Pandoc 2026 for PC: How to Download & Install on Windows

Pandoc is a free, open-source universal document converter that turns one document format into another. If you write in Markdown and need a Word document, or you have a Word file and need a web page, Pandoc can do the conversion in a single command. It is a command-line tool, so there is no big graphical editor to learn, but it is powerful, reliable, and used by writers, researchers, students, and developers around the world. This guide explains what Pandoc does, how to install version 3.13 on Windows 10 or Windows 11, and how to make your first conversion. Pandoc is free software, released under the GPL, and it costs $0. There is no paid version.

1. What Is Pandoc?

Pandoc is a universal document converter, created by John MacFarlane and maintained as an open-source project at pandoc.org. It can read many formats, including Markdown, HTML, Word documents, LaTeX, reStructuredText, and more, and it can write to many formats, including HTML, Word, PDF, EPUB, and plain text. That makes it useful whenever a document needs to move between systems: a writer can draft in Markdown and export a Word file for an editor, a researcher can turn a manuscript into a PDF, and a developer can turn documentation into a website. Because Pandoc works from the command line, it is easy to use in scripts and automated workflows, and it can convert many files at once. It does not try to be a word processor, so it focuses on doing one job well: converting documents accurately, keeping headings, lists, links, images, tables, and citations intact wherever the target format allows it.

2. Key Features of Pandoc 2026

Universal conversion: Convert between Markdown, HTML, Word, LaTeX, EPUB, PDF, and many other formats.
Free and open source: Pandoc is free software under the GPL, costs $0, and has no paid version.
Command-line power: Convert a file with one command, and automate conversions in scripts.
Clean output: Headings, lists, links, images, tables, and citations are carried across formats.
Markdown support: A popular choice for writers who draft in Markdown and export to Word or PDF.
Filters and extensions: Extend Pandoc with filters, including Lua filters, for custom conversions.
Cross-platform: Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, so the same commands work on different systems.
Active development: Version 3.13 is the current version covered in this guide, with a long history of regular releases.

3. System Requirements for Pandoc 2026 on Windows

Pandoc is a small, lightweight program, so it runs on almost any modern Windows PC. Check the points below before you install it, and remember that PDF output needs extra software, as explained in the next sections.

Operating system: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit).
Processor: Any modern processor; Pandoc itself needs very little power.
Memory: At least 4 GB of RAM is enough for normal use.
Storage: At least 200 MB of free disk space for Pandoc, plus more if you install a LaTeX engine for PDF output.
For PDF output: A LaTeX engine, such as MiKTeX, is needed to create PDFs. This is a separate download.
Internet: Needed to download the installer from the official Pandoc website or GitHub releases.

4. How to Download Pandoc from the Official Website

Always get Pandoc from the official source, so you receive the genuine installer for version 3.13. Open your browser and visit the official Pandoc installing page. That page links to the latest installer and explains the other install options for Windows, macOS, and Linux. For Windows, the installer is the file named windows-x86_64.msi, available from the GitHub releases linked on the official page. Download that file to your Downloads folder and wait for the download to finish. Do not use unofficial download sites, because they may offer an old version or a modified file, and they cannot give you the official support and documentation that pandoc.org provides.

5. How to Install Pandoc on Windows 10/11 (Step-by-Step)

Open your Downloads folder and double-click the windows-x86_64.msi installer you downloaded from the official Pandoc page.
If Windows asks whether to allow the installer to make changes, click Yes to continue.
Follow the setup wizard and accept the licence agreement when asked.
Keep the default install location unless you have a clear reason to change it.
Click Install and wait for the setup to copy the program files to your PC.
Click Finish to close the wizard when the installation is complete.
Open a terminal, such as Windows Terminal, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.
Type pandoc --version and press Enter. You should see version 3.13 and a list of the formats Pandoc supports.
If you want PDF output, install a LaTeX engine such as MiKTeX, as explained in the official Pandoc documentation.
Try your first conversion, as described in the next section.

