---
categories: ["Developers", "Deployment", "akt CLI"]
tags: ["akt", "Installation", "CLI", "Setup"]
weight: 1
title: "Install akt CLI"
linkTitle: "Installation"
description: "Install the akt binary, run the first-time setup, and enable shell completion"
---

Install `akt`, verify the binary, and create your first context.

The archive and source instructions below install release candidate [v1.0.0-rc0](https://github.com/akash-network/akt/releases/tag/v1.0.0-rc0). Homebrew installs the latest stable release.

Check [akt on GitHub](https://github.com/akash-network/akt) for the most up-to-date code and [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/akash-network/akt/releases/latest) for the latest stable version.

---

## Install akt

Select your operating system:

import TabsWrapper, { TabContent } from "@/components/ui/tabs";

<TabsWrapper client:load>
<TabContent value="MacOS">
   #### MacOS

**Option 1: Homebrew (stable)**

```bash
brew tap akash-network/tap
brew update
brew install akash-network/tap/akt
```

**Option 2: release candidate archive**

Releases ship a universal binary that runs on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs (`curl` and `unzip` required):

```bash
# Select the release candidate
AKT_TAG="v1.0.0-rc0"
AKT_VERSION="${AKT_TAG#v}"

# Download and verify the universal macOS archive
AKT_ARCHIVE="akt_${AKT_VERSION}_darwin_all.zip"
curl -sfLO "https://github.com/akash-network/akt/releases/download/${AKT_TAG}/${AKT_ARCHIVE}"
curl -sfLO "https://github.com/akash-network/akt/releases/download/${AKT_TAG}/akt_${AKT_VERSION}_checksums.txt"
grep " ${AKT_ARCHIVE}$" "akt_${AKT_VERSION}_checksums.txt" | shasum -a 256 -c -

# Extract the binary
unzip "${AKT_ARCHIVE}" akt
```

**Move the binary**

```bash
sudo mv ./akt /usr/local/bin/
```

**Verify the installation**

```bash
akt version
```

The command prints the version, commit, and build date. Add `--long` for the Go version, platform, and build tags.

</TabContent>

<TabContent value="Linux">
   #### Linux

**Option: Homebrew (stable)**

If you already use Homebrew on Linux, install from the official tap:

```bash
brew tap akash-network/tap
brew update
brew install akash-network/tap/akt
```

**Download the release candidate archive**

Releases ship `amd64` and `arm64` binaries (`curl` and `unzip` required):

```bash
# Select the release candidate
AKT_TAG="v1.0.0-rc0"
AKT_VERSION="${AKT_TAG#v}"

# Map machine type to release architecture
AKT_ARCH="$(uname -m | sed 's/x86_64/amd64/; s/aarch64/arm64/')"

# Download and verify
AKT_ARCHIVE="akt_${AKT_VERSION}_linux_${AKT_ARCH}.zip"
curl -sfLO "https://github.com/akash-network/akt/releases/download/${AKT_TAG}/${AKT_ARCHIVE}"
curl -sfLO "https://github.com/akash-network/akt/releases/download/${AKT_TAG}/akt_${AKT_VERSION}_checksums.txt"
grep " ${AKT_ARCHIVE}$" "akt_${AKT_VERSION}_checksums.txt" | sha256sum --check

# Extract the binary
unzip "${AKT_ARCHIVE}" akt
```

**Move the binary**

```bash
sudo mv ./akt /usr/local/bin/
```

**Option: native package**

Releases also include `.deb` and `.rpm` packages. Set `AKT_TAG`, `AKT_VERSION`, and `AKT_ARCH` as shown above, then install the package for your distribution:

```bash
# Debian / Ubuntu
curl -sfLO "https://github.com/akash-network/akt/releases/download/${AKT_TAG}/akt_${AKT_VERSION}_linux_${AKT_ARCH}.deb"
sudo dpkg -i akt_${AKT_VERSION}_linux_${AKT_ARCH}.deb

# Fedora / RHEL
curl -sfLO "https://github.com/akash-network/akt/releases/download/${AKT_TAG}/akt_${AKT_VERSION}_linux_${AKT_ARCH}.rpm"
sudo rpm -i akt_${AKT_VERSION}_linux_${AKT_ARCH}.rpm
```

**Verify the installation**

```bash
akt version
```

The command prints the version, commit, and build date. Add `--long` for the Go version, platform, and build tags.

