INITEXMF(1)

🎀 INITEXMF(1) — the MiKTeX configuration utility, bestie edition 🎀

ok so real quick — this is initexmf, and it lives in section 1 of the manual, aka User Commands (that's the whole "User Commands" thing at the top of the page, iykyk). No cap, it's genuinely just the MiKTeX config tool and it's about to be your new bestie.

---

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

initexmf [option...]

that's it. that's the whole vibe. throw options at it, it handles the rest 💅

---

🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

initexmf can be used to configure MiKTeX. that's the whole job, she's a config queen, she ate 👑

---

🦋 USER MODE VS. ADMINISTRATOR MODE 🦋

this utility can be run in two modes, and honestly picking your mode is giving main character energy:

User mode (default)

MiKTeX operates on user-scoped configuration and data files. very your own lil world vibes 💖

Administrator mode

Only system-wide MiKTeX configuration and data files are modified, assuming that the MiKTeX setup is shared by all users. and heads up — the utility must be run with administrator privileges. no privileges, no entry, sorry bestie 😭

By default, the utility runs in user mode. you can turn on administrator mode with the --admin option. periodt.

---

💅 OPTIONS 💅

• --admin — run in administrator mode. here's what that means, babe:
  • Operate on the system-wide MiKTeX configuration data store.
  • Install packages for all users.

⚠️ using this option requires a shared MiKTeX setup, i.e., MiKTeX must have been set up for all users. the program must be run with administrator privileges. fr fr, do not skip this part.

• --default-paper-size=paper — set the default paper size. paper must be a4 or letter. only those two, no freestyling 🙈
• --disable-installer — disable automatic installation of packages. specifying this option overrules settings in the MiKTeX configuration data store. she overrules, she doesn't ask ✋
• --edit-config-file=configfile — open the specified config file in a text editor. like a little spa day for your config 🧚
• --enable-installer — enable automatic installation of packages. specifying this option overrules settings in the MiKTeX configuration data store. same energy as above, just in the enabling direction 🌈
• --list-modes — list all known METAFONT modes. a whole menu of modes, iconic ⭐
• --print-only — print what would be done. nothing is changed. literally nothing, zero changes, it's all talk 💀
• --quiet — suppress screen output. shhh 🤫
• --register-root=dir — register a TEXMF root directory. welcome to the family, dir 🫶
• --report — write a MiKTeX configuration report. receipts, but for configs 🧾
• --set-config-value=[section]valuename=value — set a value to be stored in the MiKTeX configuration data store (see miktex.ini(5)).
• --show-config-value=[section]valuename — print a value from the MiKTeX configuration data store (see miktex.ini(5)).
• --unregister-root=dir — unregister a TEXMF root directory. it's not you, it's the TEXMF root registry 💔
• --user-roots=directories — register user root directories. plural! multiple besties! 🍓
• --verbose — print information on what is being done. she tells you everything 🔥
• --version — print the version number and exit. quick lil flex, then she's out 👋

---

👑 SEE ALSO 👑

• miktex(1)
• miktex.ini(5)

go read those too, they're slay in their own way 💜

---

so yeah, that's the whole page — and as for the ~fine print~: this is MiKTeX 25.12, dated December 29, 2025, from the good people behind INITEXMF(1) on User Commands. mwah, go configure something gorgeous 💖✨🎀