> ## 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.

# Managing channels

Channels are locations where `conda` looks for, downloads, and installs <Tooltip tip="Software files and information about the software, such as its name, version, and description, bundled into a file that can be installed and managed by a package manager.">packages</Tooltip>. Navigator is capable of connecting to a few important conda package hosting providers— [Anaconda.org](https://anaconda.org), [Anaconda.com](https://anaconda.com/app), and Anaconda's enterprise [on-prem Package Security Manager](/psm/on-prem/6.8.0/main)—in order to access channels. Navigator can also connect to individual channels that are privately hosted or saved in your own computer files.

When managing channels in Navigator, you can refer to a channel either by its full URL or by its name. For example, let's say you want to look for packages on the "conda-forge" channel of Anaconda.org. Either of these channel variations will look for packages in the same place:

* **By name**: `conda-forge`
* **By URL**: `https://conda.anaconda.org/conda-forge`

<Note>
  Referring to a channel by its name requires that the channel alias be set. By
  default, it is set to `https://conda.anaconda.org/`. For more information
  about channel aliases, see [channel\_alias: Set a channel
  alias](https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/user-guide/configuration/settings.html#channel-alias-set-a-channel-alias)
  in the conda documentation.
</Note>

<Warning>
  Most channels on Anaconda.org are completely free to use. However, Anaconda does provide mirrors of three [default channels](/getting-started/working-with-conda/reference/default-channels) that are subject to Anaconda's [Terms of Service](https://anaconda.com/legal): main, msys2, and r (deprecated).
</Warning>

## Adding a channel in Navigator

<Note>
  To add a premium channel to Navigator with the channels manager, you must either supply the <Tooltip tip="A randomly generated string that proves your identity and permission to access resources like channels, packages, or APIs.">token</Tooltip> inside the URL (`https://repo.anaconda.cloud/t/<TOKEN>/repo/<ORG-NAME>/<CHANNEL>`) or be connected to the Package Security Manager (Cloud) organization that contains the channel.
</Note>

1. Click **Channels** to open the channels manager.

2. Click **Add**.

   <Frame>
     <img src="https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/eSsEBS6xLmJK8V-1/images/nav-add-channel.gif?s=b377d30343b2eb2a33365d61b62d29a4" alt="" width="1297" height="792" data-path="images/nav-add-channel.gif" />
   </Frame>

3. Enter the channel name or URL and press Enter (Windows)/Return (Mac).

   <Note>
     URLs must begin with `https://` when entering them into the channels manager.
   </Note>

4. Click **Update channels**.

## Adding a channel in your .condarc file

Since Navigator is built on the conda <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>, you can also add channels to navigator using conda's configuration file: `.condarc`.

1. To open the `.condarc` file in Navigator, open Preferences and then click **Configure conda**. For more information on editing configuration files, see [Editing Navigator and conda configuration files](/tools/anaconda-navigator/tutorials/editing-config-files).

2. To add channels in the `.condarc` file, list them under the `channels:` setting, similar to the following example:

   ```sh theme={null}
   channels:
       - conda-forge
       - defaults
   ```

<Note>
  Navigator searches the channels list in order, starting at the top.
</Note>

For more information on editing your `.condarc` file, see [Using the .condarc conda configuration file](https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/stable/user-guide/configuration/use-condarc.html) and [Settings](https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/stable/user-guide/configuration/settings.html) in the conda documentation.

## Deleting a channel

1. Click **Channels** to open the channels manager.
2. Click **Delete** beside the channel name.
3. Click **Update channels**.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/eSsEBS6xLmJK8V-1/images/nav-delete-channel.gif?s=bcaa8572ec5d5b038793cab455f5372d" alt="" width="1297" height="792" data-path="images/nav-delete-channel.gif" />
</Frame>

For more information on conda channels, see [Channels](/getting-started/working-with-conda/channels).