Set a Default Interpreter and use NO virtualenv in PyCharm 2017

Question

I'm on Ubuntu 16.04. I went to File > Default Settings > Project Interpreter > add local and browsed to my anconda3/long/path/python3.6. When I open a new project or file the anaconda interpreter is NOT chosen, and instead a virtual environment based on the systems default python3 interpreter is created in /home/myname/venv and is used. To change it I need to go into settings, search for "interpreter" and choose the anaconda3 I added earlier, but that's a hassle!

How can I get PyCharm to use the Anaconda3 interpreter by default and avoid having those annoying virtual environments poping up in my home folder every time I need to write a script?

Answer 1

This is a bit convoluted. When clicking File > New Project you get a pop-up window where you set the project name, under the name there is a little text saying Project Interpreter: Python 3.6. Click on it and some options expand. The preset option is New Virtual Environment with the default system interpreter. The other, not set option, is Existing Interpreter which is the one you set in the Default Settings.