# rpk profile create

> 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 profile create
latest-operator-version: v26.1.4
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.9
docname: rpk/rpk-profile/rpk-profile-create
page-component-name: cloud-data-platform
page-version: master
page-component-version: master
page-component-title: Cloud
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-profile/rpk-profile-create.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/cloud-docs/edit/main/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-profile/rpk-profile-create.adoc
page-git-created-date: "2024-07-25"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-05-26"
---

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

Create an `rpk profile`.

There are multiple ways to create a profile. A name must be provided if not using `--from-cloud` or `--from-rpk-container`.

-   You can use `--from-redpanda` to generate a new profile from an existing `redpanda.yaml` file. The special value `current` creates a profile from the current `redpanda.yaml` as it is loaded within `rpk`.

-   You can use `--from-rpk-container` to generate a profile from an existing cluster created using `rpk container start` command. The name is not needed when using this flag.

-   You can use `--from-profile` to generate a profile from an existing profile or from from a profile in a yaml file. First, the filename is checked, then an existing profile name is checked. The special value `current` creates a new profile from the existing profile with any active environment variables or flags applied.

-   You can use `--from-cloud` to generate a profile from an existing cloud cluster ID. Note that you must be logged in with `rpk cloud login` first. The special value `prompt` will prompt to select a cloud cluster to create a profile for.

-   For serverless clusters that support both public and private networking, you will be prompted to select a network type unless you specify `--serverless-network`. To avoid prompts in automation, explicitly set `--serverless-network` to `public` or `private`.

-   You can use `--set key=value` to directly set fields. The key can either be the name of a `-X` flag or the path to the field in the profile’s YAML format. For example, using `--set tls.enabled=true` OR `--set kafka_api.tls.enabled=true` is equivalent. The former corresponds to the `-X` flag `tls.enabled`, while the latter corresponds to the path `kafka_api.tls.enabled` in the profile’s YAML.


The `--set` flag is always applied last and can be used to set additional fields in tandem with `--from-redpanda` or `--from-cloud`.

The `--set` flag supports autocompletion, suggesting the `-X` key format. If you begin writing a YAML path, the flag will suggest the rest of the path.

It is recommended to always use the `--description` flag; the description is printed in the output of [`rpk profile list`](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/reference/rpk/rpk-profile/rpk-profile-list/).

Once the command completes successfully, `rpk` switches to the newly created profile.

## [](#usage)Usage

```bash
rpk profile create [NAME] [flags]
```

## [](#flags)Flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| -d, --description | string | Optional description of the profile. |
| --from-cloud | string | [="prompt"] Create and switch to a new profile generated from a Redpanda Cloud cluster ID. |
| --from-profile | string | Create and switch to a new profile from an existing profile or from a profile in a yaml file. |
| --from-redpanda | string | Create and switch to a new profile from a redpanda.yaml file. |
| --from-rpk-container | - | Create and switch to a new profile generated from a running cluster created with rpk container. |
| -h, --help | - | Help for create. |
| -s, --set | strings | Create and switch to a new profile, setting profile fields with key=value pairs. |
| --config | string | Redpanda or rpk config file; default search paths are /var/lib/redpanda/.config/rpk/rpk.yaml, $PWD/redpanda.yaml, and /etc/redpanda/redpanda.yaml. |
| -X, --config-opt | stringArray | Override rpk configuration settings. See rpk -X or execute rpk -X help for inline detail or rpk -X list for terser detail. |
| --profile | string | Profile to use. See rpk profile for more details. |
| -v, --verbose | - | Enable verbose logging. |