generated: '2026-07-19'
method: searched
source: https://fleetdm.com/docs/using-fleet/fleetctl-cli
docs: https://fleetdm.com/docs/using-fleet/fleetctl-cli
name: fleetctl
description: >-
  fleetctl ("Fleet control") is Fleet's first-party command-line interface for
  managing a Fleet instance: configuring the server, running live osquery queries
  across hosts, and driving a GitOps workflow that applies declarative YAML
  configuration to Fleet.
version: 4.89.1
install:
  - method: download
    command: 'see https://fleetdm.com/download'
    note: Easiest way to install or update; recommended.
  - method: npm
    command: npm install -g fleetctl
    note: Self-updates on next run when installed via npm.
  - method: binary
    command: 'download tar.gz/zip from GitHub releases, extract, place in PATH (e.g. /usr/local/bin)'
    source: https://github.com/fleetdm/fleet/releases
auth:
  note: >-
    fleetctl authenticates with a Fleet server via `fleetctl login` or
    `fleetctl config set`; automation should use API-only users (non-expiring
    tokens). Multiple servers/accounts are managed as named contexts.
commands:
  - name: config
    description: Manage fleetctl configuration and contexts (config set --address, --context).
  - name: login
    description: Authenticate with a Fleet server using email/password.
  - name: logout
    description: End the current fleetctl session.
  - name: apply
    description: Apply declarative YAML configuration (GitOps) to Fleet.
  - name: gitops
    description: Run the GitOps workflow that reconciles YAML config against Fleet.
  - name: get
    description: Retrieve Fleet objects (queries, policies, teams, hosts, reports, config).
  - name: query
    description: Run a live osquery query against selected hosts.
  - name: user
    description: Manage users, including `user create --api-only` for automation tokens.
  - name: package
    description: Build a fleetd agent installer package (deb, rpm, msi, pkg).
  - name: preview
    description: Spin up a local Fleet preview/demo environment with sample data.
  - name: debug
    description: Debugging helpers, including `debug archive` for profiling/support bundles.
  - name: trigger
    description: Trigger a Fleet cron schedule on demand.
key_flows:
  - gitops: Manage Fleet configuration as code in a Git repo and apply with `fleetctl gitops`.
  - live_query: Run ad-hoc osquery queries fleet-wide with `fleetctl query`.
  - agent_packaging: Build fleetd installers per-platform with `fleetctl package`.