# 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: April 30, 2025
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
docname: rpk-install
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "24.1"
page-component-version: "24.1"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: rpk-install.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/v/24.1/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: "2026-05-26"
support-status: past end-of-life
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/24.1/get-started/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:

-   Monitor your cluster’s health.

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

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


For Redpanda Streaming deployments, the `rpk` binary is automatically installed on each Redpanda broker. So, you can use the locally installed `rpk` binary to communicate with the local Redpanda cluster.

You can also install `rpk` on your local machine as a [standalone binary](./). With this setup, you can connect to both a Redpanda cluster on your local machine, or an external one on a remote server.

If you use `rpk` as a standalone binary to communicate with a Redpanda cluster, ensure the version of `rpk` that you install matches the version of Redpanda running in your cluster.

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.

    -   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
    rpk version 24.1.1 (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
    rpk version 24.1.1 (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.

    -   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
    rpk version 24.1.1 (rev b5ade3f40)
    ```

#### Apple Silicon

1.  Download the `rpk` archive for macOS.

    -   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
    rpk version 24.1.1 (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/24.1/reference/rpk/).