# Can I update MRtrix but retain access to old commands?
**URL:** https://community.mrtrix.org/t/can-i-update-mrtrix-but-retain-access-to-old-commands/3609
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [May 4, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://community.mrtrix.org/t/can-i-update-mrtrix-but-retain-access-to-old-commands/3609 "2020-05-04T18:57:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Joe](https://community.mrtrix.org/u/Joe)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://community.mrtrix.org/t/can-i-update-mrtrix-but-retain-access-to-old-commands/3609/1 "2020-05-04T18:57:35Z")
Hello,
I would like to update my MRtrix to the newest version, but I still have unfinished projects in which I used the older version of mrtrix exclusively. Is it possible to somehow update my MRtrix and still have access to the older version? If so, how would you suggest I do this? Thanks.
Best,
Joe
---
### Author:  [@jdtournier](https://community.mrtrix.org/u/jdtournier)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2020, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.mrtrix.org/t/can-i-update-mrtrix-but-retain-access-to-old-commands/3609/2 "2020-05-04T22:45:57Z")
Yes, you certainly can. See if [this post](https://community.mrtrix.org/t/installing-mrtrix3-without-giving-up-mrtrix-2-12/1400/2) helps – I think everything in there still applies, although you’ll need to amend to suit your setup…
---
### Author:  [@dchristiaens](https://community.mrtrix.org/u/dchristiaens)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2020, 10:01am UTC](https://community.mrtrix.org/t/can-i-update-mrtrix-but-retain-access-to-old-commands/3609/3 "2020-05-05T10:01:43Z")
Hi Joe,
In addition to the post @jdtournier referenced, it may be worth also looking into using [anaconda environments](https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/user-guide/tasks/manage-environments.html). It depends on what version you want to become your default.
If you want to **keep your current install as the default** (for now), you can install MRtrix 3.0.0 in a new conda environment like this:
```bash
$ conda create -n mrtrix3 -c MRtrix3 mrtrix3
```
(`-n mrtrix3` sets the environment name; `-c MRtrix3` is the channel; the last `mrtrix3` is the package name to be installed.)
To use the new release, you then need to activate the environment:
```bash
$ conda activate mrtrix3
(mrtrix3) $ mrinfo --version
== mrinfo 3.0.0 ==
...
```
This version then stays active until the end of the session (e.g., until you close the terminal); `conda deactivate` will also revert to your current installed version.
If you want to **make the new release the default** , you will have to manage your path manually using the instructions @jdtournier referenced. In short, you should do a fresh install of the new release and redirect your PATH to this new install. Then, you can make an alias to activate the legacy version in your `.bashrc` file:
```bash
alias mrtrix3old="export PATH=/path/to/old/mrtrix:$PATH"
```
---
### Author:  [@Joe](https://community.mrtrix.org/u/Joe)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.mrtrix.org/t/can-i-update-mrtrix-but-retain-access-to-old-commands/3609/4 "2020-05-06T22:03:17Z")
Thank you both for the responses. I think I managed to get both versions running now 🙂
-Joe