# rpk security role assign

> 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 security role assign
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.9
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: March 31, 2027
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
docname: rpk/rpk-security/rpk-security-role-assign
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "26.1"
page-component-version: "26.1"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-security/rpk-security-role-assign.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/main/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-security/rpk-security-role-assign.adoc
page-git-created-date: "2024-04-30"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-03-31"
support-status: supported
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/reference/rpk/rpk-security/rpk-security-role-assign.md -->

Assign a Redpanda role to a principal.

The `--principal` flag accepts principals with the format `<PrincipalPrefix>:<Principal>`. If `PrincipalPrefix` is not provided, then defaults to `User:`.

## [](#examples)Examples

Assign role `redpanda-admin` to user `red`:

```bash
rpk security role assign redpanda-admin --principal red
```

Assign role `redpanda-admin` to users `red` and `panda`:

```bash
rpk security role assign redpanda-admin --principal red,panda
```

Assign role `topic-reader` to group `analytics`:

```bash
rpk security role assign topic-reader --principal Group:analytics
```

Assign role `ops-admin` to both a user and a group:

```bash
rpk security role assign ops-admin --principal alice,Group:sre
```

## [](#usage)Usage

```bash
rpk security role assign [ROLE] --principal [PRINCIPALS...] [flags]
```

## [](#aliases)Aliases

```bash
assign, add
```

## [](#flags)Flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| -h, --help | - | Help for assign. |
| --principal | strings | Principal to assign the role to (repeatable). |
| --config | string | Redpanda or rpk config file; default search paths are ~/.config/rpk/rpk.yaml, $PWD, 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. |
| --format | string | Output format. Possible values: json, yaml, text, wide, help. Default: text. |
| --profile | string | Profile to use. See rpk profile for more details. |
| -v, --verbose | - | Enable verbose logging. |