proTeXt - MiKTeX-based distribution for Windows

proTeXt aims to be an easy-to-install TeX distribution for Windows, based on MiKTeX. After downloading, a wizard (available in several languages) guides the installation.

Download and install

You can download the protext.zip file from CTAN; it is around 1GB. That link will automatically choose a nearby CTAN mirror. If it doesn't work for you, please choose from the list of CTAN mirrors and navigate to systems/windows/protext in that mirror's interface.

If such a large download is problematic for you, proTeXt is also included in the TeX Collection, which you can get by becoming a TeX user group member.

Once you have the distribution, you can start the installation by running Setup.exe (if it does not open automatically). At present, proTeXt includes only 32-bit binaries, but runs fine on 64-bit systems.

proTeXt adds the TeXStudio front end to MiKTeX. If you want to see the complete contents of the proTeXt distribution, you can inspect the zip file via unzip (on any platform).

New users can find starting points for actually using TeX in this introduction to the TeX system.

Archives

All past releases of proTeXt have been publicly archived; through 2019, proTeXt includes a complete MiKTeX release. MiKTeX releases are available on github.

How you can help

1. Please report problems and suggestions to the (public) protext@tug.org mailing list, after checking the list of known bugs. Before posting, please be aware that although email addresses are obscured, the archives of the mailing list are publicly accessible.
2. We encourage proTeXt users to join their local TeX user group to support this and other TeX activities. We also encourage a donation to MiKTeX development if possible. And Thomas would be grateful for any donations to AIDS-Hilfe Hagen, an AIDS support organization in his city.
3. If you like, you can also review this list of general tasks in the TeX community, not specific to proTeXt.

Credits

proTeXt's creator and principal maintainer is Thomas Feuerstack, while MiKTeX was created and continues to be maintained by Christian Schenk. Many thanks to both.