> ## 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. # Using the main-x channel `main-x` is an Anaconda-hosted authenticated channel (A location (URL or file path) in a repository where conda looks for packages.) that provides thousands of additional conda packages built by Anaconda for users with an [Anaconda account](https://auth.anaconda.com/ui/registration/7dc50201-417b-43ce-a64d-2e41df2afb9e). It is designed to be used alongside Anaconda's `main` channel, not replace it. In other words, `main-x` "extends" `main`. ## Setting up `main-x` > [!NOTE] > > If you are using Package Security Manager (On-prem), [follow the separate access instructions below](#accessing-main-x-for-package-security-manager-on-prem). ### Before you begin You need [conda](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/installation.md) and an [Anaconda account](https://auth.anaconda.com/ui/registration/7dc50201-417b-43ce-a64d-2e41df2afb9e). If you have the [Anaconda CLI](https://anaconda.com/docs/cli-reference/anaconda-cli/getting-started.md#install) installed, use the instructions under **Set up using Anaconda CLI** for a faster setup. > [tab] Set up using Anaconda CLI > > ### Enable the `main-x` channel > > 1. Log in to your Anaconda account: > > ```bash theme={null} > ana login > ``` > > This opens a verification page in your browser and displays the URL in your terminal. The URL contains a user code (for example, `user_code=ABCD-12E3`). > > 2. Sign in to your Anaconda account. Confirm that the code shown on the page matches the code in the URL in your terminal, then click **Activate**. > > > [!NOTE] > > > > If you are on a remote server or headless system where a browser cannot open, copy the URL or scan the QR code on any device with a browser, sign in, and then activate. The login completes on the remote system. For more options, see [Non-interactive login for CI/CD](https://anaconda.com/docs/cli-reference/anaconda-cli/authentication.md#non-interactive-login-for-ci/cd). > > 3. Enable the `main-x` channel: > > ```bash theme={null} > ana feature enable main-x > ``` > > This adds `main` and `main-x` to the channels conda uses by default, with the correct URLs for your subscription. > > ### Verify the channel is working > > 1. Confirm that your default channels are configured: > > ```bash theme={null} > conda config --show default_channels > ``` > > Your output should include both `main` and `main-x`. The URLs vary based on your subscription: > > > [tab] Free account > > > > ```yaml theme={null} > > default_channels: > > - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main > > - https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main-x > > - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/msys2 > > - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r > > ``` > > > [tab] Paid subscription > > > > ```yaml theme={null} > > default_channels: > > - https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main > > - https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main-x > > - https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/msys2 > > - https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/r > > ``` > > > [!NOTE] > > > > The `msys2` and `r` channels are [End of Support](https://anaconda.com/docs/reference/policies-practices/software-version-support.md#end-of-support-eos) and are no longer receiving updates. You do not need to remove them. > > 2. Install a package from `main-x` to confirm everything is working: > > > [!NOTE] > > > > Browse packages on `main-x` at [https://anaconda.org/channels/main-x](https://anaconda.org/channels/main-x). > > ```bash theme={null} > conda install > ``` > > Comments > > Replace \ with the name of the package you want to install. > > For more information, see [Anaconda CLI features](https://anaconda.com/docs/cli-reference/anaconda-cli/features.md). > [tab] Set up using conda > > ### Configuration > > 1. Log in to your Anaconda account: > > ```sh theme={null} > anaconda login > ``` > > 2. Follow the verification URL displayed in your terminal. Sign in to your Anaconda account, confirm the code on the page matches the code in your terminal, and then click **Activate**. > > > [!NOTE] > > > > If you are on a remote server or headless system where a browser cannot open, copy the URL on any device with a browser, sign in, and then activate. If you need other authentication options, see [Non-interactive usage](https://anaconda.com/docs/cli-reference/anaconda-auth/getting-started.md#non-interactive-usage). > > 3. Add `main` and `main-x` to your `default_channels`. The `main` channel URL depends on your subscription: > > > [tab] Free account > > > > ```sh theme={null} > > conda config --add default_channels https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main-x > > conda config --add default_channels https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main > > ``` > > > [tab] Paid subscription > > > > ```sh theme={null} > > conda config --add default_channels https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main-x > > conda config --add default_channels https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main > > ``` > > These commands add `main` and `main-x` to the front of your `default_channels` list in your `.condarc` file. If that file does not