> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://anaconda.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Using the main-x channel

export const TroubleshootSolution = ({children}) => <>
    <hr className="my-3 w-full" />
    <details className="mt-3">
      <summary className="cursor-pointer font-semibold text-base mb-1">
        Solution
      </summary>
      <div className="mt-2 ml-4" data-component-part="step-content">
        {children}
      </div>
    </details>
  </>;

export const TroubleshootCause = ({children}) => <details className="mt-3 mb-2">
    <summary className="cursor-pointer font-semibold text-base mb-1">
      Cause
    </summary>
    <div className="mt-2 ml-4" data-component-part="step-content">
      {children}
    </div>
  </details>;

export const TroubleshootTitle = ({children}) => <>
    <p className="m-0 font-semibold text-xl leading-tight mb-2" role="heading" aria-level={3}>
      {children}
    </p>
    <hr className="my-3 w-full" />
  </>;

export const Troubleshoot = ({children}) => <div className="callout my-4 px-5 py-4 overflow-hidden rounded-2xl flex gap-3 border troubleshoot-admonition dark:troubleshoot-admonition" data-callout-type="troubleshoot">
    <div className="mt-0.5 w-4">
      <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 640 640" fill="currentColor" className="w-4 h-4" aria-label="Troubleshoot">
        <path d="M541.4 162.6C549 155 561.7 156.9 565.5 166.9C572.3 184.6 576 203.9 576 224C576 312.4 504.4 384 416 384C398.5 384 381.6 381.2 365.8 376L178.9 562.9C150.8 591 105.2 591 77.1 562.9C49 534.8 49 489.2 77.1 461.1L264 274.2C258.8 258.4 256 241.6 256 224C256 135.6 327.6 64 416 64C436.1 64 455.4 67.7 473.1 74.5C483.1 78.3 484.9 91 477.4 98.6L388.7 187.3C385.7 190.3 384 194.4 384 198.6L384 240C384 248.8 391.2 256 400 256L441.4 256C445.6 256 449.7 254.3 452.7 251.3L541.4 162.6z" />
      </svg>
    </div>
    <div className="prose min-w-0 w-full">{children}</div>
  </div>;

export const Comments = ({children}) => {
  return <div class="my-4 px-5 py-4 overflow-hidden rounded-2xl flex gap-3 border border-zinc-500/20 bg-zinc-50/50 dark:border-zinc-500/30 dark:bg-zinc-500/10" data-callout-type="comments">
      <div class="w-4">
        <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 640 640" fill="currentColor" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="w-5 h-5" aria-label="Comments">
            <path d="M320 112C434.9 112 528 205.1 528 320C528 434.9 434.9 528 320 528C205.1 528 112 434.9 112 320C112 205.1 205.1 112 320 112zM320 576C461.4 576 576 461.4 576 320C576 178.6 461.4 64 320 64C178.6 64 64 178.6 64 320C64 461.4 178.6 576 320 576zM280 400C266.7 400 256 410.7 256 424C256 437.3 266.7 448 280 448L360 448C373.3 448 384 437.3 384 424C384 410.7 373.3 400 360 400L352 400L352 312C352 298.7 341.3 288 328 288L280 288C266.7 288 256 298.7 256 312C256 325.3 266.7 336 280 336L304 336L304 400L280 400zM320 256C337.7 256 352 241.7 352 224C352 206.3 337.7 192 320 192C302.3 192 288 206.3 288 224C288 241.7 302.3 256 320 256z" />
        </svg>
      </div>
      <div class="text-sm prose min-w-0 w-full">
        {children}
      </div>
    </div>;
};

<Note>
  This channel is in Beta access and requires authentication. For more information, see our [Terms of Service](https://www.anaconda.com/legal/terms/terms-of-service).
</Note>

`main-x` is a new, Anaconda-hosted channel containing \~6,000 new conda packages built by Anaconda. It is intended to be used alongside our existing `main` channel, not replace it.

The `main-x` channel is available to all registered users of Anaconda. Access to `main-x` is different depending on your product or access tier.

## Free users

Free users can access `main-x` by registering for an Anaconda account and adding the channel to their conda configuration.

