Linux

LaTeX on Linux

On Debian, Ubuntu, and their derivatives this is one apt command. Everywhere else, use your own package manager or install upstream.

With apt

One command, nothing to add to your PATH afterwards, and TeX updates arrive with your system updates:

sudo apt install texlive-full

`texlive-full` is around 5 GB. This is a much smaller starting point that still builds most papers, and you can add packages later:

sudo apt install texlive-latex-recommended texlive-latex-extra latexmk

Other distributions package TeX Live too, under their own names: look for a texlive-scheme-full or texlive meta package in dnf, pacman, or zypper.

From upstream

A packaged build trails the current TeX Live release, often by a year or more. For the current release, install upstream instead. This does not need root as long as you can write to the destination:

cd /tmp
curl -L -o install-tl-unx.tar.gz https://mirror.ctan.org/systems/texlive/tlnet/install-tl-unx.tar.gz
zcat < install-tl-unx.tar.gz | tar xf -
cd install-tl-2*
perl ./install-tl --no-interaction

That installs everything, which is 7 GB or more and can take a long time. For a much smaller install, roughly the equivalent of BasicTeX at 600 MB or so:

perl ./install-tl --no-interaction --scheme=small --no-doc-install --no-src-install

This downloads an installer from a CTAN mirror and runs it. Texpile does not control CTAN or its mirrors. TeX Live publishes checksums and signatures for the installer if you want to verify it before running it.

The default paper size is A4. Run tlmgr paper letter afterwards to change it.

Setting your PATH

Only for the upstream install; apt does this for you. The installer prints the exact line to add when it finishes. Put it in your shell’s init file, substituting your release year and platform:

export PATH=/usr/local/texlive/2026/bin/x86_64-linux:$PATH

Skipping this is the usual reason a fresh TeX install appears to be missing. Texpile reads the environment when it launches, so after editing your init file, log out and back in, then restart Texpile, before deciding something went wrong.

Checking the install