Downloading conda

You have 3 conda download options:

You can download any of these 3 options with legacy Python 2.7 or current Python 3.

You can also choose a version with a GUI or a command line installer.

TIP: If you are unsure of which option to download, choose the most recent version of Anaconda3, which includes Python 3.6, the most recent version of Python. If you are on Windows or macOS, choose the version with the GUI installer.

Anaconda or Miniconda?

Choose Anaconda if you:

  • Are new to conda or Python.
  • Like the convenience of having Python and over 150 scientific packages automatically installed at once.
  • Have the time and disk space—a few minutes and 300 MB.
  • Do not want to individually install each of the packages you want to use.

Choose Miniconda if you:

  • Do not mind installing each of the packages you want to use individually.
  • Do not have time or disk space to install over 150 packages at once.
  • Want fast access to Python and the conda commands and you wish to sort out the other programs later.

Choosing a version of Anaconda or Miniconda

  • Whether you use Anaconda or Miniconda, select the most recent version.
  • Select an older version from the archive only if you are testing or need an older version for a specific purpose.
  • To use conda on Windows XP, select Anaconda 2.3.0 and see Using conda on Windows XP with or without a proxy.

GUI versus command line installer

Both GUI and command line installers are available for Windows, macOS and Linux:

  • If you do not wish to enter commands in a Terminal window, choose the GUI installer.
  • If GUIs slow you down, choose the command line version.

Choosing a version of Python

  • The last version of Python 2 is 2.7, which is included with Anaconda and Miniconda.
  • The newest stable version of Python is 3.6, which is included with Anaconda3 and Miniconda3.
  • You can easily set up additional versions of Python such as 3.5 by downloading any version and creating a new environment with just a few clicks. See Getting started with conda.

Cryptographic hash verification

MD5 checksums are available for Miniconda and both MD5 and SHA-256 checksums are available for Anaconda.

Download the installer file and before installing verify it as follows:

  • macOS: In iTerm or a Terminal window enter md5 filename or shasum -a 256 filename.

    NOTE: Replace filename with the actual path and name of the downloaded installer file.

  • Linux: In a Terminal window enter md5sum filename or sha256sum filename.

    NOTE: Replace filename with the actual path and name of the downloaded installer file.

  • Windows:

    • If you have PowerShell V4 or later:

      Open a PowerShell console and verify the file as follows:

      Get-FileHash filename -Algorithm MD5

      or:

      Get-FileHash filename -Algorithm SHA256

      NOTE: Replace “filename” with the actual path and name of the downloaded file.

    • If you don’t have PowerShell V4 or later:

      Use the free online verifier tool on the Microsoft website.

      1. Download the file and extract it.

      2. Open a Command Prompt window.

      3. Navigate to the file.

      4. Run one of the following commands:

        • For MD5:

          Start-PsFCIV -Path C:\path\to\file.ext -HashAlgorithm MD5 -Online

        • For SHA256:

          Start-PsFCIV -Path C:\path\to\file.ext -HashAlgorithm SHA256 -Online

        NOTE: In both commands, replace C:\path\to\file.ext with the actual path, filename and extension.