diff --git a/INSTALL.rst b/INSTALL.rst
index 264eaf10af9d..83f0b97f10ec 100644
--- a/INSTALL.rst
+++ b/INSTALL.rst
@@ -264,8 +264,8 @@ at `matplotlib-winbuild <https://github.com/jbmohler/matplotlib-winbuild>`_.
 There are a few possibilities to build Matplotlib on Windows:
 
 * Wheels via `matplotlib-winbuild <https://github.com/jbmohler/matplotlib-winbuild>`_
-* Wheels by using conda packages
-* Conda packages
+* Wheels by using conda packages (see below)
+* Conda packages (see below)
 
 Wheel builds using conda packages
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
@@ -274,32 +274,19 @@ This is a wheel build, but we use conda packages to get all the requirements.
 The binary requirements (png, FreeType,...) are statically linked and therefore
 not needed during the wheel install.
 
+Set up the conda environment. Note, if you want a qt backend, add ``pyqt`` to
+the list of conda packages.
+
 ::
 
-  # create a new environment with the required packages
-  conda create -n "matplotlib_build" python=3.5 numpy python-dateutil pyparsing pytz tornado cycler tk libpng zlib freetype
-  activate matplotlib_build
-  # if you want a qt backend, you also have to install pyqt (be aware that pyqt doesn't mix well if
-  # you have created the environment with conda-forge already activated...)
-  conda install pyqt
-  # this package is only available in the conda-forge channel
-  conda install -c conda-forge msinttypes
-
-  # copy the libs which have "wrong" names
-  set LIBRARY_LIB=%CONDA_PREFIX%\Library\lib
-  mkdir lib || cmd /c "exit /b 0"
-  copy %LIBRARY_LIB%\zlibstatic.lib lib\z.lib
-  copy %LIBRARY_LIB%\libpng_static.lib lib\png.lib
-
-  # Make the header files and the rest of the static libs available during the build
-  # CONDA_DEFAULT_ENV is a env variable which is set to the currently active environment path
-  set MPLBASEDIRLIST=%CONDA_PREFIX%\Library\;.
-
-  # build the wheel
-  python setup.py bdist_wheel
-
-The `build_alllocal.cmd` script in the root folder automates these steps if
-you have already created and activated the conda environment.
+  conda create -n "matplotlib_build" python=3.7 numpy python-dateutil pyparsing tornado cycler tk libpng zlib freetype msinttypes
+  conda activate matplotlib_build
+
+For building, call the script ``build_alllocal.cmd`` in the root folder of the
+repository::
+
+  build_alllocal.cmd
+
 
 Conda packages
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
diff --git a/build_alllocal.cmd b/build_alllocal.cmd
index 54bc69432fb7..4a3aba3a0275 100644
--- a/build_alllocal.cmd
+++ b/build_alllocal.cmd
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
 :: This assumes you have installed all the dependencies via conda packages:
 :: # create a new environment with the required packages
-:: conda create -n "matplotlib_build" python=3.5 numpy python-dateutil pyparsing tornado cycler tk libpng zlib freetype
-:: activate matplotlib_build
-:: if you want qt backend, you also have to install pyqt
-:: conda install pyqt
-:: # this package is only available in the conda-forge channel
-:: conda install -c conda-forge msinttypes
+:: # if you want a qt backend, add "pyqt" to the list of conda packages
+:: conda create -n "matplotlib_build" python=3.7 numpy python-dateutil pyparsing tornado cycler tk libpng zlib freetype msinttypes
+:: conda activate matplotlib_build
 
 set TARGET=bdist_wheel
 IF [%1]==[] (