How to Install and Set Up Miniconda on macOS

If you’re starting with Python and want a lightweight way to manage packages and environments, Miniconda is a great choice. It provides Conda, a powerful tool for creating isolated environments and managing Python packages, without all the extras included in Anaconda.

This guide walks you step-by-step through installing and setting up Miniconda on macOS, using both the graphical installer (GUI) and the terminal installer. We’ll also cover how to install Jupyter Notebook for interactive coding.

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Tip: Intel vs Apple Silicon

Not sure which installer to download?

1. On your Mac, click the  Apple menu → About This Mac.
2. In the Overview tab, check Processor/Chip:
   • If it says Intel → download the macOS (Intel) installer.
   • If it says Apple M1/M2/M3/M4 → download the macOS (Apple Silicon arm64) installer.

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1. Download Miniconda

Option A – GUI Installer (Beginner-friendly)

1. Go to the Anaconda Download page.
   👉 Yes, Miniconda is downloaded from the same Anaconda page — just scroll to the Miniconda section.
2. Under Miniconda Installers → macOS, download the installer that matches your Mac:
   • macOS (Intel) – for Intel-based Macs.
   • macOS (Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3/M4) – for Apple Silicon Macs.
3. Double-click the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen instructions.

Option B – Terminal Installer (For advanced users or server setups)

1. Open the Terminal.app.
2. Use curl to download the latest installer for Apple Silicon Macs: curl -O https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-arm64.sh (For Intel Macs, replace arm64 with x86_64 in the filename.)
3. Make the installer executable: chmod +x Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-arm64.sh
4. Run the installer: bash Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-arm64.sh
5. Press Enter to continue, read and accept the license (yes), and choose an install location (default is ~/miniconda3).

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2. Initialize Conda

At the end of installation, you’ll be asked if you want to initialize Conda:

• ✔ Recommended: say yes (or run conda init later). This updates your shell startup file (e.g., .zshrc) so Conda works in every new terminal session.
• ❌ Skip if you prefer manual control and want to initialize Conda only when needed.

If you skipped earlier, run manually:

conda init zsh

Restart your terminal. You should see (base) in your prompt, showing that the base Conda environment is active.

Check Conda’s version to confirm installation:

conda --version

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3. Create and Manage Environments

Create a new environment:

conda create -n myenv python=3.11
conda activate myenv

Install packages inside it:

conda install numpy pandas

Deactivate when done:

conda deactivate

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4. Install Jupyter Notebook

With Miniconda ready, you can easily install Jupyter Notebook:

conda install jupyter notebook

Launch it:

jupyter notebook

A browser window will open. Click New → Python 3 to start a notebook.

Try:

print("Hello, world!")

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5. Troubleshooting

• conda: command not found → Run conda init zsh and restart Terminal.
• Multiple Python installs → Keep Conda separate; avoid mixing with system Python.
• Reinstall from scratch → Delete ~/miniconda3 and reinstall.

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🎯 Final Notes

• Beginners: Use the GUI installer for the easiest setup.
• Advanced users: Use the terminal installer for speed, automation, or remote servers.
• Always create separate Conda environments for each project.
• Jupyter Notebook works seamlessly with Conda environments — just activate the one you need before launching.