How to Install LaTeX in 2026

Murfy lets you write LaTeX in your browser, no installation needed. Or go local with Tectonic, TeX Live, or MiKTeX. Find the right LaTeX setup for your workflow in 2026.

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Jun 03, 2026

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The honest answer: most researchers don't need to install LaTeX anymore.The Fastest Way to Start Writing in LaTeX Today: Murfy When You Actually Need a Local Installation Local Installation Guide Which Should You Choose?Quick Start: Your First LaTeX Document in Murfy Summary

The honest answer: most researchers don't need to install LaTeX anymore.

If you're writing a thesis, submitting to arXiv, or collaborating on a paper with co-authors, a browser-based LaTeX editor gives you everything a local installation does without the setup headache.

But if you need local installation for a specific reason (offline work, custom scripts, HPC environments), we've got you covered below.

The Fastest Way to Start Writing in LaTeX Today: Murfy

Murfy is a free, browser-based LaTeX editor with real-time collaboration and built-in AI assistance.

No installation required

Works on any device, any OS

Real-time collaboration with unlimited co-authors

AI-powered writing assistance built in

Faster compile speed than Overleaf

Start writing for free →

When You Actually Need a Local Installation

Local LaTeX makes sense if you:

Work offline regularly

Run automated build pipelines or scripts

Need full control over your TeX distribution

Work in HPC or server environments

If that's you, here are your options.

Local Installation Guide

Option 1: Tectonic (Recommended for Most Users)

Tectonic is a modern, self-contained LaTeX engine that downloads only the packages you actually use. No 5GB full installation. No manual package management.

Install on macOS:


brew install tectonic

Install on Linux:


curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -fsSL https://drop.cx/tectonic | sh

Install on Windows:

Download the binary from tectonic-typesetting.github.io or install via:


winget install tectonic-typesetting.tectonic

Compile your document:


tectonic paper.tex

That's it. Tectonic handles package downloads automatically on first compile.

Why Tectonic over TeX Live?

ㅤ	Tectonic	TeX Live
Installation size	~50MB base	4–8GB
Package management	Automatic	Manual (tlmgr)
Compile speed	Fast	Moderate
Setup time	2 minutes	30+ minutes

Option 2: TeX Live (Full Distribution)

TeX Live is the standard full LaTeX distribution. Recommended if you need maximum compatibility or work with obscure packages.

macOS:


brew install --cask mactex

Or download MacTeX (4GB) from tug.org/mactex

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):


sudo apt-get install texlive-full

Windows:

Download MiKTeX from miktex.org — it installs packages on demand, making it lighter than full TeX Live.

Choosing a Local Editor

Once your distribution is installed, you need an editor:

Editor	Best for
VS Code + LaTeX Workshop	Developers, Git users
TeXstudio	Traditional LaTeX workflow
Vim/Neovim + VimTeX	Power users
Emacs + AUCTeX	Emacs users

VS Code + LaTeX Workshop is the most popular choice in 2026. Install the LaTeX Workshop extension and point it at your TeX distribution.

Which Should You Choose?


Do you need to collaborate with co-authors?
├── Yes → Murfy (browser-based, real-time)
└── No
    ├── Do you work offline frequently?
    │   ├── Yes → Tectonic (lightweight) or TeX Live (full)
    │   └── No → Murfy
    └── Do you run automated build pipelines?
        ├── Yes → Tectonic
        └── No → Murfy

Quick Start: Your First LaTeX Document in Murfy

No installation. Open murfy.ai, create a new project, and paste this:


\documentclass{article}
\title{My First Paper}
\author{Your Name}
\date{\today}

\begin{document}
\maketitle

\section{Introduction}
Hello, LaTeX.

\end{document}

Hit compile. Done.

Summary

Most researchers in 2026: Use Murfy for no setup, real-time collaboration, AI assistant built in

Need lightweight local: Tectonic installs in 2 minutes, downloads packages automatically

Need full compatibility: TeX Live / MacTeX / MiKTeX

Editor for local: VS Code + LaTeX Workshop

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