# Install or Update rpk

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/llms.txt). Component-specific: [cloud-data-platform-full.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform-full.txt)

---
title: Install or Update rpk
latest-operator-version: v26.2.1
latest-console-tag: v3.10.0
latest-connect-version: 4.105.0
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.2.1
docname: rpk/rpk-install
page-component-name: cloud-data-platform
page-version: master
page-component-version: master
page-component-title: Cloud
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-install.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/cloud-docs/edit/main/modules/manage/pages/rpk/rpk-install.adoc
description: Install or update <code>rpk</code> to interact with Redpanda from the command line.
page-git-created-date: "2024-07-25"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-05-26"
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/manage/rpk/rpk-install.md -->

The `rpk` tool is a single binary application that provides a way to interact with your Redpanda clusters from the command line. For example, you can use `rpk` to do the following:

-   Monitor your cluster’s health

-   Create, produce, and consume from topics

-   Set up access control lists (ACLs) and other security features


Redpanda Cloud deployments should always use the latest version of `rpk`.

## [](#check-rpk-version)Check rpk version

To check your current version of the rpk binary, run `rpk --version`.

The following example lists the latest version of `rpk`. If your installed version is lower than this latest version, then update `rpk`. For a list of versions, see [Redpanda releases](https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/).

```bash
rpk --version
```

```bash
rpk version 26.2.1 (rev 5218325)
```

## [](#install-or-update-rpk-on-linux)Install or update rpk on Linux

To install, or update to, the latest version of `rpk` for Linux, run:

### amd64

```bash
curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-linux-amd64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-linux-amd64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/
```

### arm64

```bash
curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-linux-arm64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-linux-arm64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/
```

> 💡 **TIP**
>
> You can use `rpk` on Windows only with [WSL](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install). However, commands that require Redpanda to be installed on your machine are not supported, such as [`rpk container`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/reference/rpk/rpk-container/rpk-container/) commands, [`rpk iotune`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/reference/rpk/rpk-iotune/), and [`rpk redpanda`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/reference/rpk/rpk-redpanda/rpk-redpanda/) commands.

## [](#install-or-update-rpk-on-macos)Install or update rpk on macOS

### Homebrew

1.  If you don’t have Homebrew installed, [install it](https://brew.sh/).

2.  To install or update `rpk`, run:

    ```bash
    brew install redpanda-data/tap/redpanda
    ```

### Manual Download

To install or update `rpk` through a manual download, choose the option for your system architecture. For example, if you have an M1 or newer chip, select **Apple Silicon**.
#### Intel macOS

To install, or update to, the latest version of `rpk` for Intel macOS, run:

```bash
curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-darwin-amd64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-darwin-amd64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/
```

To install, or update to, a version other than the latest, run:

```bash
curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/download/v<version>/rpk-darwin-amd64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-darwin-amd64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/
```

#### Apple Silicon

To install, or update to, the latest version of `rpk` for Apple Silicon, run:

```bash
curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-darwin-arm64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-darwin-arm64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/
```

To install, or update to, a version other than the latest, run:

```bash
curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/download/v<version>/rpk-darwin-arm64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-darwin-arm64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/
```

## [](#upgrade-rpk-plugins)Upgrade rpk plugins

Plugins, such as `rpk connect` and `rpk ai`, are separate binaries that `rpk` downloads and runs on your behalf. Upgrading `rpk` does not upgrade its plugins. An installed plugin stays at its version until you upgrade it, even across `rpk` upgrades.

To see which plugins are installed:

```bash
rpk plugin list --local
```

To upgrade a plugin, run its `upgrade` command. For example:

```bash
rpk connect upgrade
```

> 📝 **NOTE**
>
> Some plugins install themselves the first time you run one of their commands. For example, `rpk connect run` downloads the latest Redpanda Connect if it is not already installed. This happens only on first use. After that, the plugin never updates itself.

## [](#next-steps)Next steps

For the complete list of `rpk` commands and their syntax, see the [rpk reference](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/reference/rpk/).