How to Install Anaconda on Windows RDP 2019

If you’ve ever worked on a Windows server via RDP, you probably know that installing development tools on a server is a little different than on a personal computer, especially when you’re running Python projects, data analysis, or even bots, having a stable environment is crucial. When I first tried to install Anaconda on Windows Server 2019, I thought it would be as simple and fast as on my personal computer, but a few small details made me reinstall from scratch. That’s why I wrote this guide to be precise, step-by-step, and based on real experience so that you don’t make the same mistakes again.

Prerequisites

Before starting the installation, make sure that:

• You have access to Windows Server 2019 via RDP
• You have a stable internet connection
• You have at least a few GB of free space on your system drive

Important note: I recommend temporarily disabling your antivirus during the installation. In one of my installations, the antivirus caused the process to stop.

Steps to Install Anaconda on RDP 2019

Step 1: Download Anaconda

1- Log in to the official Anaconda website.

2- Select the Windows (64-bit) version.

3- Start downloading the exe file.

Be sure to wait for the download to complete. If the file is incomplete, you will receive an error when running it.

Step 2: Run the installation file

1- Go to the Downloads folder.

2- Double-click the installation file.

3- Click Run.

4- On the first installation page, click Next.

5- In the Terms section, select I Agree.

Step 3: Select the installation type

In this section, you have two options:

• Just Me
• All Users (requires Administrator access)

On most RDP servers, I recommend selecting the Just Me option. This avoids access issues and is more secure.

Step 4: Choose the installation path

The default path is usually the best option. Unless you have a specific reason, leave it as is and click Next.

Expert advice: Only install with Administrator privileges if necessary. Otherwise, the normal path is better.

Step 5: Advanced Settings

There are two important options here:

• Add Anaconda to PATH
• Register Anaconda as the default Python

I suggest keeping the default setting and leaving the Register as Default Python option enabled, then you have to click Install and wait for the installation to complete, then finally, click Finish.

Verifying the Installation

Method 1: Run Anaconda Navigator

Search for Anaconda Navigator from the Start menu and run it. If it opens without errors, the installation was successful.

Method 2: Use Anaconda Prompt

1- Open the Anaconda Prompt program from Start.

2- Run the following command:

conda list

If the list of packages is displayed, Anaconda is installed correctly.

To test Python:

python

And to exit:

quit()

Beyond Installation: Professional Server Management

My experience has shown that after installation, the most important thing to do is to create a separate environment for each project. Using conda, you can create separate environments so that the packages of the projects do not interfere with each other. On a server, this is much more important than on a personal system, because resources are more limited and each additional installation can increase RAM and disk space consumption. If you have the right structure from the beginning, you will not end up with a cluttered environment later, you can always check out our website for more.

Conclusion

Installing Anaconda on Windows Server 2019 via RDP is not a complicated task, but paying attention to the details will ensure that you proceed without any errors, from downloading the file correctly to choosing the Just Me option and managing the environments properly after installation, all of these contribute to the stability of your server, my personal experience is that if you take a little time after installation and build the environments properly, your server will become a professional and reliable environment for running Python projects, without interference, and with stable performance.