> ## 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.
# Windows graphical installer
> [accordion] Using Miniconda in a commercial setting?
>
> * You might need to purchase a license to stay compliant with our [Terms of Service](https://www.anaconda.com/legal).
>
> * If your company security policies do not allow admin privileges for end users, your IT admin can deploy the MSI installer through an endpoint management tool (such as Microsoft Intune, SCCM, or Group Policy). See [Enterprise deployment](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/msi-installer-beta/enterprise-deployment.md) for details.
This page provides instructions for installing Miniconda on Windows using the MSI graphical installer.
> [!NOTE]
>
> The MSI installer is in beta. For information about differences from the standard EXE installer, see [MSI Windows installer](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/msi-installer-beta/overview). If you encounter issues or have feedback, post to the [Community Forum](https://forum.anaconda.com/c/product-help/anaconda-miniconda/13) or contact [Anaconda Support](https://support.anaconda.com/).
## Installation steps
1. Navigate to [anaconda.com/download](https://www.anaconda.com/download).
2. Scroll down and click **Download Miniconda**.
3. Select one of the following MSI installers under Miniconda:
* **64-bit (x86\_64) .msi installer**: For standard Windows PCs with Intel or AMD processors. Choose this if you are unsure which installer to use.
* **64-bit (Arm64) .msi installer**: For Windows PCs with Arm-based processors, such as devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips or other Windows on Arm hardware.
4. Go to your Downloads folder and double-click the `.msi` file to launch the installer.
5. Click **Next** to begin the installation.
6. Read through [Miniconda's End User License Agreement (EULA)](https://www.anaconda.com/legal/terms/miniconda) and accept the terms.
7. Click **Next** and select an installation scope:
- Install just for you (Recommended)
- Install Miniconda for the current user account. Does not require Administrator privileges.
- Install for all users of this machine
- Install Miniconda for all user accounts on the computer (requires Administrator privileges).
8. Click **Next** and select a destination folder. The default installation path is `C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Programs\Miniconda3-PBE `, where `` is the version of conda installed. You can change the destination folder by clicking **Change** and selecting a different folder.
> [!WARNING]
>
> Anaconda recommends installing Miniconda in a directory with no spaces or special characters to avoid potential compatibility issues with open-source tools.
9. Click **Next** and customize your installation options:
- Create shortcuts
- Selected by default. Creates Start Menu shortcuts for the Anaconda Prompt packages. Deselecting this option skips creating these shortcuts.
- Add installation to my PATH environment variable (single-user installs only)
-
Adds conda to your PATH environment variable.
> [!WARNING]
>
> Anaconda **does not** recommend selecting this option. Adding conda directories to your PATH can lead to conflicts with other applications. Instead, use the Command Prompt and PowerShell shortcuts added to the Windows Start Menu.
- Register as my default Python
- Registers the Python package in this install as the default Python for programs like VSCode, PyCharm, and so on.
- Clear the package cache upon completion
- Cleans up downloaded package files after installation to save disk space.
10. Click **Next**, then **Install** to begin the installation. The installation might take a few minutes to complete.
11. When the installation finishes, click **Finish** to close the installer.
## Verify your install
Verify your installation was successful by opening Anaconda Prompt (A command-line application included with Windows installations of Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda. Find it by searching 'Anaconda Prompt' in the Windows Start menu.), a command-line shell application that is included with conda installations for Windows.
To open Anaconda Prompt, type "Anaconda Prompt" in the Windows search bar, then select the application.
Your Anaconda Prompt (A command-line application included with Windows installations of Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda. Find it by searching 'Anaconda Prompt' in the Windows Start menu.) window displays something like the following, with your base environment activated by default:
```sh theme={null}
(base) C:\Users\myusername>
```
## Choose how you want to work with conda
Anaconda Navigator provides a graphical user interface (GUI) to interface with conda (An open-source package and environment manager that installs, updates, and removes packages with their dependencies in isolated environments, allowing multiple versions of the same software without conflicts.), without using the command line.
If you prefer working at the command line, you can interface with conda directly through Anaconda Prompt (A command-line application included with Windows installations of Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda. Find it by searching 'Anaconda Prompt' in the Windows Start menu.) (Windows) or your system's terminal (macOS and Linux) after you complete your installation.
> [!NOTE]
>
> Anaconda Navigator is not included with Miniconda. Follow the instructions on [Installing Navigator](https://anaconda.com/docs/legacy/anaconda-navigator/install.md) to manually install Navigator onto your computer.
> [card] [Get started with Navigator](https://anaconda.com/docs/legacy/anaconda-navigator/getting-started.md)
>
> Beginner
>
> Manage packages and environments with a desktop application
> [card] [Work with conda](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/working-with-conda/main.md)
>
> Use command-line tools for package and environment management