# Install rpk

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

---
title: Install rpk
latest-operator-version: v26.1.4
# EOL = End-of-Life (support lifecycle status)
page-is-nearing-eol: "false"
page-is-past-eol: "true"
page-eol-date: December 22, 2024
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
docname: rpk-install
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "23.3"
page-component-version: "23.3"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: rpk-install.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/v/23.3/modules/get-started/pages/rpk-install.adoc
description: The <code>rpk</code> tool is a single binary application that provides a way to interact with your Redpanda clusters from the command line.
page-git-created-date: "2023-05-30"
page-git-modified-date: "2024-02-26"
support-status: past end-of-life
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/23.3/get-started/rpk-install.md -->

Redpanda Keeper (rpk) is a single binary application that provides a way to interact with your Redpanda clusters from the command line. You can install the `rpk` binary as a standalone tool for self-hosted and cloud deployments, as well as Kubernetes deployments.

> 📝 **NOTE**
>
> Redpanda includes `rpk` as part of the installation. Follow this guide only if you want to install `rpk` as a standalone tool.

After you install `rpk`, you can use it to:

-   Monitor your cluster’s health.

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

-   Create topics, produce to topics, and consume from topics.

-   Run the [autotuner tool](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/23.3/reference/rpk/rpk-redpanda/rpk-redpanda-tune/) to optimize the Linux kernel to give you the best performance.


To install the `rpk` binary as a standalone application, follow the instructions for your operating system.

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

1.  Download the `rpk` archive for Linux, and make sure the version matches your Redpanda version.

    -   To download the latest version of `rpk`:

        ```bash
        curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-linux-amd64.zip
        ```

    -   To download a version other than the latest:

        ```bash
        curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/download/v<version>/rpk-linux-amd64.zip
        ```


2.  Ensure that you have the folder `~/.local/bin`:

    ```bash
    mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
    ```

3.  Add it to your `$PATH`:

    ```bash
    export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH"
    ```

4.  Unzip the `rpk` files to your `~/.local/bin/` directory:

    ```bash
    unzip rpk-linux-amd64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/
    ```

5.  Run `rpk version` to display the version of the rpk binary:

    ```bash
    rpk version
    ```

    ```bash
    23.3.1 (rev b5ade3f40)
    ```


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

### Homebrew

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

2.  Install `rpk`:

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

3.  Run `rpk version` to display the version of the rpk binary:

    ```bash
    rpk version
    ```

    ```bash
    23.3.1 (rev b5ade3f40)
    ```

    > 📝 **NOTE**
    >
    > This method installs the latest version of `rpk`, which is supported only with the latest version of Redpanda.

### Manual Download

To install rpk through a manual download, choose an option that corresponds to your system architecture. For example, if you have an M1 or M2 chip, use the **Apple Silicon** instructions.
#### Intel macOS

1.  Download the `rpk` archive for macOS, and make sure the version matches your Redpanda version.

    -   To download the latest version of `rpk`:

        ```bash
        curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-darwin-amd64.zip
        ```

    -   To download a version other than the latest:

        ```bash
        curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/download/v<version>/rpk-darwin-amd64.zip
        ```


2.  Ensure that you have the folder `~/.local/bin`:

    ```bash
    mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
    ```

3.  Add it to your `$PATH`:

    ```bash
    export PATH=$PATH:~/.local/bin
    ```

4.  Unzip the `rpk` files to your `~/.local/bin/` directory:

    ```bash
    unzip rpk-darwin-amd64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/
    ```

5.  Run `rpk version` to display the version of the rpk binary:

    ```bash
    rpk version
    ```

    ```bash
    23.3.1 (rev b5ade3f40)
    ```

#### Apple Silicon

1.  Download the `rpk` archive for macOS, and make sure the version matches your Redpanda version.

    -   To download the latest version of `rpk`:

        ```bash
        curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-darwin-arm64.zip
        ```

    -   To download a version other than the latest:

        ```bash
        curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/download/v<version>/rpk-darwin-arm64.zip
        ```


2.  Ensure that you have the folder `~/.local/bin`:

    ```bash
    mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
    ```

3.  Add it to your `$PATH`:

    ```bash
    export PATH=$PATH:~/.local/bin
    ```

4.  Unzip the `rpk` files to your `~/.local/bin/` directory:

    ```bash
    unzip rpk-darwin-arm64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/
    ```

5.  Run `rpk version` to display the version of the rpk binary:

    ```bash
    rpk version
    ```

    ```bash
    23.3.1 (rev b5ade3f40)
    ```

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

For a list of all `rpk` commands and their syntax, see the [rpk documentation](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/23.3/reference/rpk/).