# 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: 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: 4.104.0
docname: rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-create
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "26.1"
page-component-version: "26.1"
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/26.1/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-create.adoc
description: Create a Redpanda Shadow Link. This command creates a Shadow Link using a configuration file that defines the connection details and synchronization settings.
page-git-created-date: "2025-11-19"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-07-17"
support-status: supported
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/26.1/reference/rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-create.md -->

Create 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` 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.

When creating a Shadow Link for Redpanda Cloud, make sure to login and select the cluster where you want to create the Shadow Link before running this command. See `rpk cloud login` and `rpk cloud select`. For SCRAM authentication, store your password in the secrets store. See `rpk security secret --help` for more details.

After you create the Shadow Link, use `rpk shadow status` to monitor the replication progress.

Before you create a shadow link, generate a configuration file with [`rpk shadow config generate`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/26.1/reference/rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-config-generate/) and update it with your source cluster details.

After you create the shadow link, use [`rpk shadow status`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/26.1/reference/rpk/rpk-shadow/rpk-shadow-status/) to monitor the replication progress.

## [](#usage)Usage

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

## [](#examples)Examples

This section provides examples of how to use `rpk shadow create`.

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 | bool | Disable confirmation prompt. |

## [](#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. |