Anaconda is a popular distribution for Python and data science. There are times when you may need to download a previous version of Anaconda. This could be necessary if a specific project requires compatibility with older libraries, or if issues arise with the latest version. In this post, I will explain step-by-step how to download and install a previous version of Anaconda.
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Visit the Official Anaconda Website
To download a previous version of Anaconda, you first need to visit the official Anaconda website. The Anaconda Archive page contains all versions of the Anaconda distribution.
Select a Version from the Anaconda Archive Page
When you access the Anaconda Archive page through the above link, you will see a list of installation files for various operating systems and Python versions.
In the file names listed, “Anaconda3” indicates the version of Anaconda, “2024.06” refers to the release year and month, and “Windows-x86_64” denotes the operating system and architecture. Select the installation file that matches your desired version and operating system.
However, for versions prior to 2018, it can be seen that versions up to 5.3.1 were released, as shown in the image below. For distributions prior to November 2018, the file name does not include the release year and month, and the version can be identified by version numbers like 5.3.1.
Download 32-bit Anaconda
For Linux, the 32-bit Anaconda files end with x86.sh. It is important to note that the last 32-bit version of Anaconda for Linux was released in December 2018.
For Windows, the 32-bit Anaconda files end with x86.exe. The last 32-bit version of Anaconda for Windows was released in May 2022.
Download the File
Once you have selected the appropriate version of the Anaconda installation file, the download will begin automatically. Wait for the download to complete.
Install Anaconda
Run the downloaded installation file to install Anaconda. The installation process is generally similar to the latest version, although there may be differences depending on the version. You can customize the installation location and options. When you install a previous version of Anaconda, the corresponding version of Python and the packages compatible with that version will also be installed.
Install Previous Versions of Packages
Even if you have installed a previous version of Anaconda, you may still need an earlier version of a specific package. In this case, you can use the conda command to install the previous version of the package. For more detailed information on installing packages, refer to the post titled “How to Use conda install and 4 Key Options: Installing Anaconda Packages.”
conda install package_name=version_numberFor example, to install version 1.18.5 of numpy, you would enter:
conda install numpy=1.18.5Summary
In this post, we explored how to download and install a previous version of Anaconda. The Anaconda Archive page makes it easy to find the version you need, and after installation, you can manage the required versions for your project using virtual environments. Use the appropriate version of Python and libraries as needed to ensure smooth project execution.