> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/prefix-dev/pixi/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Environment Variables

> Environment variables that configure pixi behavior

Pixi respects various environment variables that control its behavior. This page documents all environment variables recognized by pixi.

## Global Behavior

### `PIXI_COLOR`

<ParamField path="PIXI_COLOR" type="enum" default="auto">
  Controls colored output in the terminal.

  **Values:**

  * `auto` - Automatically detect if colors are supported
  * `always` - Always use colors
  * `never` - Never use colors

  ```bash theme={null}
  export PIXI_COLOR=never
  pixi install
  ```

  Can also be set via `--color` flag.
</ParamField>

### `PIXI_NO_PROGRESS`

<ParamField path="PIXI_NO_PROGRESS" type="boolean" default="false">
  Hide all progress bars. Always enabled if stderr is not a terminal.

  ```bash theme={null}
  export PIXI_NO_PROGRESS=true
  pixi install
  ```

  Can also be set via `--no-progress` flag.
</ParamField>

### `PIXI_NO_WRAP`

<ParamField path="PIXI_NO_WRAP" type="boolean" default="false">
  Disable line wrapping in error messages. Useful in CI environments.

  ```bash theme={null}
  export PIXI_NO_WRAP=true
  ```
</ParamField>

## Lock File Behavior

### `PIXI_FROZEN`

<ParamField path="PIXI_FROZEN" type="boolean" default="false">
  Install the environment as defined in the lockfile without updating it.

  ```bash theme={null}
  export PIXI_FROZEN=true
  pixi install  # Uses existing lock file
  ```

  Can also be set via `--frozen` flag.
</ParamField>

### `PIXI_LOCKED`

<ParamField path="PIXI_LOCKED" type="boolean" default="false">
  Check if lockfile is up-to-date before installing. Aborts if lockfile is outdated.

  ```bash theme={null}
  export PIXI_LOCKED=true
  pixi install  # Fails if lock file is out of date
  ```

  Can also be set via `--locked` flag.
</ParamField>

## Pixi Home Directory

### `PIXI_HOME`

<ParamField path="PIXI_HOME" type="path">
  Override the default pixi home directory where global installations and manifests are stored.

  **Default locations:**

  * Linux: `~/.pixi`
  * macOS: `~/Library/Application Support/pixi`
  * Windows: `%USERPROFILE%\.pixi`

  ```bash theme={null}
  export PIXI_HOME=/custom/pixi/home
  pixi global install python
  ```
</ParamField>

## Cache and Storage

### `PIXI_CACHE_DIR`

<ParamField path="PIXI_CACHE_DIR" type="path">
  Override the default cache directory.

  **Default locations:**

  * Linux: `~/.cache/rattler`
  * macOS: `~/Library/Caches/rattler`
  * Windows: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\rattler\Cache`

  ```bash theme={null}
  export PIXI_CACHE_DIR=/mnt/cache/pixi
  ```
</ParamField>

## Authentication

### `RATTLER_AUTH_FILE`

<ParamField path="RATTLER_AUTH_FILE" type="path">
  Override the default location for authentication credentials.

  **Default:** `~/.rattler/credentials.json`

  ```bash theme={null}
  export RATTLER_AUTH_FILE=/secure/location/credentials.json
  pixi auth login https://prefix.dev
  ```
</ParamField>

## Network and Proxy

### `HTTP_PROXY` / `HTTPS_PROXY`

<ParamField path="HTTP_PROXY" type="url">
  HTTP/HTTPS proxy server to use for network requests.

  ```bash theme={null}
  export HTTP_PROXY=http://proxy.example.com:8080
  export HTTPS_PROXY=http://proxy.example.com:8080
  pixi install
  ```
</ParamField>

### `NO_PROXY`

<ParamField path="NO_PROXY" type="string">
  Comma-separated list of hosts to exclude from proxying.

  ```bash theme={null}
  export NO_PROXY=localhost,127.0.0.1,.example.com
  ```
</ParamField>

## Conda and Rattler

### `CONDA_PREFIX`

<ParamField path="CONDA_PREFIX" type="path">
  Set by pixi when activating an environment. Points to the active environment directory.

  **Read by pixi:** This is set automatically by pixi and used by tools to detect the active environment.

  ```bash theme={null}
  # Inside a pixi environment
  echo $CONDA_PREFIX
  # /path/to/workspace/.pixi/envs/default
  ```
</ParamField>

### `CONDA_DEFAULT_ENV`

<ParamField path="CONDA_DEFAULT_ENV" type="string">
  Name of the active conda environment. Set automatically by pixi.

  ```bash theme={null}
  # Inside a pixi environment
  echo $CONDA_DEFAULT_ENV
  # default
  ```
</ParamField>

## Pixi-Specific Runtime Variables

These variables are set by pixi when running tasks or activating environments.

