# rpk registry mode set

> 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 registry mode set
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.14
latest-console-tag: v3.10.0
latest-operator-version: v26.2.1
# EOL = End-of-Life (support lifecycle status)
page-is-nearing-eol: "false"
page-is-past-eol: "false"
page-eol-date: March 31, 2027
latest-connect-version: 4.105.0
docname: rpk/rpk-registry/rpk-registry-mode-set
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "26.1"
page-component-version: "26.1"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-registry/rpk-registry-mode-set.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/v/26.1/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-registry/rpk-registry-mode-set.adoc
description: "Set schema registry mode Running this command with no subject sets the global schema registry mode, alternatively you can use the <code>--global</code> flag to set the global schema registry mode at the same time as per-subject mode. Acceptable mode values: * READONLY * READWRITE * IMPORT You can only enable IMPORT mode on an empty schema registry (if setting mode globally) or an empty subject (if setting at the subject level)."
page-git-created-date: "2024-08-08"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-07-17"
support-status: supported
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/26.1/reference/rpk/rpk-registry/rpk-registry-mode-set.md -->

Set schema registry mode.

Running this command with no subject sets the global schema registry mode, alternatively you can use the `--global` flag to set the global schema registry mode at the same time as per-subject mode.

Acceptable mode values:

-   READONLY

-   READWRITE

-   IMPORT


You can only enable IMPORT mode on an empty schema registry (if setting mode globally) or an empty subject (if setting at the subject level). Empty means no schemas have ever been registered. Soft deletions are not sufficient — you must hard-delete any existing schemas before enabling IMPORT mode. To override this emptiness check, use the `--force` flag.

## [](#usage)Usage

```bash
rpk registry mode set <subject...> [flags]
```

## [](#examples)Examples

This section provides examples of how to use `rpk registry mode set`.

Set the global schema registry mode to `READONLY`.

```bash
rpk registry mode set --mode READONLY
```

Set the schema registry mode to `READWRITE` in subjects `<subject-1>` and `<subject-2>`.

```bash
rpk registry mode set <subject-1> <subject-2> --mode READWRITE
```

Set the schema registry mode to IMPORT, overriding the emptiness check.

```bash
rpk registry mode set --mode IMPORT --global --force
```

## [](#flags)Flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| --force | bool | Whether to force setting mode to IMPORT when there are existing schemas. |
| --global | bool | Set the global schema registry mode in addition to subject modes. |
| --mode | string | Schema registry mode to set. Supported values: READONLY, READWRITE, IMPORT (case insensitive). |

## [](#global-flags)Global flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| --config | string | Redpanda or rpk config file; default search paths are ~/.config/rpk/rpk.yaml, $PWD/redpanda.yaml, and /etc/redpanda/redpanda.yaml. |
| -X, --config-opt | stringArray | Override rpk configuration settings; -X help for detail or -X list for terser detail. |
| --ignore-profile | bool | Ignore rpk.yaml and redpanda.yaml; use default settings. |
| --profile | string | rpk profile to use. |
| -v, --verbose | bool | Enable verbose logging. |