> ## 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 environments

## Viewing environments

To view your environments (A self-contained, isolated space for installing and running software packages.), select  **Environments** from the left-hand navigation.

![environments page button](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-labeled.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ\&q=85\&s=53778fddd7e194549c541e37991b17e4)

> [!TIP]
>
> You can collapse and expand the environments list by clicking on the collapse or expand icon beside the environments list.

## Searching for an environment

Use the **Search Environments** box to locate an environment by name. Enter all (or part of) an environment's name to filter the list to display only environments that contain the search string (A sequence of characters, like letters, numbers, and spaces.).

![filtering environments using search](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-search.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ\&q=85\&s=2ee2844d8369acedfdd6fb4aa7195155)

## Managing environments

Anaconda Navigator provides a set of buttons at the bottom of the environments list to help you manage environments.

![environment management buttons](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-buttons.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=8b0810b879dc076be50144989f985d95)

> [!NOTE]
>
> Navigator detects frozen environments and disables package operations for them. If you select a frozen environment, Navigator displays a banner and blocks install, update, and remove actions. To work with packages, switch to an unfrozen environment or create a new one.
>
> ***
>
> If you are using the [protected base installer](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/protected-base-beta.md), your `base` environment is frozen by default. For more information, see [Managing your protected `base` environment](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/protected-base-beta#managing-your-protected-base-environment).

### Creating a new environment

1. Click  **Create** at the bottom of the environments list.

2. In the Create new environment dialog, enter a descriptive name for the new environment.

   ![create new environment button and dialog](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-create.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=4e40b9981de5ff11655c7a9ad1e7ed63)

   > [!TIP]
   >
   > The location where your new environment will be created displays below the New environment name box as it is being entered.

3. Select either **Python** or **R** as the language interpreter (The software that runs your code.) for your environment.

   > [accordion] Why do I need to pick a Python or R version?
   >
   > Conda packages are built for a specific language runtime (The interpreter and other behind-the-scenes systems that run your code.). Choosing Python or R adds the matching interpreter to the environment so packages you install and code you write operate correctly.

4. Open the dropdown and select a version for your interpreter.

5. Click **Create**.

### Activating and using an environment

1. Click on an environment in the list to activate it.
2. Click the  button beside the environment's name to open the activation options dropdown.

   ![environment use options](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-use.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ\&q=85\&s=ab1a35d116c9bd3163abf3c1a16618a4)

   Some activation options require additional packages to be installed in the environment.

   | Option | Description | Required packages |
   | :- | :- | :- |
   | **Terminal** | Opens a shell session (`bash`, `cmd`, or PowerShell, depending on OS) with the environment activated. Use it for CLI tools or shell commands. | None |
   | **Python interpreter** | Launches the standard `python` REPL inside the environment. Useful for quick checks or running scripts. | None |
   | **IPython Console** | Starts an enhanced interactive Python shell. | `ipython` |
   | **Jupyter Notebook** | Opens Jupyter Notebook in your default browser, letting you create and run notebook files. | `notebook` |

### Cloning an environment

> [!WARNING]
>
> Anaconda strongly recommends *against* cloning the `base` environment because the process can generate an incomplete clone of the environment, which could cause errors while using Navigator or conda. For these reasons, Anaconda Navigator does not allow you to clone your base environment.

1. Activate the environment you want to clone by selecting it from the environments list.
2. Click  **Clone** at the bottom of the environments list.
3. Enter a descriptive name for the new environment.
4. Click **Clone**.

![cloning an environment](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-clone.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=cba90f9e2d297f1c3631666199b0464e)

### Importing an environment

There are two situations in which you might want to import an environment:

* Someone has [exported their environment](https://anaconda.com/docs/getting-started/working-with-conda/environments.md#exporting-the-environment-configuration-yml-file) to a `environment.yml` file and shared it with you, and you want to reproduce their environment on your machine.
* You have [backed up an environment](#backing-up-an-environment) (either locally or to Anaconda.com), and you want to restore it to the backed up state.

> [tab] Importing from a local .yml file
>
> If someone has shared an `environment.yml` file with you, or you have backed up an environment locally:
>
> 1. Save it somewhere on your computer.
>
> 2. Click  **Import** at the bottom of the environments list.
>
> 3. Select **Local drive**.
>
> 4. Click the  folder beside **Local drive**.
>
>    ![importing an environment from your local files](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-import-local.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ\&q=85\&s=4e324c1980087d350bbde00f84bdeded)
>
> 5. Browse your local files and select the `.yml` file you want to import.
>
> 6. Enter a new name for the new environment (or use the existing name).
>
>    > [!NOTE]
>    >
>    > Environment names must be unique. To overwrite an existing environment with the same name, select the **Overwrite existing environment** checkbox.
>
> 7. Click **Import**.

