This guide assumes you’re running Ubuntu / Debian / Kali / Mint in a Linux environment (can be WSL).
# Open PowerShell
wsl --install -d Ubuntu
# Launch Ubuntu
wsl -d Ubuntu- After installation, your WSL Ubuntu shell is ready to run docker & Overleaf Toolkit.
# Optional: become root
sudo -i
# Add passwordless sudo for your user
echo "$SUDO_USER ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL" > /etc/sudoers.d/$SUDO_USER
chmod 440 /etc/sudoers.d/$SUDO_USER
exitsudo apt update
sudo apt install -y docker.io curl wget tree nodejs python3-pip
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker
# Remove old docker-compose v1 if exists
sudo apt remove docker-compose -y
# Configure systemd for docker
sudo nano /etc/wsl.conf
# Then add these lines inside the file
[boot]
systemd=true
# Then exit the wsl
exit
# Shutdown it
wsl --shutdown
# Reopen it again
wsl -d Ubuntu
# Install Docker Compose v5
sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/latest/download/docker-compose-linux-x86_64" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
docker-compose --version # should show v5.xmkdir -p ~/overleaf && cd ~/overleaf
git clone https://github.com/overleaf/toolkit.git ./overleaf-toolkit
cd overleaf-toolkit
ls
# bin CHANGELOG.md config data doc lib LICENSE README.mdbin/init- Check
config/:
ls config
# overleaf.rc variables.env version- Edit
config/overleaf.rc:
nano config/overleaf.rc
# Disable sibling containers for CE:
SIBLING_CONTAINERS_ENABLED=falseThis is mandatory for Community Edition, otherwise CE will fail to start.
bin/doctor- Should output something like:
====== Overleaf Doctor ======
- Host Information
- Linux
- Dependencies
- bash
- docker
- docker compose
- Configuration
- Warnings: ...
====== End ======
bin/up -d-
Pulls required docker images (Mongo, Redis, CE) and starts all containers
-
Logs can be followed if needed:
bin/logs
# or for multiple services:
bin/logs -f web filestore docstore clsi-
Fill in email & password to create first admin account
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Ignore any test step, just log in and start using Overleaf
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Go to project page inside Overleaf
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Either import a project or create a blank project for testing/editing
Inside the sharelatex container:
# Get the container ID
docker ps
# Enter the container
docker exec -it <container_id> bashcd /tmp
curl -LO https://mirror.ctan.org/systems/texlive/tlnet/update-tlmgr-latest.sh
chmod +x update-tlmgr-latest.sh
# Run the updater
./update-tlmgr-latest.sh -- --confirm
# Check version
tlmgr --version
# Example: tlmgr revision 78301 (2026-03-07)tlmgr install scheme-full-
Installs all LaTeX packages, XeLaTeX, LuaLaTeX, fonts, etc.
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Recommended for Arabic or custom fonts.
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This may take a while (~5–6GB).
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In the project File ~ Settings ~ Compiler ~ Choose XeLatex