Conda is an open-source package manager used in data science, machine learning, and scientific computing, supporting Python, R, and other languages.
This guide covers installing Miniconda (a minimal Conda distribution) and Anaconda (the full package) on Ubuntu 24.04, plus update and removal steps.
Quick Answer
Download the Miniconda installer from the Conda website, assign executable permissions with chmod +x, and run the .sh file to install Conda.
How to Install Miniconda on Ubuntu 24.04
Step 1: Download the Conda Installer
Open the Miniconda installer page at docs.conda.io in Firefox. Scroll to the Linux installer section and click the link to start the download.
Step 2: Navigate to Downloads Directory
After downloading the Miniconda installer, navigate to the Downloads directory in Terminal before proceeding with the next steps.
cd ~/Downloads
Step 3: Verify the Downloaded File
Run ls -lrt to verify the Miniconda installer file is present in the Downloads directory. The .sh filename confirms a successful download.
ls -lrt
Step 4: Assign Executable Permissions
Grant executable permission to the Miniconda installer using chmod +x. The file must be executable before the installation script can run.
chmod +x Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh
Step 5: Run the Installer
Run the installer script to begin Miniconda installation. Press Enter when prompted to accept the license, confirm the directory, and initialize.
./Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh
Enter yes to accept the license agreement. Continue pressing Enter to accept the default installation directory unless you prefer a different one.
Enter yes at the final prompt to initialize Miniconda and configure the shell to activate the base environment automatically on login.
When installation completes, the terminal displays a success message and instructions to close and reopen the shell to activate the base environment.
Step 6: Verify Conda Installation
Open a new Terminal to activate the base environment. The (base) prefix confirms Miniconda is active. Run conda –version to see the installed version.
conda --version
How to Update Miniconda on Ubuntu 24.04
Run conda update conda in Terminal to update Miniconda to the latest version. Press y when prompted to confirm the upgrade of any outdated packages.
conda update conda
How to Deactivate Miniconda on Ubuntu 24.04
Run conda deactivate in Terminal to deactivate the base environment. The (base) prefix disappears from the prompt once deactivation completes.
conda deactivateHow to Uninstall Miniconda on Ubuntu 24.04
Follow these steps to remove Miniconda and all its associated files and configuration directories from Ubuntu 24.04 completely.
Step 1: Remove the Conda Directory
Remove the conda directory from the home folder. This removes the Conda binary and installed packages but leaves configuration files intact.
sudo rm -rf ~/conda
Step 2: Remove Hidden Conda Files
Remove hidden Conda configuration files and directories from the home folder. These files store environment settings and cached package metadata.
sudo rm -rf ~/.condarc ~/.conda ~/.continuum
Step 3: Remove the Miniconda3 Directory
Remove the miniconda3 installation directory. This deletes the full Miniconda installation, including all environments created in that directory.
sudo rm -rf ~/miniconda3Step 4: Verify Removal
Run conda –version after removing all files. A command not found error confirms Miniconda has been fully removed from the system.
conda --version
How to Install Anaconda on Ubuntu 24.04
Step 1: Navigate to Downloads Directory
Switch to the Downloads directory in Terminal before running the curl command that downloads the Anaconda installer file to the system.
cd ~/Downloads
Step 2: Install Curl
Install the curl utility from the Ubuntu repository. Enter yes when prompted to confirm. Curl downloads files from URLs directly in Terminal.
sudo apt-get install curl
Step 3: Download Anaconda
Download the Anaconda installer with curl using the URL below. The -O flag saves the file with the original filename to the current directory.
curl -O https://repo.anaconda.com/archive/Anaconda3-2024.02-1-Linux-x86_64.sh
Step 4: Verify the SHA256 Checksum
Verify the download by running sha256sum on the installer file. Check the output against the SHA256 value on the Anaconda download page to confirm.
sha256sum Anaconda3-2024.02-1-Linux-x86_64.sh
Step 5: Run the Anaconda Installer
Run the Anaconda installer with bash. Press Enter at the welcome prompt to begin reading the license agreement, then enter yes to accept it.
bash Anaconda3-2024.02-1-Linux-x86_64.sh
Enter yes to accept the license and continue. Press Enter to confirm the installation location, then enter yes to initialize the conda environment.
Step 6: Verify Anaconda Installation
Open a new Terminal after installation. Run conda –version to confirm Anaconda is installed. The command displays the installed conda version.
conda --versionRun conda info to display details about the installed Anaconda environment, including the active environment, conda version, and platform.
conda info
How to Deactivate Anaconda on Ubuntu 24.04
Run conda deactivate in Terminal to exit the Anaconda base environment. The (base) prefix is removed from the prompt after successful deactivation.
conda deactivate
How to Update Anaconda on Ubuntu 24.04
Step 1: Update Conda
Run conda update conda to update the Anaconda package manager. Enter y when prompted. All outdated packages in the current environment are upgraded.
conda update condaStep 2: Verify the Conda Version
After the update finishes, run conda –version to confirm the updated version. The output shows the new version number installed on the system.
conda --version
How to Uninstall Anaconda on Ubuntu 24.04
Follow these steps to fully remove Anaconda and its environment configuration from Ubuntu 24.04. The process uses the anaconda-clean tool.
Step 1: Install anaconda-clean
Install the anaconda-clean package using conda install. The tool removes Anaconda files in an organized way, prompting before each deletion.
conda install anaconda-cleanStep 2: Run anaconda-clean
Run anaconda-clean to remove Anaconda configuration files. Enter y or a at each prompt to confirm the deletions. Press Enter to accept the defaults.
anaconda-cleanStep 3: Remove the Anaconda3 Directory
Remove the Anaconda installation directory. This deletes the full Anaconda directory and all environments and packages installed within it.
sudo rm -rf ~/anaconda3
Step 4: Edit .bashrc
Open the .bashrc file in nano to remove the Anaconda initialization block. The block was added by the installer and must be deleted manually.
sudo nano ~/.bashrc
Step 5: Remove the Conda Initialization Block
Locate the Conda initialization block between the conda initialize markers and delete the entire block. Save and close the file when done.
Step 6: Verify Removal
Open a new Terminal and run conda –version. A command not found error confirms Anaconda has been fully removed from the system.
conda --versionWhen Conda Is the Right Tool
Conda is the right tool when working on Python data science or machine learning projects that require managing multiple package environments at once.
Use Miniconda when disk space is limited or you only need a base Conda install. Use Anaconda when you want a full pre-built data science environment.