# Install or Upgrade with rpk

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

---
title: Install or Upgrade with rpk
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
latest-operator-version: v26.1.4
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.9
docname: rpk
page-component-name: connect
page-version: master
page-component-version: master
page-component-title: Connect
page-relative-src-path: rpk.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/rp-connect-docs/edit/main/modules/install/pages/rpk.adoc
description: Install or upgrade Redpanda Connect using the Redpanda CLI.
page-git-created-date: "2025-09-25"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-05-26"
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/connect/install/rpk.md -->

The Redpanda CLI (`rpk`) is the recommended way to install, upgrade, and manage Redpanda Connect on bare metal. It provides a simple, automated workflow for most users.

## [](#install)Install

To install Redpanda Connect using the Redpanda CLI, choose your platform:

### [](#linux)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.

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

#### amd64

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

#### [](#fips-compliance)FIPS compliance

> 📝 **NOTE**
>
> This feature requires an [enterprise license](https://docs.redpanda.com/connect/get-started/licensing/). You can either [upgrade to an Enterprise Edition license](https://www.redpanda.com/upgrade), or [generate a trial license key](http://redpanda.com/try-enterprise) that’s valid for 30 days.

To install `rpk` to run the latest version of Redpanda Connect in FIPS-compliant mode, you must install the `redpanda-rpk-fips` and `redpanda-connect-fips` packages. Both packages are built using the [Microsoft GoLang compiler](https://github.com/microsoft/go) and the [Microsoft’s Go Crypto OpenSSL package](https://github.com/microsoft/go-crypto-openssl), which uses the FIPS-approved version of OpenSSL.

> ❗ **IMPORTANT**
>
> The packages for FIPS-compliant `rpk` (`redpanda-rpk-fips`) and Redpanda `rpk` (`redpanda-rpk`) are mutually exclusive, and so cannot be installed in the same environment.

##### RHEL

1.  To make sure your distribution is up to date, run:

    ```bash
    sudo dnf upgrade
    ```

2.  Add `redpanda` to your `dnf` list of repositories.

    ```bash
    curl -1sLf 'https://dl.redpanda.com/nzc4ZYQK3WRGd9sy/redpanda/cfg/setup/bash.rpm.sh' | \
    sudo -E bash
    ```

3.  Install Redpanda packages for FIPS compliance.

    ```bash
    sudo dnf install -y redpanda-rpk-fips redpanda-connect-fips
    ```

4.  Verify your installation.

    ```bash
    rpk connect --version
    ```

    To keep up-to-date with Redpanda Connect releases, run the following command:


sudo dnf update

##### Debian/Ubuntu

1.  To make sure your distribution is up to date, run:

    ```bash
    sudo apt upgrade
    ```

2.  Add `redpanda` to your `apt` list of repositories.

    ```bash
    curl -1sLf 'https://dl.redpanda.com/nzc4ZYQK3WRGd9sy/redpanda/cfg/setup/bash.deb.sh' | sudo -E bash
    ```

3.  Install Redpanda packages for FIPS compliance.

    ```bash
    sudo apt install -y redpanda-rpk-fips redpanda-connect-fips
    ```

4.  Verify your installation.

    ```bash
    rpk connect --version
    ```

    To keep up-to-date with the Redpanda Connect releases, run the following command:


sudo apt update

### [](#macos)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/
```

### [](#docker)Docker

To use `rpk` in Docker, you can use the Redpanda Docker image, which includes both Redpanda and `rpk` as part of the installation.

```bash
docker pull docker.redpanda.com/redpandadata/connect
```

## [](#upgrade)Upgrade

Redpanda Connect uses the `rpk connect` plugin to manage upgrades, which is automatically installed when you start to run `rpk connect` commands from the `rpk` CLI. You do not need to upgrade the entire Redpanda CLI.

Check the version of Redpanda Connect already installed:

```bash
rpk connect --version
```

### [](#upgrade-to-the-latest-version)Upgrade to the latest version

The simplest way to upgrade is to use the `rpk connect upgrade` command:

```bash
rpk connect upgrade
```

Example output:

```bash
Redpanda Connect successfully upgraded from 4.38.0 to the latest version (4.93.0).
```

For a full list of `rpk connect upgrade` options, run:

```bash
rpk connect upgrade --help
```

### [](#upgrade-to-a-specific-version)Upgrade to a specific version

Force an upgrade (or downgrade) to a specific version of Redpanda Connect using the following command:

```bash
rpk connect install --connect-version <version> --force
```

Replace the `<version>` placeholder with the full version number, for example: `4.38.0`. You may need to wait a few seconds before the installation completes.

Example output:

```bash
Redpanda Connect 4.38.0 successfully installed.
```

## [](#uninstall)Uninstall

If you no longer want to use Redpanda Connect, you can uninstall the `rpk connect` plugin from the CLI:

```bash
rpk connect uninstall
```

Example output:

```bash
PATH                                                MESSAGE
/Users/username/.local/bin/.rpk.managed-connect     OK
```

> 📝 **NOTE**
>
> After upgrading (or downgrading), you must restart a pipeline to use features in the Redpanda Connect version you have deployed.

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

Explore the available connectors in the [catalog](https://docs.redpanda.com/connect/components/about/).