website/content/en/docs/tasks/tools/install-kubectl-macos.md

reviewers	title	content_type	weight	card
mikedanese	Install and Set Up kubectl on macOS	task	10	name weight title tasks 20 Install kubectl on macOS

{{% heading "prerequisites" %}}

You must use a kubectl version that is within one minor version difference of your cluster. For example, a v{{< skew latestVersion >}} client can communicate with v{{< skew prevMinorVersion >}}, v{{< skew latestVersion >}}, and v{{< skew nextMinorVersion >}} control planes. Using the latest version of kubectl helps avoid unforeseen issues.

Install kubectl on macOS

The following methods exist for installing kubectl on macOS:

• Install kubectl binary with curl on macOS
• Install with Homebrew on macOS
• Install with Macports on macOS
• Install on macOS as part of the Google Cloud SDK

Install kubectl binary with curl on macOS

1. Download the latest release:

   {{< tabs name="download_binary_macos" >}} {{< tab name="Intel" codelang="bash" >}} curl -LO "https://dl.k8s.io/release/$(curl -L -s https://dl.k8s.io/release/stable.txt)/bin/darwin/amd64/kubectl" {{< /tab >}} {{< tab name="Apple Silicon" codelang="bash" >}} curl -LO "https://dl.k8s.io/release/$(curl -L -s https://dl.k8s.io/release/stable.txt)/bin/darwin/arm64/kubectl" {{< /tab >}} {{< /tabs >}}

   {{< note >}} To download a specific version, replace the $(curl -L -s https://dl.k8s.io/release/stable.txt) portion of the command with the specific version.

   For example, to download version {{< param "fullversion" >}} on Intel macOS, type:

   curl -LO "https://dl.k8s.io/release/{{< param "fullversion" >}}/bin/darwin/amd64/kubectl"
   

   And for macOS on Apple Silicon, type:

   curl -LO "https://dl.k8s.io/release/{{< param "fullversion" >}}/bin/darwin/arm64/kubectl"
   

   {{< /note >}}

2. Validate the binary (optional)

   Download the kubectl checksum file:

   {{< tabs name="download_checksum_macos" >}} {{< tab name="Intel" codelang="bash" >}} curl -LO "https://dl.k8s.io/release/$(curl -L -s https://dl.k8s.io/release/stable.txt)/bin/darwin/amd64/kubectl.sha256" {{< /tab >}} {{< tab name="Apple Silicon" codelang="bash" >}} curl -LO "https://dl.k8s.io/release/$(curl -L -s https://dl.k8s.io/release/stable.txt)/bin/darwin/arm64/kubectl.sha256" {{< /tab >}} {{< /tabs >}}

   Validate the kubectl binary against the checksum file:

   echo "$(<kubectl.sha256)  kubectl" | shasum -a 256 --check
   

   If valid, the output is:

   kubectl: OK
   

   If the check fails, shasum exits with nonzero status and prints output similar to:

   kubectl: FAILED
   shasum: WARNING: 1 computed checksum did NOT match
   

   {{< note >}} Download the same version of the binary and checksum. {{< /note >}}

3. Make the kubectl binary executable.

   chmod +x ./kubectl
   

4. Move the kubectl binary to a file location on your system PATH.

   sudo mv ./kubectl /usr/local/bin/kubectl
   sudo chown root: /usr/local/bin/kubectl
   

5. Test to ensure the version you installed is up-to-date:

   kubectl version --client
   

Install with Homebrew on macOS

If you are on macOS and using Homebrew package manager, you can install kubectl with Homebrew.

1. Run the installation command:

   brew install kubectl 
   

   or

   brew install kubernetes-cli
   

2. Test to ensure the version you installed is up-to-date:

   kubectl version --client
   

Install with Macports on macOS

If you are on macOS and using Macports package manager, you can install kubectl with Macports.

1. Run the installation command:

   sudo port selfupdate
   sudo port install kubectl
   

2. Test to ensure the version you installed is up-to-date:

   kubectl version --client
   

Install on macOS as part of the Google Cloud SDK

{{< include "included/install-kubectl-gcloud.md" >}}

Verify kubectl configuration

{{< include "included/verify-kubectl.md" >}}

Optional kubectl configurations

Enable shell autocompletion

kubectl provides autocompletion support for Bash and Zsh, which can save you a lot of typing.

Below are the procedures to set up autocompletion for Bash and Zsh.

{{< tabs name="kubectl_autocompletion" >}} {{< tab name="Bash" include="included/optional-kubectl-configs-bash-mac.md" />}} {{< tab name="Zsh" include="included/optional-kubectl-configs-zsh.md" />}} {{< /tabs >}}

{{% heading "whatsnext" %}}

{{< include "included/kubectl-whats-next.md" >}}