1. [Create a free account at anaconda.com](https://auth.anaconda.com/ui/registration/7dc50201-417b-43ce-a64d-2e41df2afb9e), if you don't already have one.

2. [Download and install Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda](https://www.anaconda.com/download/success).

3. Update `anaconda-auth` to the latest version:

   ```sh theme={null}
   conda update --name base anaconda-auth
   ```

4. Open [Anaconda Prompt](/reference/glossary#anaconda-prompt) (Terminal on macOS/Linux) and log into your Anaconda account in your `base` environment:

   ```bash theme={null}
   anaconda login
   ```

5. Complete the log in process using the browser window that opens. Once logged in, close your browser tab and return to your terminal.

6. Add the `main-x` channel to your conda configuration:

   ```bash theme={null}
   conda config --append channels https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main-x
   ```

   <Note>
     The `--append` flag adds the channel to the bottom of your `channels:` list, giving it low priority when conda is searching for packages. To add the channel to the top of your `channels:` list, giving it high priority, use the `--add` flag instead.
   </Note>

7. Verify the channel was added:

   ```bash theme={null}
   conda info
   ```

   Confirm `main-x` appears in the listed channels. You should see something like this:

   ```txt highlight={19-22} theme={null}
           active environment : base
          active env location : /Users/annieconda/miniconda3
                  shell level : 1
             user config file : /Users/annieconda/.condarc
       populated config files : /Users/annieconda/miniconda3/.condarc
                                /Users/annieconda/miniconda3/condarc.d/anaconda-auth.yml
                                /Users/annieconda/.condarc
                conda version : 26.3.1
          conda-build version : 26.3.0
               python version : 3.13.12.final.0
                       solver : libmamba (default)
             virtual packages : __archspec=1=m1
                                __conda=26.3.1=0
                                __osx=26.3.1=0
                                __unix=0=0
             base environment : /Users/annieconda/miniconda3  (writable)
            conda av data dir : /Users/annieconda/miniconda3/etc/conda
        conda av metadata url : None
                 channel URLs : https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main/osx-arm64
                                https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main/noarch
                                https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main-x/noarch
                package cache : /Users/annieconda/miniconda3/pkgs
                                /Users/annieconda/.conda/pkgs
             envs directories : /Users/annieconda/miniconda3/envs
                                /Users/annieconda/.conda/envs

   ```

8. Install a package from `main-x` to confirm everything is working:

   <Note>
     Browse packages on `main-x` at [https://anaconda.org/channels/main-x](https://anaconda.org/channels/main-x).
   </Note>

   ```bash theme={null}
   conda install <PACKAGE_NAME>
   ```

   <Comments>
     Replace \<PACKAGE\_NAME> with the name of the package you want to install.
   </Comments>

## Anaconda Platform (Cloud) users

Anaconda Platform (Cloud) users can access `main-x` by adding the channel to their conda configuration.

For more information on using the `main-x` channel in Anaconda Platform (Cloud), see the following pages:

* [Channel management](/anaconda-platform/cloud/admin/channels#channel-types)
* [Using your organization's channels](/anaconda-platform/cloud/user/channels)

## Anaconda Platform (Self-Hosted)/Package Security Manager (On-prem) users

Site admins for Anaconda Platform (Self-Hosted) and Package Security Manager (On-prem) must manually mirror `main-x` into their Anaconda Platform (Self-Hosted) or Package Security Manager (On-prem) instance. Then each user can manually update their conda configuration to use the mirrored channel.

For more information on using the `main-x` channel in Anaconda Platform (Self-Hosted) and Package Security Manager (On-prem), see the following pages:

* Anaconda Platform (Self-Hosted): [Mirrors](/anaconda-platform/self-hosted/latest/user/mirrors#conda-external-source-url)
* Anaconda Platform (Self-Hosted): [Adding a channel to your .condarc file](/anaconda-platform/self-hosted/latest/user/channel#adding-a-channel-to-your-condarc-file)
* Package Security Manager (On-prem): [Mirrors](/psm/on-prem/6.8.0/admin/mirrors#conda-external-source-url)

## Known limitations

* `main-x` includes \~6,000 packages (pure Python only) that extend what's available in the `main` channel. `main-x` does not include every package in the PyPI or conda-forge catalog.
* There is no automated `.condarc` setup. Users must manually add `main-x` to their `.condarc` file.
* Packages in `main-x` do not yet have CVE or SBOM metadata available, but we are aiming to have these capabilities as we build towards General Availability.
* Service accounts for accessing the `main-x` channel are not available.