You can also install Pandoc with a package manager, if you prefer. In PowerShell or Command Prompt, you can use winget install --source winget --exact --id JohnMacFarlane.Pandoc, or with Chocolatey, choco install pandoc. Use only one install method, so you do not end up with two separate installations of Pandoc on the same PC.

6. Getting Started: Your First Conversion with Pandoc

After installation, try a simple conversion so you can see how Pandoc works. Create a small Markdown file, for example called test.md, with a heading, a paragraph, and a list. Then open a terminal in the folder that contains the file, and type pandoc test.md -o test.html to turn it into a web page, or pandoc test.md -o test.docx to turn it into a Word document. Open the output file and check that the heading, paragraph, and list look correct. To make a PDF, first install MiKTeX, then type pandoc test.md -o test.pdf. If the PDF step fails, check that MiKTeX is installed and that Pandoc can find it, because PDF output needs a LaTeX engine. Once the basic conversion works, try converting a real document, and read the official Pandoc manual for the many options that control the output.

7. Is Pandoc Really Free?

Yes. Pandoc is free, open-source software, released under the GPL, and it costs $0. There is no paid version, and there is no trial, because the full program is free for everyone to use. You can download it, use it for personal, academic, or commercial work, and share it, under the terms of the GPL. The project is maintained by its author and contributors, and the official website offers documentation, a manual, and a user guide at no cost. If you find Pandoc useful, the official site explains how you can support the project, but support is voluntary and is not needed to use the software. Be careful with any site that asks you to pay for Pandoc, because the genuine program is free, and you should always download it from pandoc.org or the linked GitHub releases.

8. Tips and Best Practices for Pandoc

Start with small files, and check the output before you convert a long document. Keep your source files in a clear folder, and use the same file names for the input and output, with different extensions, so you can find them easily. Learn the basic command pattern, pandoc input -o output, and then add one option at a time, such as a table of contents or a citation file. Save the commands that work well, so you can reuse them later, and keep a copy of your original files, because conversion is a one-way process in practice. For PDF output, install MiKTeX before you need it, and test a short document first, because a LaTeX installation can take time. Finally, read the official Pandoc manual when you need a new format or feature, because it documents every option, and it is the best source for accurate, up-to-date help.

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pandoc free?
Yes. Pandoc is free, open-source software under the GPL, costs $0, and has no paid version.

What is the latest version of Pandoc?
Version 3.13 is the current version covered in this guide.

Does Pandoc work on Windows 11?
Yes. Pandoc runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11, as well as macOS and Linux.

What is the Windows installer file called?
The Windows installer is windows-x86_64.msi, available from the GitHub releases linked on the official Pandoc installing page.

Can I install Pandoc with winget or Chocolatey?
Yes. You can use winget or Chocolatey, but use only one install method, so you do not end up with two separate installations.

Why do I need MiKTeX for PDF output?
Pandoc creates PDFs using a LaTeX engine, so you need to install one, such as MiKTeX, before PDF output will work.

Does Pandoc have a graphical interface?
No. Pandoc is a command-line tool. You run it from a terminal, with a command such as pandoc input.md -o output.docx.

Can Pandoc convert Word documents to Markdown?
Yes. Pandoc can read Word documents and write Markdown, as well as converting in the other direction.

10. Conclusion

Pandoc is a free, open-source universal document converter that does one job very well: turning documents from one format into another. Version 3.13 costs $0 under the GPL, runs on Windows 10 and 11, and can be installed with the windows-x86_64.msi installer from the official Pandoc page, or with winget or Chocolatey. Remember that PDF output needs a LaTeX engine such as MiKTeX. Download it only from the official Pandoc installing page, follow the step-by-step installation above, and try a small Markdown-to-Word conversion first. Once that works, Pandoc can save you a great deal of time whenever a document needs to change format.

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