Windows

LaTeX on Windows

The installer is graphical and configures itself, so there is nothing to add to your PATH by hand on this platform.

Install TeX Live

Download install-tl-windows.exe from CTAN and run it. An Advanced button has the scheme and directory options if you want a smaller install or a different location. It adds TeX Live to your search path when it finishes.

A full install is 7 GB or more and can take a long time. The Advanced screen lets you pick a smaller scheme, and TeX Live Manager adds packages later as documents need them.

MiKTeX works just as well, but only one of the two can be active at a time: they share the same search path.

Check it worked

The installer edits the search path, so a Command Prompt that was already open will not see TeX until you close and reopen it. Texpile reads the environment when it launches, so restart Texpile too.