Installing Conda Beginner

The recommended way to install Conda is through Miniconda — a lightweight installer that gives you Conda, Python, and a handful of essential packages. This guide walks you through installing on every major platform.

Miniconda vs Anaconda

Before installing, decide which distribution is right for you:

Feature Miniconda Anaconda
Download size ~80 MB ~800 MB
Disk space ~400 MB ~3 GB
Pre-installed packages Minimal (conda, Python, pip) 250+ packages (NumPy, Pandas, Jupyter, etc.)
Best for Developers who want full control Beginners who want everything ready
Recommended Yes For quick start
Recommendation: Use Miniconda. It keeps your base environment clean and lets you install only the packages you actually need per project. You can always install any Anaconda package later with conda install.

Install on Windows

  1. Download the installer

    Visit docs.conda.io/en/latest/miniconda.html and download the Windows 64-bit installer.

  2. Run the installer

    Double-click the .exe file and follow the prompts. Choose "Just Me" for the installation type. Leave the default install location.

  3. Add to PATH (optional)

    The installer offers to add Conda to your PATH. While not recommended by the installer, it makes Conda available in any terminal. Alternatively, use the "Anaconda Prompt" shortcut.

  4. Initialize for PowerShell

    Open Anaconda Prompt and run:

PowerShell 
# Initialize conda for PowerShell
$ conda init powershell

# Restart your terminal, then verify
$ conda --version
conda 24.x.x

Install on macOS

  1. Download with curl

    Open Terminal and download the installer:

Bash 
# For Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4)
$ curl -O https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-arm64.sh
$ bash Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-arm64.sh

# For Intel Macs
$ curl -O https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-x86_64.sh
$ bash Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-x86_64.sh

# Initialize and restart terminal
$ conda init zsh

Install on Linux

Bash 
# Download the Linux installer
$ wget https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh

# Run the installer
$ bash Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh

# Follow prompts, accept license, confirm location
# Initialize conda for your shell
$ conda init bash

# Restart terminal or source the profile
$ source ~/.bashrc

Initializing Conda

After installation, you need to initialize Conda for your shell. This adds the necessary hooks so conda activate works properly:

Terminal 
# Initialize for Bash
$ conda init bash

# Initialize for Zsh (macOS default)
$ conda init zsh

# Initialize for PowerShell (Windows)
$ conda init powershell

# Initialize for Fish
$ conda init fish
What does conda init do? It modifies your shell's startup file (e.g., ~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc) to add Conda's initialization code. This enables the conda activate command and shows the active environment name in your prompt.

Verifying the Installation

Terminal 
# Check conda version
$ conda --version
conda 24.7.1

# Check conda info
$ conda info

# List packages in base environment
$ conda list

Updating Conda

Keep Conda itself up to date:

Terminal 
# Update conda to the latest version
$ conda update conda

# Update all packages in the current environment
$ conda update --all
Disable auto-activation: If you don't want the (base) environment to activate every time you open a terminal, run: conda config --set auto_activate_base false

Installation Complete!

With Conda installed, you're ready to create your first isolated environment and start managing packages.

Next: Environment Management →
← Introduction Environment Management →