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I am trying to install packages from the MiKTeX console. I keep getting an error that "Couldn't connect to server."
I then went to "Packages" and tried to change the repository from "a random package repository on the Internet," but it does not load and other repositories. It just says, "Couldn't connect to server."
However, my internet is working. Any idea what is going on?
If you want to install packages from a local repository, you can download the packages you're interested in from CTAN, more precisely from this directory:
https://ctan.org/tex-archive/systems/win32/miktex/tm/packages
add the four files: pr.ini, miktex-zzdb1-2.9.tar.lzma, miktex-zzdb2-2.9.tar.lzma and files.csv.lzma and install them in a directory on your system. Then, choose to install from a local repository, and declare the installation directory as your local repository.
I have just updated 4 packages (no problem) even though main repository is down so lets try to discount the other common causes
If you are a paid administrator of a LAN then you need to use the network install.
If you're household guru or a single user you are best to go for the simplest install.
If you use the admin install and are one user you will have twice the headaches. If you build and download your own repository you will have double the work maintaining it and the installed copy. If you have two or more users you may wish to install per user, however if they do their own updates you have twice or more times the headaches.
If you are the main user and can trust others on your home network to share a common updatable engine with separate personal data and roots then consider this approach.
If you have a previous bad install go to MiKTeX console and run clean-up (reset and or uninstall).
Download the MiKTeX 32 bit portable basic install to a single root directory, that one or all users can share. Make sure the directory has no spaces punctuation or accents, since these are common causes of older packages stumbling. I would suggest c:\MiKTeX since it short simple and descriptive. Before installing, add that directory to your antivirus exclusion list (win-defender etc. you can always scan it before first run). Ensure you set inheritable user rights to suit all users, then there will be no user rights issues later.
The only different requirement to a system install is building user shortcuts to MiKTeX-console.exe or the included MiKTeX-portable.cmd and adding the c:\miktex\texmfs\install\miktex\bin folder to the system environment path. Every basic function including TeXworks can be used from Console, if you don't want others to mess with that, then just give them a shortcut to TeXworks or their own choice of editor with auto download of packages set in the MiKTeX-console. If this causes any problems later you can easily switch to "always".
Thus no need to do anything twice (yolo) other than keep regular differential (or full) backups in case it gets disturbed.
IF you are having problems installing packages you can check here for latest issues
If you are using a different editor or viewer always test if you have the same problems with using TeXworks if you don't it indicates a problem with the other editor / viewer.
Maybe your connection settings have issues. Go to MiKTeX Console > Settings. Under the heading Package installation, change the package installation settings by clicking on Change..., then Connection Settings.... Therein, change your proxy settings according to your present connection settings. This helped in my case.
