How to open a .tex file
Quick, free ways to open TeX on any system.
A .tex file is a LaTeX Source Document. If double-clicking does nothing, your computer simply does not have an app that reads TeX yet. Here is how to fix that on each operating system, using free software wherever possible.
Open a .tex file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .tex. Drop it into the WhatFileType file identifier, which reads its signature without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with TeXworks or VS Code (LaTeX Workshop).
- On Mac, use TeXShop or VS Code.
- On Linux, try TeX Live or VS Code.
- Still stuck? Convert the .tex to pdf, which opens more widely.
Best apps to open .tex files
Windows
- TeXworks
- VS Code (LaTeX Workshop)
- MiKTeX
macOS
- TeXShop
- VS Code
- MacTeX
Linux
- TeX Live
- VS Code
- any text editor
Web
- Overleaf
!
Before you open it: Mostly safe, but TeX can run shell commands during compilation if enabled. Compile untrusted .tex files with shell-escape disabled, which is the default.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I open my .tex file?
Almost always because no installed app understands TeX. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads.
How do I open a .tex file?
Any text editor shows the source. To produce the formatted document, compile it with a TeX distribution such as TeX Live or MiKTeX, or use Overleaf online.
How do I turn a .tex file into a PDF?
Run a LaTeX compiler (pdflatex file.tex), use an editor like TeXworks or VS Code with LaTeX Workshop, or upload it to Overleaf.