## Support

### Package requests

Anaconda is actively tracking gaps to inform how to expand its package distribution. If you need a package that isn't in `main-x`, create a post on Anaconda's [Canny board](https://anaconda.canny.io/packages-installers) under **Packages & Installers**. When creating post, include the following:

* The package name and version you need
* Details about your operating system and platform (for example, Windows 11, macOS Sonoma on Apple Silicon, Ubuntu 22.04).
* (Optional) A description of your use case

### Technical support

For technical issues, bugs, or questions about using `main-x`, [submit a support request](https://support.anaconda.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=360000993773). When submitting a request, include the following:

* A description of the issue or question
* The command(s) you ran and the full error message (if applicable)
* Your operating system and platform (for example, Windows 11, macOS Sonoma on Apple Silicon, Ubuntu 22.04)
* Your conda version

<Accordion title="How do I find my conda version?">
  Open [Anaconda Prompt](/reference/glossary#anaconda-prompt) (Terminal on macOS/Linux) and run the following:

  ```bash theme={null}
  conda --version
  ```
</Accordion>

Our support team will triage your request and send it to the appropriate team.

## FAQ

### How are the packages in main-x different from the packages in `main`?

The `main-x` channel extends `main` with approximately 6,000 additional conda packages built by Anaconda. It is designed to be used alongside `main`.

Additionally, `main-x` also currently does not offer CVE information or SBOMs for the packages it contains. We're working on these capabilities as we build towards General Availability (GA).

### When will main-x be GA?

We are aiming to move `main-x` into GA in Q3 2026, though this timeline is subject to change.

### Should I use main-x packages in production environments?

We do not recommend `main-x` packages be used in production environments while it's in Beta.

## Troubleshooting

<Troubleshoot>
  <TroubleshootTitle>
    ### `AnacondaAuthError` when running `conda install` with `main-x`
  </TroubleshootTitle>

  <TroubleshootCause>
    Versions of `anaconda-auth` older than 0.14.4 incorrectly required a business plan token to install packages from `main-x`.
  </TroubleshootCause>

  <TroubleshootSolution>
    1. Open [Anaconda Prompt](/reference/glossary#anaconda-prompt) (Terminal on macOS/Linux).
    2. Update `anaconda-auth` to the latest version:

       ```sh theme={null}
       conda update --name base anaconda-auth
       ```
  </TroubleshootSolution>
</Troubleshoot>

<Troubleshoot>
  <TroubleshootTitle>
    ### Error while loading conda entry point: conda-env-log
  </TroubleshootTitle>

  <TroubleshootCause>
    The `anaconda-env-log` package, used for environment logging, currently imports `is_conda_environment` from `conda.gateways.disk.test`. This was changed to `is_environment` in conda 26.3.0, so users with a conda version of 26.3.0 or later will see `Error while loading conda entry point: conda-env-log` after every conda command.

    This is a known issue and will be fixed in a subsequent release.
  </TroubleshootCause>

  <TroubleshootSolution>
    The workaround for this issue is to downgrade your conda version to 26.1.1.

    ```sh theme={null}
    conda install --name base conda=26.1.1
    ```

    To prevent conda from being upgraded again before the fix is released, you can also pin the version to your `base` environment's pinned file:

    1. Navigate to `<CONDA_INSTALL_FOLDER>/conda-meta`.

           <Note>
             Your conda install folder is typically in file locations like:

             * `C:\Users\<USERNAME>\anaconda3`
             * `~/anaconda3`
             * `/opt/anaconda3`

             You can also replace `anaconda3` with `miniconda3` in any of these paths.
           </Note>

    2. Locate the `pinned` file in your `conda-meta` folder or create a new file named `pinned` if it doesn't exist. The `pinned` file has no extension.

    3. Add `conda==26.1.1` to the pinned file.

    Once the fix is available, remove this pin and update conda.
  </TroubleshootSolution>
</Troubleshoot>