Mirrors for pip, conda, and uv

Preface

Efficient Python development often relies on fast and stable package downloads. Network latency or regional restrictions can slow down installations from default repositories. Configuring mirror sources for pip and conda is a simple and powerful way to speed up package installations, improve reliability, and standardize environments.

This post provides a concise introduction to why mirrors matter and how to configure, add, remove, and inspect them using practical commands.

Advantages of Mirrors

Mirror sources are synchronized replicas of official package repositories. Common benefits include:

• Faster download speeds when the mirror is geographically closer
• Higher reliability in regions with unstable access to default servers
• Improved accessibility in constrained networks
• Better reproducibility across teams and CI pipelines

Mirrors for pip

Temporary Use (one-time installation)

pip install pandas -i https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple

Persistent Configuration (recommended)

Edit the pip.conf/pip.ini file

Create or update:

• Linux/macOS: ~/.pip/pip.conf
• Windows: %USERPROFILE%\pip\pip.ini

[global]
index-url = https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple
trusted-host = pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn

Use Commands

# Add
pip config set global.index-url https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple
pip config set global.trusted-host pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn

# Remove
pip config unset global.index-url
pip config unset global.trusted-host

Show Current Configuration

pip config list

or show a specific key:

pip config get global.index-url

Mirrors for conda

conda stores its configuration in the .condarc file. You can manipulate mirror channels using simple commands.

Temporary Use (one-time installation)

You can define the channel during installation:

conda install numpy -c https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/cloud/conda-forge/

Persistent Configuration (recommended)

Edit the .condarc file (recommended)

Create or update:

• Linux/macOS: ~/.condarc
• Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.condarc

channels:
  - defaults
show_channel_urls: true

default_channels:
  - https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/pkgs/main
  - https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/pkgs/r
  - https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/pkgs/msys2

custom_channels:
  conda-forge: https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/cloud
  pytorch: https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/cloud

Use commands

Example: adding TUNA mirrors.

# Add
conda config --add default_channels https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/pkgs/main
conda config --add default_channels https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/pkgs/r
conda config --add default_channels https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/pkgs/msys2

conda config --add custom_channels.conda-forge https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/cloud
conda config --add custom_channels.pytorch https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/cloud

# Remove
conda config --remove default_channels https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/pkgs/main
conda config --remove-key custom_channels

# Reset
conda config --remove-key default_channels
conda config --remove-key custom_channels
conda config --append channels defaults

Show current configuration

conda config --show
conda config --show channels

Mirrors for uv

Temporary Use (one-time installation)

uv add pandas --index https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple

Persistent Configuration (recommended)

Edit the pyproject.toml or uv.toml File

Project-level Configuration

Create or update pyproject.toml:

[[tool.uv.index]]
url = "https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple"
default = true

User- and System-level Configuration

Create or update uv.toml:

• Linux/macOS: ~/.config/uv/uv.toml or /etc/uv/uv.toml
• Windows: %APPDATA%\uv\uv.toml or %SYSTEMDRIVE%\ProgramData\uv\uv.toml

[[index]]
url = "https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple"
default = true

uv.toml files take precedence over pyproject.toml files.

User- and system-level configuration must use the uv.toml format.

Priority: UV merges configuration from project-level (e.g., pyproject.toml) and user-/system-level (uv.toml). Project-level settings take precedence.

No Showing Current Configuration

uv’s design: Configuration is read from .toml files (project or user/system) instead of being managed with CLI config commands.

Resources

pip/config

Conda/config

uv/configuration-files