IronPDF Advanced Installation
As of IronPDF Release v2022.1 and above, users have some advanced tools to install IronPDF for specific platforms.
Instead of installing the IronPDF NuGet Package, we can search NuGet for other IronPDF packages specific to our use case. The API remains the same, but they deploy differently.
Interestingly, even if we load a specific package such as IronPdf.Linux for a Linux-optimized deployment, you can still develop for it on your normal OS such as Windows with Visual Studio!
IronPdf NuGet Package
Most commonly used. Configured to get you up and running in Visual Studio as quickly as possible. Suitable for most projects.
- Contains IronPdf.Slim
- Contains Windows-specific dependencies for Chrome (default) renderer
- Default package which will download Windows-specific dependencies at runtime
- Defaults to Chrome renderer
- Supports ALL platforms, but Windows platform will work without any additional downloads
- Useful for Windows users or default users
- OK TO USE ON ALL PLATFORMS
IronPdf.Slim NuGet Package
Ideal for the smallest disk footprint or applications which may be distributed to many different operating system targets. The precise Chromium / WebKit rendering engine for your application will be downloaded on demand at runtime on the target machine.
PM > Install-Package IronPdf.Slim
- ALL other packages reference this package
- Contains the actual IronPdf.dll
- Does NOT include Windows, Linux, or macOS specific dependencies
- Windows, Linux, or macOS dependencies will be downloaded at run-time
- Defaults to Chrome renderer on all platforms unless otherwise specified
- Useful for cross-platform solutions which want to download platform-specific dependencies at run-time
- Supports ALL platforms, but platform-specific dependencies will be downloaded the first time the program is run
- Requires internet access and disk access at runtime if used stand-alone.
- Requires the installation of the IronSoftware.Native.PdfModel package.
- Useful for highly portable applications where the target platform is unknown
IronPdf.Linux NuGet Package
Ideal for Deploying IronPdf on Linux. Designed with the cloud in mind. Works very well for AWS & Lambda, Azure Functions and WebApps in Linux mode.
PM > Install-Package IronPdf.Linux
- Contains IronPdf.Slim
- Contains Linux-specific dependencies for Chrome (default) renderer
- Defaults to Chrome renderer
- Supports ALL platforms, but Linux platform will work without any additional downloads
- Useful for Linux power-users, specifically docker and cloud users
IronPdf.MacOs & IronPdf.MacOs.ARM NuGet Packages
NuGet Packages available for specific deployments for IronPdf Compatibility on macOS
PM > Install-Package IronPdf.MacOs
PM > Install-Package IronPdf.MacOs.ARM
- Contains IronPdf.Slim
- Contains Mac-specific dependencies for Chrome (default) renderer
- Defaults to Chrome renderer
- Useful for macOS developers
IronPdf.UpdatedChrome NuGet Package
Users who want to use the latest compatible version of Chromium should install the following package. These are especially useful for those who need support for the most recent Chromium updates.
Please note
PM > Install-Package IronPdf.UpdatedChrome
- contains IronPdf.Slim
- contains IronSoftware.Native.Model
- contains IronPdf.Native.UpdatedChrome.Windows
- New settings and security updates.
- May have a compatibility issues.
- SingleProcess is not available.
- Windows Server 2012 is not supported.
- 32-bit processes are no longer supported.
IronPdf.UpdatedChrome.Linux NuGet Package
Users who want to use the latest compatible version of Chromium should install the following package. These are especially useful for those who need support for the most recent Chromium updates.
Please note
PM > Install-Package IronPdf.UpdatedChrome.Linux
- contains IronPdf.Slim
- contains IronSoftware.Native.Model
- contains IronPdf.Native.UpdatedChrome.Linux
- New settings and security updates.
- May have a compatibility issues.
- SingleProcess is not available.
- 32-bit processes are no longer supported.
IronPdf.UpdatedChrome.MacOs & IronPdf.UpdatedChrome.MacOs.ARM NuGet Package
Users who want to use the latest compatible version of Chromium should install the following packages. These are especially useful for those who need support for the most recent Chromium updates.
Please note
PM > Install-Package IronPdf.UpdatedChrome.MacOs
PM > Install-Package IronPdf.UpdatedChrome.MacOs.ARM
- contains IronPdf.Slim
- contains IronSoftware.Native.Model
- contains IronPdf.Native.UpdatedChrome.MacOS or contains IronPdf.Native.UpdatedChrome.MacOS.ARM
- New settings and security updates.
- May have a compatibility issues.
- SingleProcess is not available.
- 32-bit processes are no longer supported.
IronPdf.Classic NuGet Package
Useful for Legacy customers using IronPDF before August 2021 who wish their existing HtmlToPdf rendering to go unchanged. Uses our 2020-2021 WebKit renderer.
PM > Install-Package IronPdf.Classic
- Contains IronPdf.Slim and IronPdf.Native.WebKit.
- Contains Windows, Linux, and Mac dependencies for the (legacy) WebKit "HTML to PDF" renderer
- Will use legacy WebKit renderer by default
If you would like to use the newer version of Chromium, please refer to the following troubleshooting article: IronPdf.Native.UpdatedChrome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the main NuGet Package for PDF generation?
The IronPdf NuGet Package is configured to get you up and running in Visual Studio quickly and is suitable for most projects. It supports all platforms but is optimized for Windows, allowing it to work without additional downloads.
What are the benefits of using a NuGet Package designed for a small disk footprint?
The IronPdf.Slim NuGet Package is ideal for applications with a small disk footprint or those distributed to different operating systems. It supports all platforms and downloads platform-specific dependencies at runtime, making it suitable for highly portable applications.
How does a Linux-optimized NuGet Package differ from others?
The IronPdf.Linux NuGet Package contains Linux-specific dependencies for the Chrome renderer and is designed with cloud deployment in mind. It works well for AWS, Azure Functions, and WebApps in Linux mode, supporting all platforms but optimized for Linux.
Who should use the MacOS-specific NuGet Packages for PDF generation?
These packages are suitable for macOS developers, containing Mac-specific dependencies for the Chrome renderer. They are tailored for specific deployments on macOS, including ARM architecture.
Why would someone choose a legacy NuGet Package for PDF rendering?
The IronPdf.Classic NuGet Package is useful for legacy customers who used IronPDF before August 2021 and want their existing HTML to PDF rendering to remain unchanged. It uses the legacy WebKit renderer by default.
Can PDF generation packages be used across different operating systems?
Yes, IronPdf packages can be used across different operating systems. They support all platforms, and some packages like IronPdf.Slim and IronPdf.Linux are specifically designed to work well in cross-platform environments.
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