> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/345055) in GitLab 14.6 [with a flag](../../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `packages_conan_allow_empty_username_channel`. Disabled by default.
> - [Enabled on GitLab.com](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/345055) in GitLab 14.6.
Even though they are [recommended](https://docs.conan.io/en/latest/reference/conanfile/attributes.html#user-channel)
to distinguish your package from a similarly named existing package,
the username and channel are not mandatory fields for a Conan package.
You can create a package without a username and channel by removing them from
the `create` command:
```shell
conan create .
```
The username _and_ the channel must be blank. If only one of these fields is
blank, the request is rejected.
NOTE:
Empty usernames and channels can only be used if you use a [project remote](#add-a-remote-for-your-project).
If you use an [instance remote](#add-a-remote-for-your-instance), the username
and the channel must be set.
## Add the Package Registry as a Conan remote
To run `conan` commands, you must add the Package Registry as a Conan remote for