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I installed anaconda into my computer using python. After I install the software, I found there is one program called anaconda prompt.

What is the difference between anaconda prompt and command prompt? If I want to update the package, which one I should use or either one. Like (conda update conda)

Thank you

Riadh Belkebir
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Michael Li
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3 Answers3

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Anaconda command prompt is just like command prompt, but it makes sure that you are able to use anaconda and conda commands from the prompt, without having to change directories or your path.

When you start Anaconda command prompt, you'll notice that it adds/("prepends") a bunch of locations to your PATH. These locations contain commands and scripts that you can run. So as long as you're in the Anaconda command prompt, you know you can use these commands.

During the installation of Anaconda there is a choice to add these to the PATH by default, and if checked you can also use these commands on the regular command prompt. But the anaconda prompt will always work.

As far as updating conda, if it doesn't work in command prompt, you can do 

conda update conda

in Anaconda command prompt.

Dylan Orzel
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  • after installing miniconda, the anaconda prompt comes up when I type "cmd" in the windows search. How can I have windows command prompt be the default, not Anaconda prompt? – a11 Aug 04 '19 at 22:56
  • So while I think this answer is correct, I'm still confused about the Anaconda prompt. If you open a "CMD.exe prompt" from the Anaconda Navigator, that's cmd.exe with conda environment variables, but it has a different icon/process name from the "Anaconda prompt". Maybe it's not important but I found it very confusing. – polm23 Jun 30 '20 at 06:55
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When you use anaconda command prompt it opened at conda directory (path where all the conda commands run)

like when I was installing pip3 install prettytable on command prompt it successfully installed but not replicate in jupyter notebook. But when install it using anaconda prompt it replicates intantly

Himanshu kumar Singh
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Here is the difference:

PATH-TO behind is the path to Anaconda3

Afer adding the following env to Windows command prompt, it will be the same as Anaconda prompt:

set CONDA_DEFAULT_ENV=base
set CONDA_PREFIX=PATH-TO\Anaconda3
set CONDA_EXE=%CONDA_PREFIX%\Scripts\conda.exe
set CONDA_PROMPT_MODIFIER=(base) 
set CONDA_PYTHON_EXE=%CONDA_PREFIX%\python.exe
set CONDA_SHLVL=1
set Path=%CONDA_PREFIX%;%CONDA_PREFIX%\Library\mingw-w64\bin;%CONDA_PREFIX%\Library\usr\bin;%CONDA_PREFIX%\Library\bin;%CONDA_PREFIX%\Scripts;%CONDA_PREFIX%\bin;%CONDA_PREFIX%\condabin;%Path%
caot
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