have a `default_channels` section yet, conda creates one. > > > [!WARNING] > > > > All `main-x` packages depend on packages from `main` (either directly or indirectly), so you should always list `main` first, followed by `main-x`. If `default_channels` lists only `main-x`, conda cannot resolve those dependencies, and many installs will fail. > > ### Verify the channel is working > > 1. Check your channel settings: > > ```sh theme={null} > conda config --show default_channels > ``` > > Your output should include both `main` and `main-x`, and `main` should appear before `main-x`. For example: > > ```yaml theme={null} > default_channels: > - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main > - https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main-x > ``` > > 2. Install a package from `main-x` to confirm everything is working: > > > [!NOTE] > > > > Browse packages on `main-x` at [https://anaconda.org/channels/main-x](https://anaconda.org/channels/main-x). > > ```bash theme={null} > conda install > ``` > > Comments > > Replace \ with the name of the package you want to install. ## Accessing `main-x` for Package Security Manager (On-prem) Ask your administrator to [mirror](https://anaconda.com/docs/psm-on-prem/6.8.0/admin/mirrors.md#conda-external-source-url) `https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main-x` into your Package Security Manager instance to provide access to `main-x` for your organization. Add the mirrored channel to the `default_channels:` section of your `.condarc` file, alongside your organization's other channels. Don't remove existing entries, such as your organization's mirror of `main`, as `main-x` packages often need packages from `main`. Use only channels from your Package Security Manager instance, not the public channel addresses shown elsewhere on this page. If your file has no `default_channels:` section, ask your administrator which channels to list. The mirrored channel's address looks like this: ```text theme={null} https:///api/repo/ ``` Comments Replace \ with the fully qualified domain name of your Package Security Manager instance.\\ Replace \ with the name your administrator gave the mirrored `main-x` channel. > [!NOTE] > > If you have a channel alias set for your Package Security Manager instance, you can use just the channel name instead of the full URL in your `default_channels` list. For more information, see [Using conda with Package Security Manager](https://anaconda.com/docs/psm-on-prem/6.8.0/user/conda.md#conda-config-commands). ## Known limitations * `main-x` includes thousands of packages (pure Python only) that extend what's available in the `main` channel. `main-x` does not include every package in the PyPI or conda-forge catalog. * Service accounts for accessing the `main-x` channel are not available. For non-interactive authentication in pipelines, see the [API keys and tokens](https://anaconda.github.io/anaconda-auth/#api-keys-and-tokens) documentation for guidance on using those options with `main-x`. * Some packages exist in both the `main-x` and `main` channels. Users with `channel_priority: strict` might encounter a problem where conda will not install a preferred package from `main-x` if the same package exists in a higher-priority channel. Users with `channel_priority: flexible` (the default) might also be affected if the order of their channels doesn't reflect their preferred priority. See [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting) if you experience this. ## Support ### Package requests If you need a package that is not in `main-x`, create a post on Anaconda's [Feedback page](https://www.anaconda.com/feedback) on the **Packages** board. Include the following: * The package name and version you need * Your operating system and platform (for example, Windows 11, macOS Sonoma on Apple Silicon, Ubuntu 22.04) * (Optional) A description of your use case ### Technical support For issues, bugs, or questions about `main-x`, [submit a support request](https://support.anaconda.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=360000993773). Include the following: * A description of the issue or question * The command(s) you ran and the full error message (if applicable) * Your operating system and platform * Your conda version > [accordion] How do I find my conda version? > > Open Anaconda Prompt (A command-line application included with Windows installations of Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda. Find it by searching 'Anaconda Prompt' in the Windows Start menu.) (Terminal on macOS/Linux) and run the following: > > ```bash theme={null} > conda --version > ``` Our support team will triage your request and send it to the appropriate team. If the problem is with the Anaconda CLI itself, you can also report it by running: ```sh theme={null} ana self feedback ``` This opens a page in your browser where you can report a bug or request a feature for the Anaconda CLI. ## Troubleshooting Troubleshoot ### `anaconda login` returns an error or is not recognized ***
Cause The `anaconda-auth` package is not installed in your base environment. `anaconda-auth` is included by default with Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda, but it might be missing if it was removed or if you are using a minimal conda installation.
