MacTeX is a package which installs TeX Live on the Macintosh. The package is notarized by Apple and uses Apple's standard install technology. It contains native code for both Intel and Arm processors.

Mar 8, 2025 · The MacTeX-2025 package can be obtained over the internet for free by clicking on the following link: MacTeX.pkg [ approximately 6.0G - 08 March 2025 ] This link points to a "multiplexer" site which parcels out requests to various up-to-date CTAN mirrors.

MacTeX installs TeX Live, which contains TeX, LaTeX, AMS-TeX, and virtually every TeX-related style file and font. TeX Live is maintained by TeX User Groups across the world. TeX Live is compiled from the same sources for all platforms: Macintosh, Windows, Linux, Unix.

MacTeX-2025 consists of several packages; a custom install option allows users to select which packages to install. The packages are GUI Applications: TeXShop , LaTeXiT , BibDesk , TeX Live Utility , and some documentation

MacTeX is a product produced by the MacTeX TeXnical working group of the TeX Users Group (TUG). This group creates the MacTeX install package, which installs the reference edition of TeX distributed by TeX User Groups across the world.

Among these is MacTeX, which installs the full TeX Live as well as front ends, Ghostscript, and other utilities — everything needed to use TeX on the Mac. To obtain it, go tohttp://tug.org/mactex. 2 Basic TeX BasicTeX (92 MB) is an installation package for Mac OS X based on TeX Live 2025. Unlike MacTeX, this package is deliberately small.

MacTeX requires macOS Mojave or later, but TeX Live 2025 can be installed on macOS Snow Leopard or later using the Unix install script. This page is for users with these older systems, and others who prefer finer control over the installation of TeX Live.

CTAN Mirrors with MacTeX MacTeX is distributed by a large number of CTAN servers across the world. The main MacTeX link is a multiplexer which chooses a site near you, while trying to even out the load during periods of heavy usage.

The MacTeX Distribution is an Easy-to-Install Package, which contains a complete and up to date TeX system from Gerben Wierda's gwTeX (re)distribution. It also adds XeTeX and a few extra applications (at present, TeXShop, BibDesk, Excalibur, and i-Installer).

For macOS (and MacOSX), we recommend installing MacTeX, which has a native Mac installer, and contains all of TeX Live (and a few Mac-specific additions). For Cygwin, the instructions below for Unix-like systems apply, but make sure you have the Cygwin prerequisites before beginning the installation.