</TabContent>

<TabContent value="Windows">
   #### Windows

**Using WSL2 (recommended)**

Windows binaries are not published. Install Windows Subsystem for Linux 2, then follow the Linux instructions above.

[Install WSL2](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install)

</TabContent>

<TabContent value="Source">
   #### From Source

The Go module resolves its Akash chain SDK dependency from `go.mod`. You only need the `akt` repository:

```bash
# Clone akt
git clone --branch v1.0.0-rc0 --depth 1 https://github.com/akash-network/akt

# Build
cd akt
GOWORK=off make akt
```

The binary is placed in `.cache/bin/akt`. Move it somewhere in your `PATH`:

```bash
sudo mv .cache/bin/akt /usr/local/bin/
```

**Requirements:**

- [Go 1.26+](https://go.dev/dl/)
- `make`

**Verify Installation**

```bash
akt version
```

</TabContent>
</TabsWrapper>

---

## Keep akt Up to Date

Homebrew updates to the latest stable release on macOS or Linux:

```bash
brew update
brew upgrade akash-network/tap/akt
akt version --long
```

For archive or package installations, select a stable release or release candidate from [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/akash-network/akt/releases) and repeat the installation steps for your platform. For source builds, follow the current requirements and build instructions in the [akt repository](https://github.com/akash-network/akt#installation).

Use `akt <command> --help` to confirm the options supported by your installed binary. The [agent skill](/docs/developers/deployment/akt/agent-skill) is a separate download; installing or upgrading the CLI with Homebrew does not install it.

---

## First Run

Start first-time setup with an interactive context command. `akt` fetches available networks from [akash-network/net](https://github.com/akash-network/net) and asks which ones to configure:

```bash
akt context list
```

If no config exists, the bootstrap wizard runs before the command. It creates `~/.config/akt/config.yaml`, sets up the first context, and offers Akash Console onboarding. The selected network's current high gas price becomes the transaction fee floor. `akt version` only prints build information and does not launch setup.

Everything `akt` stores, including config, context credentials, keyrings, and deployment state, lives under `~/.config/akt` by default. Set `AKT_HOME` to move it.

---

## Shell Completion

Generate a completion script for your shell:

```bash
# Bash
akt completion bash > /etc/bash_completion.d/akt

# Zsh
akt completion zsh > "${fpath[1]}/_akt"

# Fish
akt completion fish > ~/.config/fish/completions/akt.fish
```

Restart your shell for completion to take effect.

---

## Next Steps

Now that you're set up, you can:

- [**Contexts & Configuration**](/docs/developers/deployment/akt/configuration) - Configure contexts, networks, and keys
- [**Deployments**](/docs/developers/deployment/akt/deployments) - Deploy your first application with `akt deploy`
- [**Commands Reference**](/docs/developers/deployment/akt/commands-reference) - Learn all available commands

---

## Troubleshooting

### `akt` is not found

The binary isn't in your PATH. Try:

```bash
# Find where it's installed
which akt

# Add to PATH (Linux/macOS)
export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/akt
```

### macOS blocks the binary

If macOS Gatekeeper refuses to run the downloaded binary, remove the quarantine attribute:

```bash
xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /usr/local/bin/akt
```

### Bootstrap cannot fetch networks

The first-run wizard needs network access to fetch network definitions. If you are offline or behind a restrictive proxy, create a network manually instead:

```bash
akt context network create local --chain-id localnet-1 --rpc http://localhost:26657
```

---

## Need Help?

- [Release notes](https://github.com/akash-network/akt/releases) - Published versions and checksums
- [Akash Discord](https://discord.akash.network) - Get help from the community
- [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/akash-network/akt/issues) - Report bugs