Getting started with Navigator#

Anaconda Navigator is a graphical user interface for the conda package and environment manager.

This short guide to Navigator will have you navigating the powerful conda program in a web-like interface without having to learn command line commands.

SEE ALSO: Getting started with conda to learn how to use conda. Compare the Getting started guides for each to see which program you prefer.

Before you start#

You should have already installed Anaconda.

Contents#

TOTAL TIME: 11 MINUTES

Starting Navigator#

Windows

  • From the Start menu, search for “Anaconda Navigator” and click to open.

  • Or from the Start menu, search for “Anaconda Prompt” and click to open. In Anaconda Prompt, type in anaconda-navigator and press Enter to open Navigator.

MacOS

  • Open Launchpad, then click the Anaconda-Navigator icon.

  • Or open Launchpad and click the Terminal icon. Then in terminal, type anaconda-navigator and press Enter to open Navigator.

Linux

  • Open a terminal window, type anaconda-navigator and press Enter to open Navigator.

Managing Navigator#

Verify that Anaconda is installed and running on your system.

  • When Navigator starts up, it verifies that Anaconda is installed.

  • If Navigator does not start up, go back to Anaconda installation and make sure you followed all the steps. For more help, see the Troubleshooting page.

Check that Navigator is updated to the current version.

  • When you start Navigator, it automatically checks for a new version. If Navigator finds a new version, you will see a dialog box like this:

Click Yes to update Navigator to the current version.

Tip

Anaconda recommends keeping Navigator updated to the latest version.

Managing application tiles#

By default, all application tiles available to launch or install within Navigator are displayed on the Home page. Filter the application tiles with the applications dropdown menu.

The dropdown contains filters for all applications, applications that are installed on your computer, applications that are not installed, and applications that have an update available.

Managing environments#

Navigator uses the conda package and environment manager to create separate environments, containing files, packages, and their dependencies, that will not interact with other environments.

Create a new environment named myenvironment and install a package in it:

  1. In Navigator, click the Environments tab, then click Create.

  2. The Create new environment dialog appears.

  3. In the Environment name field, type a descriptive name for your environment.

  4. Click Create. Navigator creates the new environment and activates it.

  5. Now you have two environments, the default environment base (root), and myenvironment.

  6. Switch between them (activate and deactivate environments) by clicking the name of the environment you want to use.

    Tip

    The active environment is the one with the arrow next to its name.

  7. Return to the other environment by clicking its name.

Managing Python#

When you create a new environment, Navigator installs the same Python version you used when you downloaded and installed Anaconda. If you want to use a different version of Python—for example Python 3.5—simply create a new environment and specify the version of Python that you want in that environment.

Create a new environment, named “python35”, that contains Python 3.5:

  1. In Navigator, click the Environments tab, then click Create.

  2. The Create new environment dialog appears.

  3. In the Environment name field, type the descriptive name “python35”.

  4. Make sure the checkbox beside Python is checked.

  5. Select the 3.5 version of Python from the dropdown.

  6. Click Create.

  7. Activate the version of Python you want to use by clicking the name of that environment.

Managing packages#

In this section, you check which packages you have installed, check which are available, and look for a specific package and install it.

  1. To find a package you have already installed, click the name of the environment you want to search. The installed packages are displayed in the right pane.

  2. You can change the selection of packages displayed in the right pane at any time by clicking the dropdown box above it and selecting Installed, Not Installed, Updatable, Selected, or All.

  3. Check to see if a package you have not installed named “beautifulsoup4” is available from the Anaconda repository (must be connected to the Internet). On the Environments tab, in the Search Packages box, type beautifulsoup4, and from the dropbox to the left of Channels, select All or Not Installed.

  4. To install the package into the current environment, check the checkbox next to the package name, then click Apply button.

The newly-installed “beautifulsoup4” package is displayed in the list of installed programs in the current environment.