# rpk shadow create

> 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: rpk shadow create
latest-redpanda-tag: v25.3.11
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-operator-version: v26.1.4
# EOL = End-of-Life (support lifecycle status)
page-is-nearing-eol: "false"
page-is-past-eol: "false"
page-eol-date: November 19, 2026
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
docname: rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-create
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "25.3"
page-component-version: "25.3"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-create.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/v/25.3/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-create.adoc
page-git-created-date: "2025-11-19"
page-git-modified-date: "2025-12-18"
support-status: supported
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/reference/rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-create.md -->

Creates a Redpanda shadow link.

This command creates a shadow link using a configuration file that defines the connection details and synchronization settings.

Before you create a shadow link, generate a configuration file with [`rpk shadow config generate`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/reference/rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-config-generate/) and update it with your source cluster details. The command prompts you to confirm the creation. Use the `--no-confirm` flag to skip the confirmation prompt.

After you create the shadow link, use [`rpk shadow status`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.3/reference/rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-status/) to monitor the replication progress.

## [](#usage)Usage

```bash
rpk shadow create [flags]
```

## [](#examples)Examples

Create a shadow link using a configuration file:

```bash
rpk shadow create --config-file shadow-link.yaml
```

Create a shadow link without a confirmation prompt:

```bash
rpk shadow create -c shadow-link.yaml --no-confirm
```

## [](#flags)Flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| -c, --config-file | string | Path to configuration file to use for the shadow link; use --help for details. |
| --no-confirm | - | Disable confirmation prompt. |
| -h, --help | - | Help for create. |
| --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. |