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 : Environme

Answer 1

As an alternative, I would suggest looking at your conda config file.

Reason

Sometimes for creating a virtual env at a specified location other than the pre-defined path at ~/anaconda3/envs we append the conda config file using: conda config --append envs_dirs /path/to/envs where envs_dirs is a specified function in config file for allocating different paths where conda can find your virtual envs. Removing a recently added path in this config file may solve the problem.

Solution

$:> conda config --show envs_dirs

    envs_dirs:
    - /home/some_recent_path    # remove this
    - /home/.../anaconda3/envs

Note the value specifing a different directory other than the predefined location, and remove it using

$:> conda config --remove envs_dirs /home/some_recent_path

Now the config file envs_dirs is set to default location of envs. Try creating a new env now.