Updating Anaconda fails: Environment Not Writable Error

Question

I'm trying to update Anaconda and its packages using conda update --name root conda, but it fails every time.

Error message : EnvironmentNotWritableError: The current user does not have write permissions to the target environment. environment location: C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3

Environment location: C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3. I replaced the root with base, still I get the same error.

Any help?

Answer 1

If you face this issue in Linux, one of the common reasons can be that the folder "anaconda3" or "anaconda2" has root ownership. This prevents other users from writing into the folder. This can be resolved by changing the ownership of the folder from root to "USER" by running the command:

sudo chown -R $USER:$USER anaconda3

or sudo chown -R $USER:$USER <path of anaconda 3/2 folder>

Note: How to figure out whether a folder has root ownership? -- There will be a lock symbol on the top right corner of the respective folder. Or right-click on the folder->properties and you will be able to see the owner details

The -R argument lets the $USER access all the folders and files within the folder anaconda3 or anaconda2 or any respective folder. It stands for "recursive".

Answer 2

start your command prompt with run as administrator

Answer 3

On Windows, search for Anaconda PowerShell Prompt. Right click the program and select Run as administrator. In the command prompt, execute the following command:

conda update -n base -c defaults conda

Your Anaconda should now update without admin related errors.

Answer 4

If you get this error under Linux when running conda using sudo, you might be suffering from bug #7267:

When logging in as non-root user via sudo, e.g. by:

sudo -u myuser -i

conda seems to assume that it is run as root and raises an error.

The only known workaround seems to be: Add the following line to your ~/.bashrc:

unset SUDO_UID SUDO_GID SUDO_USER

...or unset the ENV variables by running the line in a different way before running conda.

If you mistakenly installed anaconda/miniconda as root/via sudo this can also lead to the same error, then you might want to do the following:

sudo chown -R username /path/to/anaconda3

Tested with conda 4.6.14.

Answer 5

Open this folder "C:\ProgramData\" and right-click on "\Anaconda3". go to properties -> security and check all the boxes for each user. This worked for me.