Modify environment variable PATH

Last edited: 2/7/2018 12:14:42 PM

The environment variable PATH should reference the directory which contains the MiKTeX executables.

Windows, Linux

The environment variable PATH is usually correctly set when you install MiKTeX on a computer running Windows or Linux.

macOS

MiKTeX executables can be found

  • in ~/bin, if you have installed MiKTeX for your private use
  • or in /usr/local/bin, if you have installed MiKTeX system-wide

Setting PATH for Terminal

Since /usr/local/bin is usually in the PATH for Terminal, it remains the case of a private installation. Run this command to add ~/bin permanently to the Terminal PATH:

echo export 'PATH=~/bin:$PATH'>> ~/.bash_profile

Setting PATH for GUI applications

You can use the command-line utility launchctl to modify PATH for GUI applications. Either

sudo launchctl config user path "$HOME/bin:$PATH"

if you have a private installation, or

sudo launchctl config system path "/usr/local/bin:$PATH"

for a system-wide setup.

TeXShop

The current TeXShop version does not honor PATH when it searches for TeX-related executables. In order to let TeXShop use the MiKTeX executables, you have to set the engine paths as described here.