### `PIXI_ENVIRONMENT_NAME`

<ParamField path="PIXI_ENVIRONMENT_NAME" type="string">
  Name of the currently active pixi environment. Set by pixi during `pixi run` and `pixi shell`.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi run bash
  echo $PIXI_ENVIRONMENT_NAME
  # default
  ```
</ParamField>

### `PIXI_WORKSPACE_ROOT`

<ParamField path="PIXI_WORKSPACE_ROOT" type="path">
  Root directory of the pixi workspace. Set during task execution.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pixi run bash
  echo $PIXI_WORKSPACE_ROOT
  # /path/to/workspace
  ```
</ParamField>

### `PIXI_WORKSPACE_MANIFEST`

<ParamField path="PIXI_WORKSPACE_MANIFEST" type="path">
  Path to the workspace manifest file (pixi.toml or pyproject.toml).
</ParamField>

### `PIXI_WORKSPACE_VERSION`

<ParamField path="PIXI_WORKSPACE_VERSION" type="string">
  Version of the workspace from the manifest.
</ParamField>

### `PIXI_WORKSPACE_NAME`

<ParamField path="PIXI_WORKSPACE_NAME" type="string">
  Name of the workspace from the manifest.
</ParamField>

## CI/CD Environment

### `CI`

<ParamField path="CI" type="boolean">
  Detected by pixi to adjust behavior in CI environments.

  **Values:** `1`, `true` (case-insensitive)

  **Effects:**

  * Disables line wrapping in error messages
  * Adjusts progress bar behavior

  ```bash theme={null}
  export CI=true
  pixi install
  ```
</ParamField>

## Editor Configuration

### `EDITOR`

<ParamField path="EDITOR" type="string" default="nano (Unix) / notepad (Windows)">
  Default editor for `pixi config edit`.

  ```bash theme={null}
  export EDITOR=vim
  pixi config edit
  ```
</ParamField>

## Logging and Debugging

### `RUST_LOG`

<ParamField path="RUST_LOG" type="string">
  Control pixi's internal logging level. Useful for debugging.

  **Levels:** `error`, `warn`, `info`, `debug`, `trace`

  ```bash theme={null}
  # Enable debug logging
  export RUST_LOG=pixi=debug,rattler=debug
  pixi install

  # Trace everything
  export RUST_LOG=trace
  pixi install
  ```
</ParamField>

### `RUST_BACKTRACE`

<ParamField path="RUST_BACKTRACE" type="enum">
  Show backtraces for errors.

  **Values:**

  * `0` - No backtrace
  * `1` - Short backtrace
  * `full` - Full backtrace

  ```bash theme={null}
  export RUST_BACKTRACE=1
  pixi install
  ```
</ParamField>

## Build System

### `CARGO_TARGET_DIR`

<ParamField path="CARGO_TARGET_DIR" type="path">
  Override Rust build output directory. Can be set in pixi.toml activation.

  ```toml theme={null}
  [activation]
  env.CARGO_TARGET_DIR = "target/pixi"
  ```
</ParamField>

## Shell Integration

### `_PIXI_PROMPT`

<ParamField path="_PIXI_PROMPT" type="string">
  Set by pixi shell on Windows to customize the command prompt.

  **Format:** `(pixi:{environment_name}) $P$G`
</ParamField>

## Example: CI Configuration

Typical CI environment variable setup:

```bash theme={null}
#!/bin/bash
# CI setup for pixi

export CI=true
export PIXI_COLOR=never
export PIXI_NO_PROGRESS=true
export PIXI_FROZEN=true  # Don't update lock file in CI

# Install dependencies
pixi install

# Run tests
pixi run test
```

## Example: Custom Cache Location

Use a shared cache location:

```bash theme={null}
# Shared team cache
export PIXI_CACHE_DIR=/mnt/shared/pixi-cache
export RATTLER_AUTH_FILE=/mnt/shared/credentials.json

pixi install
```

## Environment Variables in Tasks

You can use environment variables in your pixi tasks:

```toml theme={null}
[tasks]
build = { cmd = "cargo build", env = { CARGO_TARGET_DIR = "target/custom" } }
test = "pytest -v $PYTEST_ARGS"
```

## Related Configuration

* [Configuration File](/reference/configuration) - File-based configuration
* [CLI Options](/reference/cli-options) - Command-line options
* [pixi config](/commands/config) - Manage configuration