# rpk plugin install

> 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: rpk plugin install
latest-operator-version: v26.2.1
latest-console-tag: v3.10.0
latest-connect-version: 4.104.0
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.2.1
docname: rpk/rpk-plugin/rpk-plugin-install
page-component-name: cloud-data-platform
page-version: master
page-component-version: master
page-component-title: Cloud
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-plugin/rpk-plugin-install.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/cloud-docs/edit/main/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-plugin/rpk-plugin-install.adoc
description: Install an <code>rpk plugin</code>. An <code>rpk</code> plugin must be saved in <code>$HOME/.local/bin</code> or in a directory that is in your <code>$PATH</code>.
page-git-created-date: "2024-07-25"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-08-11"
---

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

Install an `rpk plugin`.

An `rpk` plugin must be saved in `$HOME/.local/bin` or in a directory that is in your `$PATH`. By default, this command installs plugins to `$HOME/.local/bin.` This can be overridden by specifying the `--dir` flag.

If `--dir` is not present, `rpk` will create `$HOME/.local/bin` if it does not exist.

## [](#usage)Usage

```bash
rpk plugin install <plugin> [flags]
```

## [](#aliases)Aliases

```bash
rpk plugin download
```

## [](#flags)Flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| --dir | string | Destination directory to save the installed plugin (defaults to $HOME/.local/bin). |
| -u, --update | bool | Update a locally installed plugin if it differs from the current remote version. |

## [](#global-flags)Global flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| --config | string | Redpanda or rpk config file; default search paths are ~/.config/rpk/rpk.yaml, $PWD/redpanda.yaml, and /etc/redpanda/redpanda.yaml. |
| -X, --config-opt | stringArray | Override rpk configuration settings; -X help for detail or -X list for terser detail. |
| --ignore-profile | bool | Ignore rpk.yaml and redpanda.yaml; use default settings. |
| --profile | string | rpk profile to use. |
| -v, --verbose | bool | Enable verbose logging. |