> ## 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

## Getting Anaconda

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

    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. The installer filenames and hashes for previous versions will be different.

    Older versions of packages can usually be downloaded from the [package repository](https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/) or from [https://anaconda.org/anaconda/PackageName](https://anaconda.org/anaconda/PackageName).

    <Note>
      Replace `PackageName` with the name of the desired package.
    </Note>

    EXAMPLE: At [https://anaconda.org/anaconda/beautifulsoup4](https://anaconda.org/anaconda/beautifulsoup4), previous versions of beautifulsoup4 are shown on the **Files** tab.

    You can also search for packages from the command line with `conda search PackageName`.
  </Accordion>

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

## Installing Anaconda

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How can I install Anaconda on an air-gapped computer?">
    After you have the file, it's the same as any other install. Save a local copy of the appropriate Anaconda installer for the non-networked computer. You can copy the Anaconda installer using many different methods including a portable hard drive, USB drive, or CD.

    After copying the installer to the air-gapped machine, follow the installation instructions for your operating system.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="In what folder should I install Anaconda on Windows?">
    Anaconda recommends installing Anaconda 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 no errors when using any open-source tools in conda environments.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Should I add Anaconda to the Windows PATH?">
    When installing Anaconda, Anaconda recommends that you do not add Anaconda to the Windows PATH because this can interfere with other software. Instead, open Anaconda with the Start Menu and select Anaconda Prompt, or use Anaconda Navigator (Start Menu - Anaconda Navigator).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Should I add Anaconda to the macOS or Linux PATH?">
    Anaconda recommends against adding Anaconda to the PATH manually. During installation, you will be asked "Do you wish the installer to initialize Anaconda3 by running conda init?" Anaconda recommends entering `yes` to allow the installer to initialize Anaconda3. If you enter `no`, then conda will not modify your shell scripts at all. In order to initialize after the installation process is done, first run `source <path to conda>/bin/activate` and then run `conda init`.

    <Note>
      Replace `<path-to-anaconda>` with the actual path of your installed Anaconda file.
    </Note>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is the default path for installing Anaconda?">
    If you accept the default option to install Anaconda on the "default path", as of version 2024.02-1:

    * For `pkg` installers (such as `osx-64` and `osx-arm64`), Anaconda is installed in `/opt/anaconda3`.

    * For `sh` installers, Anaconda is installed in the home directory.

    Examples:

    * Windows 10: `C:\Users\<your-username>\Anaconda3\`

    * macOS: `/Users/<your-username>/anaconda3` for the shell install, `/opt/anaconda3` for the graphical install. See the [macOS install instructions](/getting-started/anaconda/install/overview).

    * Linux: `/home/<your-username>/anaconda3`

    <Warning>
      If your username includes spaces, as is common on Windows systems, you should not use the default path. See the "In what folder should I install Anaconda on Windows?" FAQ item above.
    </Warning>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I already have Python installed. Can I install Anaconda?">
    You do not need to uninstall other Python installations or packages before installing Anaconda. Even if you already have a system Python, another Python installation from a source such as the macOS Homebrew <Tooltip tip="A collection of software tools that automates the process of installing, updating, configuring, and removing packages. Also known as a package management system.">package manager</Tooltip> and globally installed packages from pip such as pandas and NumPy, you do not need to uninstall, remove, or change any of them.

    Install Anaconda or Miniconda normally. There is no need to set the PYTHONPATH environment variable.

    To see if the conda installation of Python is in your PATH variable:

    * On macOS and Linux, open the terminal and run `echo $PATH`.

    * On Windows, open Anaconda Prompt and run `echo %PATH%`.

    To see which Python installation is currently set as the default:

    * On macOS and Linux, open the terminal and run `which python`.

    * On Windows, open Anaconda Prompt and run `where python`.

    To see which packages are installed in your current <Tooltip tip="An isolated folder containing specific conda packages and dependencies that won't interfere with other projects. Each environment maintains its own versions of libraries and packages, so changes in one environment don't affect others.">conda environment</Tooltip> and their version numbers, in your terminal window or Anaconda Prompt, run `conda list`.
  </Accordion>

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

## Using conda packages

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How can I use TKinter?">
    Make sure the conda package `tk` is installed:

    If it is not installed, run:

    Python programs can use TKinter with `import Tkinter` on Python 2 or `import tkinter` on Python 3.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How can I use Cython on macOS?">
    Cython needs a C compiler, so you need to install [Xcode](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How can I use Theano?">
    Theano requires [gcc](https://gcc.gnu.org/) for acceleration.

    To install Theano with acceleration:

    * On Windows, run `conda install theano`.

    * On Linux and macOS run `conda install gcc theano`.

    <Note>
      Theano is available from the default Anaconda <Tooltip tip="A location (URL or file path) in a repository where conda looks for packages.">channels</Tooltip> for Windows, macOS, and Linux with the command `conda install theano`.
    </Note>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How can I use GPUs with Anaconda?">
    See [Working with GPU packages](/getting-started/working-with-conda/packages/gpu-packages).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## General

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How is CPython compiled?">
    For information on building CPython, see the [Python Developer's Guide](https://devguide.python.org/getting-started/setup-building/).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I cite Anaconda in an academic paper?">
    To cite Anaconda in an academic paper, use the recommended format. Example:

    *Anaconda Software Distribution*. Computer software. Vers. 2-2.4.0. Anaconda, Nov. 2016. Web. [https://anaconda.com](https://anaconda.com/).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>