MacOS – spotlight finds “anaconda-navigator” but `conda` has been uninstalled

aliasmacosspotlight

CLARIFICATION.

I am not trying to use conda, much less reinstall it. My question is about a behaviour that I don't understand.

THE BEHAVIOUR.

Some time ago I (must have) uninstalled conda, and indeed: 

conda list
bash: conda: command not found

Now, when I start typing "anaconda" in spotlight, it finds "anaconda-navigator". Not surprisingly, when I press enter, it gives me a "The application “Anaconda-Navigator” can’t be opened."

This shows that something has been left behind during the (manual) uninstall, but that is another issue.

MY QUESTION.

Where does spotlight find this anaconda-navigator?

Best Answer

Go to Finder → Applications and find Anaconda-Navigator.app. It should be an alias. Right click on it and click on "Show original" .

For proper uninstall

Anaconda-Clean must be run before simple remove. Install the Anaconda-Clean package from Anaconda Prompt (terminal on Linux or macOS):

conda install anaconda-clean.

In the same window, run one of these commands:

Remove all Anaconda-related files and directories with a confirmation prompt before deleting each one:

anaconda-clean

Or, remove all Anaconda-related files and directories without being prompted to delete each one:

anaconda-clean --yes

Anaconda-Clean creates a backup of all files and directories that might be removed in a folder named .anaconda_backup in your home directory. Also note that Anaconda-Clean leaves your data files in the AnacondaProjects directory untouched. After using Anaconda-Clean

delete the folder where the installation previously was. It should be named anaconda3 or anaconda2 etc.,

https://docs.anaconda.com/anaconda/install/uninstall/

But since you don't have conda, seen by "command not found" deleting the remnant files can be done using apps like EasyFind.

Related Question