RemoveError: 'setuptools' is a dependency of conda and cannot be removed from conda's operating environment

# RemoveError: 'setuptools' is a dependency of conda and cannot be removed from conda's operating environment

The Anaconda error "RemoveError: 'setuptools' is a dependency of conda and cannot be removed from conda's operating environment" usually occurs when you try to install or update a package using conda.

To solve the error, update conda with the --force flag.

remove error setuptools is a dependency of conda and cannot be removed

Open your terminal and run the following command.

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conda update --force conda

conda update force

Depending on your conda version, you might have to use the --force-reinstall flag instead.

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conda update --force-reinstall conda

Then update anaconda by running the following command.

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conda update anaconda

conda update anaconda

Then update conda without the --force-reinstall flag.

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conda update conda

If the issue persists, try to run the conda update command with the --all flag.

The command updates all packages in the environment.

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conda update --all

If you still get the error, try to upgrade setuptools.

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conda install -c conda-forge setuptools

conda update setuptools

conda update setuptools

If the error persists, try to run the following command to update conda.

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conda update --force-reinstall -n base -c defaults conda

conda update base environment

Then, run the command without the --force-reinstall flag.

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conda update -n base -c defaults conda

If the issue persists, try to deactivate the environment first.

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conda deactivate

Then run the following command.

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conda install --force-reinstall conda

# Additional Resources

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RemoveError: 'setuptools' is a dependency of conda and cannot be removed from conda's operating environment

# RemoveError: 'setuptools' is a dependency of conda and cannot be removed from conda's operating environment

# Additional Resources

Borislav Hadzhiev