> ## 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.

# Frequently asked questions

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## Downloading

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do I get previous versions of Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda?">
    You can download previous versions of Anaconda Distribution from the [Anaconda installer archive](https://repo.anaconda.com/archive/) and previous versions of Miniconda from the [Miniconda installer archive](https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/).

    The installation procedures for previous versions are the same as the installation for the current version. For graphical installs, double-click the downloaded installer file and follow the prompts. For command line installs, run `bash <FILENAME>.sh` and follow the prompts. See [Using older installer versions](/docs/getting-started/advanced-install/old-os) for more information.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I am behind a firewall. How can I download the installer?">
    If your corporate security settings do not allow you to download a Windows `.exe` executable file, you can download a [zipped Anaconda Distribution installer](https://repo.anaconda.com/archive/.winzip/) or a [zipped Miniconda installer](https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/.winzip/) instead.

    If you are behind a proxy, see [Using Anaconda behind a company proxy](/docs/getting-started/working-with-conda/reference/proxy) for instructions on configuring conda to work with your proxy.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Installing

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How can I install on an air-gapped computer?">
    See [Installing on an air-gapped machine](/docs/getting-started/advanced-install/air-gap) for instructions on installing Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda on a computer without internet access.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="In what folder should I install on Windows?">
    Anaconda recommends installing Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda into a directory that contains only 7-bit ASCII characters and no spaces, such as `C:\anaconda`. Do not install into paths that contain spaces such as `C:\Program Files` or that include Unicode characters outside the 7-bit ASCII character set. This helps ensure correct operation and prevents errors when using open-source tools in conda environments.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Should I add Anaconda to the Windows PATH?">
    Anaconda recommends against adding Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda to the Windows PATH because this can interfere with other software. Instead, open Anaconda with the Start Menu and select <Tooltip tip="A command-line application included with Windows installations of Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda. Find it by searching 'Anaconda Prompt' in the Windows Start menu.">Anaconda Prompt</Tooltip>.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Should I add Anaconda to the macOS or Linux PATH?">
    Anaconda recommends against adding Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda to the PATH manually. During installation, the installer asks if you want it to initialize conda by running `conda init`. Anaconda recommends entering `yes`.

    If you enter `no`, conda will not modify your shell scripts. To initialize conda after installation, run:

    ```sh theme={null}
    source <PATH_TO_CONDA>/bin/activate && conda init
    ```

    <Comments>
      Replace \<PATH\_TO\_CONDA> with the path to your Anaconda or Miniconda installation directory, such as `~/anaconda3` or `/opt/anaconda3`.
    </Comments>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is the default installation path?">
    If you accept the default option during installation, the installer uses the following paths:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Anaconda Distribution">
        * **Windows**: `C:\Users\<YOUR_USERNAME>\Anaconda3\`
        * **macOS (graphical)**: `/opt/anaconda3`
        * **macOS (shell)**: `/Users/<YOUR_USERNAME>/anaconda3`
        * **Linux**: `/home/<YOUR_USERNAME>/anaconda3`
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Miniconda">
        * **Windows**: `C:\Users\<YOUR_USERNAME>\Miniconda3\`
        * **macOS (graphical)**: `/opt/miniconda3`
        * **macOS (shell)**: `/Users/<YOUR_USERNAME>/miniconda3`
        * **Linux**: `/home/<YOUR_USERNAME>/miniconda3`
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    See the [installation instructions](/docs/getting-started/installation) for details.

    <Warning>
      If your username includes spaces, as is common on Windows systems, you should not use the default path. See [In what folder should I install on Windows?](#in-what-folder-should-i-install-on-windows).
    </Warning>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I already have Python installed. Can I still install?">
    Yes. You do not need to uninstall other Python installations or packages before installing Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda. Even if you already have a system Python, another Python installation from a source such as Homebrew, and globally installed pip packages, you do not need to uninstall, remove, or change any of them.

    Install Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda normally. There is no need to set the `PYTHONPATH` environment variable. Conda manages its own Python installation and environments independently from other Python installations on your system.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How can I install on a Windows Arm device?">
    See [Migrating from win-64 to win-arm64 architecture](/docs/getting-started/working-with-conda/windows-arm-info) for instructions on installing and running Miniconda on Windows Arm devices. Anaconda does not currently support Anaconda Distribution on Arm devices.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How can I install on an Intel Mac?">
    Recent versions of Anaconda Distribution do not include Intel Mac (osx-64) support. To install on an Intel Mac, download a version that provides an osx-64 installer from the [Anaconda installer archive](https://repo.anaconda.com/archive/). For more information, see [Using older installer versions](/docs/getting-started/advanced-install/old-os).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How can I install on older systems?">
    See [Using older installer versions](/docs/getting-started/advanced-install/old-os).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## General

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do I cite Anaconda in an academic paper?">
    To cite Anaconda in an academic paper, use the citation format that follows your institutional guidelines and update the version number and date to reflect the version you used.

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="MLA ninth edition example">
        *Anaconda Software Distribution*. Version 2026.07-1, Anaconda, Inc., 2026, [anaconda.com](https://anaconda.com).
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="APA seventh edition example">
        Anaconda, Inc. (2026). *Anaconda Software Distribution* (Version 2026.07-1) \[Computer software]. [https://anaconda.com](https://anaconda.com)
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>