 2025 | 148.9 MB | 64-bit EXE64-bit EXE |
| 24.1 | January 28, 2024 | 144.8 MB | 64-bit EXE64-bit EXE |
| 23.10 | November 22, 2023 | 1 KB | 64-bit EXE |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id MiKTeX.MiKTeX -echoco install miktex.install -yscoop install main/miktexbasic-miktex-25.12-x64.exe --unattendedRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask miktex-consoleInformation
- Publisher
- MiKTeX.org
- Category
- PDF tools
- Licence
- Freeware
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com
- Written in
- C, C++, and Pascal
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE
- Other platforms
- macOS, Linux
- Version
- 25.12
- Released
- December 31, 2025
- Added to the catalogue
- November 22, 2023
- Versions listed
- 3
- Updates / year
- 1.4
- Chocolatey downloads
- 514,949
- Website
- miktex.org
- winget ID
- MiKTeX.MiKTeX
- Chocolatey package
- miktex.install
- Scoop package
- main/miktex
File types it opens (8)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is MiKTeX free?
Yes. MiKTeX is free to use.
Is MiKTeX safe to download?
The download comes from miktex.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install MiKTeX with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can MiKTeX be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does MiKTeX run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of MiKTeX?
The versions page lists all 3 versions with links to their official installer files, back to November 22, 2023.
Can I use MiKTeX without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to MiKTeX?
wkhtmltox, Adobe Acrobat Reader (64-bit), NAPS2, PDF24 Creator and Tesseract-OCR - open source OCR engine. The alternatives page compares them.