***
Solution Install `anaconda-auth` in your base environment: ```sh theme={null} conda install --name base anaconda-auth ``` After installing, run `anaconda login` again.
Troubleshoot ### `AnacondaAuthError` when running `conda install` with `main-x` ***
Cause Versions of `anaconda-auth` older than 0.14.4 incorrectly required a business plan token to install packages from `main-x`.
***
Solution 1. Open Anaconda Prompt (A command-line application included with Windows installations of Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda. Find it by searching 'Anaconda Prompt' in the Windows Start menu.) (Terminal on macOS/Linux). 2. Update `anaconda-auth` to the latest version: ```sh theme={null} conda update --name base anaconda-auth ```
Troubleshoot ### Error while loading conda entry point: conda-env-log ***
Cause Versions of `anaconda-env-log` older than 0.4.1 are incompatible with conda 26.3.0 or later. If you have an older version of the package installed, you will see `Error while loading conda entry point: conda-env-log` after every conda command.
***
Solution 1. Update `anaconda-env-log`: ```sh theme={null} conda install --name base "anaconda-env-log>=0.4.1" ``` 2. Update conda: ```sh theme={null} conda install --name base "conda>=26.3.0" ``` If you previously pinned conda to version 26.1.1 to work around this issue, remove the pin before running the commands above. Open the `pinned` file in your conda installation's `conda-meta` folder and remove the `conda==26.1.1` line. > [!NOTE] > > You can replace `anaconda3` with `miniconda3` in any of these paths to find your `pinned` file. > [tab] Windows > > `C:\Users\\anaconda3\conda-meta\pinned` > [tab] macOS/Linux > > `~/anaconda3/conda-meta/pinned` or `/opt/anaconda3/conda-meta/pinned`
Troubleshoot ### A package from `main-x` is not installing as expected ***
Cause Some packages exist in both `main-x` and `main`. If `main-x` is added as a standalone entry in your `channels:` list, conda treats it as a separate channel that competes for priority with `main`. * With `channel_priority: strict`, conda will not pull from `main-x` if the same package name exists in a higher-priority channel. * With `channel_priority: flexible` (the default), the solver might still prefer `main` depending on your channel ordering.
***
Solution `main-x` and `main` are designed to be used together as a unified set of Anaconda-curated packages (`main-x` *extends* `main`). If your goal is to prioritize Anaconda-curated packages, instead of listing `main-x` as a standalone channel, add it and `main` to `default_channels:` in your `.condarc` file. For instructions on locating your `.condarc` file, see [Configuring channels](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/working-with-conda/channels.md#configuring-channels). ```yaml highlight={3-7} theme={null} channels: - defaults default_channels: - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main - https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/main-x - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/msys2 - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r ``` > [!NOTE] > > With some paid subscriptions, the addresses for `main`, `msys2`, and `r` start with `https://repo.anaconda.cloud/repo/` instead. Keep those addresses; don't replace them with the ones shown here. This adds `main-x` to `defaults` so that it is treated as the same priority level as `main`, regardless of your `channel_priority` setting.\ \\ Run `conda config --show channels` afterward to confirm that `main-x` no longer appears as a separate channel in your `channels:` list.