> [tab] Importing from Anaconda.com
>
> 1. At the bottom of the environments list, select **Import**.
>
> 2. If necessary, [sign in to Anaconda.com](https://auth.anaconda.com/ui/login?return_to=https://anaconda.com/app/).
>
> 3. Select **Anaconda Cloud**.
>
> 4. Click the  folder in the **Anaconda Cloud** section.
>
>    ![importing an environment from anaconda.com](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-import-cloud.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ\&q=85\&s=867b83e4384343f684f73a8e843a03d9)
>
> 5. Select the environment you want to import.
>
>    > [!TIP]
>    >
>    > If you do not want to immediately create a new environment, click  **Download environment file** and save the environment to your computer as a `.yml` file. Click **Cancel** twice to close the Import Environment dialogs when finished.
>
> 6. Click **Select**.
>
> 7. Enter a new name for the new environment, or use the existing name.
>
>    > [!NOTE]
>    >
>    > Each environment name must be unique. If you have an environment with the same name as the one you're importing and want to overwrite it, select the **Overwrite existing environment** checkbox.
>
> 8. Click **Import**.

### Backing up an environment

Backing up an environment to Anaconda.com protects it from machine malfunctions, such as hard-drive failure, while local backups are valuable for restoring your environment to a previous working state (in case you encounter a package-dependency issue).

Anaconda Navigator provides two ways to back up an environment:

> [tab] Backing up locally
>
> 1. Click on an environment in the list to activate it.
> 2. Click  **Backup** at the bottom of the environments list.
>
> ![backing up an environment to your local drive](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-backup-local.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=bf1e02213348f0a7a7e5b4fd07ed01fb)
>
> 1. Select **Local drive**.
>
> 2. Click **Save**.
>
> 3. Enter a descriptive name for your backup. By default, backups are named `<ENV_NAME>_YYYYMMDD.yml`.
>
>    > [!NOTE]
>    >
>    > Environment names must be unique. To overwrite an existing environment with the same name, select the **Overwrite existing environment** checkbox.
>
> 4. Choose a location on your computer to save the environment backup file.
>
> 5. Click **Save**.

> [tab] Backing up to Anaconda.com
>
> > [!NOTE]
> >
> > Backing up an environment to Anaconda.com requires an [Anaconda.com account](https://auth.anaconda.com/ui/registration?return_to=https://anaconda.com/app/).
>
> 1. Verify that you are signed in to [Anaconda.com](https://anaconda.com/docs/legacy/anaconda-navigator/tutorials/connecting-to-cloud.md#connecting-anaconda-com-to-navigator).
> 2. Click  **Backup** at the bottom of the environments list.
>
> ![backing up an environment to Anaconda.com](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-backup-cloud.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=f0202b52816ac20f5bb44a874a0e6596)
>
> 1. Select **Anaconda Cloud**.
>
> 2. Enter a descriptive name for the backup. By default, backups are named `<ENV_NAME>_YYYYMMDD.yml`.
>
>    > [!NOTE]
>    >
>    > Environment names must be unique. To overwrite an existing environment with the same name, select the **Overwrite existing environment** checkbox.
>
> 3. Click **Backup**.

### Removing an environment

You can use Navigator to remove environments that are stored locally on your computer. Environments that you have backed up to Anaconda.com must be removed from your Anaconda.com Account Settings.

> [tab] Removing local environments
>
> 1. Click on an environment in the list to activate it.
>
> 2. Click  **Remove** at the bottom of the environments list.
>
>    ![removing an environment from your local machine](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ/images/anaconda-desktop/nav-env-remove-local.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=XTSpR8a-Sn-FW1SQ\&q=85\&s=465b2e778f3707bb7bee8b0d16fc9e82)
>
> 3. Click **Remove**.

> [tab] Removing backups from Anaconda.com
>
> 1. Navigate to your [Account Settings Environments](https://anaconda.com/app/profile/environments) tab.
>
> 2. Click **Delete** beside the environment you want to remove.
>
>    ![removing an environment from Anaconda.com](https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s/images/anaconda-desktop/cloud-env-delete.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Aty9w0mqC-G2DD7s\&q=85\&s=434ef212ac8ce97a0078f8be590d80d8)
>
> 3. Click **Delete**.