> ## 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. # Channels Anaconda Desktop lets you view and prioritize channels to manage your package installations. > [!WARNING] > > Most channels on Anaconda.org are completely free to use. However, Anaconda does provide mirrors of three [default channels](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/working-with-conda/channels.md#configuring-defaults) that are subject to Anaconda's [Terms of Service](https://anaconda.com/legal): `main`, `msys2` ([End of Support](https://anaconda.com/docs/reference/policies-practices/software-version-support.md#end-of-support-eos) as of September 2026), and `r` ([End of Support](https://anaconda.com/docs/reference/policies-practices/software-version-support.md#end-of-support-eos) as of November 2025). Beginner Channels are locations where `conda` looks for packages (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.) to install in your environment. When you install a package, `conda` searches your configured channels to find and install the package and its dependencies. Most channels, including Anaconda's `main` and `main-x` channels and community channels like conda-forge, are hosted on [Anaconda.org](https://anaconda.org/). Desktop's channel management lets you control which of these channels your environments use. To learn more about channels, see [What is a channel?](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/concepts/what-is-a-channel.md) ## The `main-x` channel [`main-x`](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/main-x) is an Anaconda-hosted authenticated channel that provides thousands of additional conda packages built by Anaconda. It is designed to be used alongside the `main` channel, extending the set of packages available through Anaconda's default channels. New Desktop users automatically have `main-x` configured alongside `main` in their default channels. If you are an existing user and do not have `main-x` configured, you can add it from the **Channels** modal: 1. Click **Add Channel**. 2. Enter either the **Name** or **URL** for the channel: * **Name**: `main-x` * **URL**: `https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main-x` 3. Click **Add**. > [!NOTE] > > `main-x` requires authentication with your Anaconda account. If you are not signed in, you are prompted to sign in before packages from `main-x` can be resolved. For more information about `main-x`, including setup for Anaconda Platform and Package Security Manager users, see [Using the main-x channel](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/main-x.md). ## Viewing channels You can access channel management from multiple locations: > [!NOTE] > > Although you can access channel management from multiple locations, any changes you make apply to all environments, not just the one you're currently working in. > [tab] Environments page > > On the **Environments** page, click **Channels**: > > ![Channels button on the environments page](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/desktop-environments-page-channels.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=99b4694b8f1f9167d3f9788bd2308719) > [tab] Manual environment creation page > > On the **Create Environment: Manual** page, click **Channels**: > > ![Channels button on the manual environments creation page](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/desktop-environments-creation-page-channels.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=2b7c34892ea0f4cf8b1db57b577b4e6e) > [tab] Environment details page > > On an environment's details page, click **Actions**, then select **Manage Channels**: > > ![Channels button on the environment details page](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/desktop-environments-details-page-channels.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=bb885e218a93159ab49657a33f929ae4) Clicking **Channels** opens the **Channels** modal, which displays a list of your channels. ![Channels modal in Anaconda Desktop](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/desktop-channels-page.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=8a37ca11233879ab3c68703e79837eff) ## Adding a channel From the **Channels** modal, click **Add Channel** to add a new channel to the bottom of your channels list. When managing channels in Desktop, 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` If you belong to an organization in Anaconda Platform, you must supply your access token (A randomly generated string that proves your identity and permission to access resources like channels, packages, or APIs.) inside the channel URL to authenticate yourself and prove you are allowed to access the channels: `https://repo.anaconda.cloud/t//repo//`. For more information, see [Authenticating to Anaconda](https://anaconda.com/docs/anaconda-platform/getting-started-with-anaconda-platform.md#issuing-and-setting-your-token) in the Anaconda Platform guide. ## Setting channel priority [Channel priority](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/concepts/what-is-a-channel.md#channel-priority) can be established by adjusting the order of the channels listed in the table. You can establish channel priority in multiple ways: > [tab] Drag and drop > > Select beside a channel to drag it to a new position. > > ![Drag and drop to reorder channels](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/desktop-channels-drag-and-drop.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=db7128cdb749b874512a4fd0470ce922) > [tab] The Actions menu > > Click **Actions** on a channel row, then select **Move up** or **Move down** to adjust the channel priority. > > > [!NOTE] > > > > Selecting **Set as priority** moves the channel to the top of the list. > > ![Actions menu to reorder channels](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/desktop-channels-actions-menu.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=1bca8401d81d367bf979dedcbfc4a6b3) ## Deleting a channel To delete a channel, click **Actions** on a channel row, then select **Delete**. ![Delete a channel](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/desktop-channels-delete.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=a1a23b50c61c688802f30ff52154f0d4) Click **Delete** again to confirm you want to delete the channel. ## Additional resources * For guidance on browsing the channels, packages, and models hosted on Anaconda.org, see [Searching Anaconda.org](https://anaconda.com/docs/anaconda-org/searching.md). * For an introduction to channels, see [What is a channel?](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/concepts/what-is-a-channel.md) * For detailed instructions on viewing, configuring, and managing channels, see [Channels](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/working-with-conda/channels.md). * For more information about how channels are structured and how conda uses them, see the [official conda channels documentation](https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/stable/user-guide/concepts/channels.html). * 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.