NEPTUNIAN ANALYTICS

How to Install Miniconda on Windows

Miniconda is an open-source Python distribution that is a smaller version of the Anaconda Python distribution. Installing Miniconda doesn’t come with as many packages as Anaconda, but it does come with Python and the package managers pip and Conda. This makes Miniconda suitable for those who want to save memory on their computer or who know exactly what packages they want to download.

Follow the instructions below for how to install Miniconda on Windows.

Installing Miniconda

  • Miniconda can be downloaded here.
  • At the top of the webpage, you can find some more information about Miniconda. Scroll down the page until you get to 'Latest Miniconda installer links'. Download Minconda3 Windows 64-bit.
  • Once you have finished downloading Miniconda open the file in your downloads.
  • At first, you will receive a Welcome to Miniconda3 setup. Click next.
  • Read the terms of the licencing agreement, and if you are happy, click 'I Agree'.
  • Decide your installation type; you can install for 'Just Me', which will install for the current user account, or 'All Users', which installs for all user accounts. Unless you are using a computer with multiple users and need to install Miniconda for all of them, click 'Just Me' and press next.
  • Choose your install location; the default path is typically C:\Users\YourUsername\miniconda3. You can change this if you would like. However, it would be preferable to keep the default path. Click next.
  • For 'Advanced Installation Options', there will be an option to 'Create start menu shortcuts'; this can allow packages to add a shortcut to the Windows start menu if you would like.
  • There is also the option to add Miniconda3 to your PATH environment variable. If this is the only Python version you plan to install and you want to be able to access Python from the command-line, check this box. Otherwise, do not.
  • Another advanced installation option is registering Miniconda3 as your default Python 3.x; this, option will allow other Python tools to automatically detect Mininconda3 as the primary Python version. However, if you have multiple versions of Python or plan to install multiple versions of Python, do not check this box.
  • The final advanced installation option is to 'Clear the package cache upon completion'; this refers to whether you want to delete the downloaded package files from the cache once the installation is complete.
    • A package cache stores data to help speed up future installations or updates. However, clearing the package cache can help to clear disk space. If you clear the package cache after installation, future installations and updates will download the package archives again.
  • Once you are satisfied with your advanced installation selections, click install.
  • Once the installation is finished, you should see 'Installation Complete'; click next.
  • Finally, you will be greeted with some helpful resources to get you started with Anaconda. Keep the boxes checked if you want to launch those links. Then press finish.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed the tutorial on installing Miniconda on Windows devices. If you are new to Python, check Introduction to Python Course for an introduction to Python programming fundamentals.