> ## 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.

# Protected base installers

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The protected base installer is a new Miniconda installer that protects your base conda environment from destructive changes. Many users inadvertently break their conda installation by installing all packages directly into the base environment, leading to dependency conflicts that are difficult to resolve without fully uninstalling and reinstalling. The protected base installer solves this by making base read-only and providing a default working environment for everyday use.

## What's different about this installer?

The protected base installer introduces two key changes:

* **Protected base environment**: The base environment is frozen and cannot be modified by `conda install`, `pip install`, or other package manager install commands. This prevents accidental breakage of your conda installation.
* **Default working environment**: Instead of activating `base` by default, the installer creates and activates a working environment, called `python-<VERSION>` (where `<VERSION>` is the installer's default version of Python), for your day-to-day package installations.
* **Different default install directory**: Your install directory is `miniconda3_pbe` instead of `miniconda3`.

<Tip>
  Anaconda strongly recommends creating a separate environment for each project to keep your dependencies isolated and your projects reproducible. For more information, see [Why should I create a new environment](/docs/getting-started/concepts/what-is-an-environment#why-should-i-create-a-new-environment).
</Tip>

## Installing Miniconda with Protected Base Environment

If you do not have a current conda installation and want to try the protected base installer, download the installer for your platform below, then follow the standard Miniconda install instructions as a guide.

<Warning>
  The protected base environment version of conda is not currently compatible with Anaconda Navigator or Anaconda Desktop. Use conda on the command line only if trying the protected base environment installer.
</Warning>

Choose your operating system and preferred installer type below:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Windows graphical">
    1. Navigate to [anaconda.com/download](https://www.anaconda.com/download), register with Anaconda, and then select <Icon icon="arrow-down-to-line" iconType="regular" /> **Windows 64-bit Graphical Installer** under Miniconda with Protected Base Environment in Beta Installers.
    2. Continue with the [Miniconda Windows graphical installer](/docs/getting-started/miniconda/install/windows-gui-install) instructions, skipping the download step.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Windows CLI">
    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Command Prompt">
        Open a Command Prompt window and run the following command:

        ```sh theme={null}
        curl https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/beta/Miniconda3-PBE-26.5.3.beta0-2-Windows-x86_64.exe --output .\Miniconda3-PBE-26.5.3.beta0-2-Windows-x86_64.exe
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="PowerShell">
        <Note>
          These commands work best with default PowerShell.
        </Note>

        Open a PowerShell window and run the following command:

        ```powershell theme={null}
        Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/beta/Miniconda3-PBE-26.5.3.beta0-2-Windows-x86_64.exe" -OutFile ".\Miniconda3-PBE-26.5.3.beta0-2-Windows-x86_64.exe"
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    Continue with the [Miniconda Windows shell installer](/docs/getting-started/miniconda/install/windows-cli-install) instructions, skipping the download step.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="macOS graphical">
    1. Navigate to [anaconda.com/download](https://www.anaconda.com/download), register with Anaconda, and then select <Icon icon="arrow-down-to-line" iconType="regular" /> **64-Bit (Apple silicon) Graphical Installer** under Miniconda with Protected Base Environment in Beta Installers.
    2. Continue with the [Miniconda macOS graphical installer](/docs/getting-started/miniconda/install/mac-gui-install) instructions, skipping the download step.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="macOS CLI">
    1. Open a terminal and run the following command:

       ```sh theme={null}
       curl -O https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/beta/Miniconda3-PBE-26.5.3.beta0-2-MacOSX-arm64.sh
       ```

    2. Continue with the [Miniconda macOS terminal installer](/docs/getting-started/miniconda/install/mac-cli-install) instructions, skipping the download step.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Linux CLI">
    1. Open a terminal and run the following command, depending on your architecture:

           <CodeGroup>
             ```sh Linux x86 theme={null}
             curl -O https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/beta/Miniconda3-PBE-26.5.3.beta0-2-Linux-x86_64.sh
             ```

             ```sh AWS Graviton2/ARM64 theme={null}
             curl -O https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/beta/Miniconda3-PBE-26.5.3.beta0-2-Linux-aarch64.sh
             ```
           </CodeGroup>

    2. Continue with the [Miniconda Linux installer](/docs/getting-started/miniconda/install/linux-install) instructions, skipping the download step.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Managing conda and plugins

Because the base environment is protected, you cannot update conda or install plugins using the standard `conda install` command. Instead, use the `conda self` command to manage packages in the base environment:

### Update your conda installation

```sh theme={null}
conda self update
```

### Update conda and all conda plugins

```sh theme={null}
conda self update --all
```

### Install a package into your base environment

<Warning>
  This is only recommended for conda plugins or other packages that specifically modify conda. For more information on conda plugins, see [Plugins](https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/stable/user-guide/concepts/conda-plugins.html) in the official conda documentation.
</Warning>

<CodeGroup>
  ```sh Command theme={null}
  conda self install <PLUGIN>
  ```

  ```sh Example theme={null}
  conda self install conda-pack
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<Comments>
  Replace \<PLUGIN> with the conda plugin you want to install.
</Comments>

### Remove a package from your base environment

<CodeGroup>
  ```sh Command theme={null}
  conda self remove <PLUGIN>
  ```

  ```sh Example theme={null}
  conda self remove conda-pack
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<Comments>
  Replace \<PLUGIN> with the conda plugin you want to remove.
</Comments>

### More commands

For a full list of available commands, run:

```sh theme={null}
conda self --help
```

For more information, see the [conda-self documentation](https://github.com/conda/conda-self).

## Override options

<Warning>
  The following options bypass the protected base safeguards and are **not recommended** for regular use. Using them can lead to the same dependency conflicts and broken installations that the protected base feature prevents.
</Warning>

In rare cases where you must modify the base environment directly, the following override flags are available:

### Override for conda

Use `--override-frozen` to bypass the frozen base protection when running conda commands:

```sh theme={null}
conda install --override-frozen <PACKAGE>
```

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

### Override for pip and other package managers

Use `--break-system-packages` to allow pip, uv, or other PyPA package managers to install into the protected base:

```sh theme={null}
pip install --break-system-packages <PACKAGE>
```

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

## Known limitations

* Some legacy workflows that depend on installing packages directly into base might require adjustment.
* Third-party tools that assume write access to the base environment might not work without using override flags.

## Feedback and support

We want to hear about your experience with the protected base installer:

* **General feedback**: Submit feedback through the [Community Forum](https://forum.anaconda.com/c/product-help/anaconda-miniconda/13) or contact [Anaconda Support](https://support.anaconda.com/).
* **conda-self issues**: Report bugs or feature requests for the `conda self` command at [github.com/conda/conda-self](https://github.com/conda/conda-self).