---
title: "Install the markdrop CLI"
description: "Install the markdrop command-line tool on macOS, Linux or Windows with Homebrew, the install script or a release package."
canonical_url: https://docs.markdrop.in/cli/install
last_updated: 2026-10-30
checked: 2026-10-30
site: "Markdrop Docs"
index: https://docs.markdrop.in/llms.txt
---

# Install the markdrop CLI

The markdrop CLI is a single binary for macOS, Linux and Windows. It sends files peer to peer (`send`, `get`), publishes files behind a link you can replace later (`upload`, `replace`), and runs a local MCP server for AI apps on your computer (`mcp`). The current release is 0.5.0.

## Install

**macOS**

With Homebrew:

```bash title="Install with Homebrew"
brew install himanshkukreja/tap/markdrop
```

Without Homebrew, run the install script. It downloads the latest release for your Mac (Apple silicon or Intel) and puts `markdrop` in `/usr/local/bin` when it can write there (or use `sudo` without a password prompt), otherwise in `~/bin`.

```bash title="Install with the script"
curl -fsSL https://github.com/himanshkukreja/markdrop/releases/latest/download/install.sh | sh
```

**Windows**

In PowerShell:

```powershell title="Install with PowerShell"
irm https://github.com/himanshkukreja/markdrop/releases/latest/download/install.ps1 | iex
```

The script installs `markdrop.exe` to `%LOCALAPPDATA%\markdrop` and adds that folder to your user `PATH`. Open a new terminal before you run `markdrop`.

Windows builds are 64-bit x86 (amd64) only. There is no build for Windows on Arm yet.

**Linux**

Run the install script. It picks the build for your machine (x86-64 or arm64) and puts `markdrop` in `/usr/local/bin` when it can write there (or use `sudo` without a password prompt), otherwise in `~/bin`.

```bash title="Install with the script"
curl -fsSL https://github.com/himanshkukreja/markdrop/releases/latest/download/install.sh | sh
```

Prefer a package? Every release has `.deb`, `.rpm` and `.apk` files for `amd64` and `arm64`. Download the one for your system from the [releases page](https://github.com/himanshkukreja/markdrop/releases/latest), then install it:

```bash title="Install a downloaded package"
sudo apt install ./markdrop_0.5.0_linux_amd64.deb      # Debian, Ubuntu
sudo dnf install ./markdrop_0.5.0_linux_amd64.rpm      # Fedora, RHEL
sudo apk add --allow-untrusted ./markdrop_0.5.0_linux_amd64.apk   # Alpine
```

Markdrop doesn't run an apt or dnf repository, so packages don't update themselves. Download the new package to update.

## Check it works

```bash
markdrop --version
```

```text
markdrop version 0.5.0
```

If your shell says `markdrop: command not found`, the folder it was installed to isn't on your `PATH`. The install script prints where it put the binary. When it falls back to `~/bin`, add that folder to your `PATH`:

```bash
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc && source ~/.bashrc
```

Use `~/.zshrc` instead of `~/.bashrc` if your shell is zsh.

## Update

| You installed with | Update with |
|---|---|
| Homebrew | `brew upgrade markdrop` |
| The install script | Run the same script again. It always fetches the latest release. |
| A `.deb`, `.rpm` or `.apk` package | Download and install the newer package. |

## Download a binary yourself

Each [GitHub release](https://github.com/himanshkukreja/markdrop/releases/latest) has these files, where `0.5.0` is the version:

| File | For |
|---|---|
| `markdrop_0.5.0_darwin_arm64.tar.gz` | macOS on Apple silicon |
| `markdrop_0.5.0_darwin_amd64.tar.gz` | macOS on Intel |
| `markdrop_0.5.0_linux_amd64.tar.gz`, `markdrop_0.5.0_linux_arm64.tar.gz` | Linux |
| `markdrop_0.5.0_windows_amd64.zip` | Windows (x86-64) |
| `checksums.txt` | SHA-256 of every file above |

Check the download against `checksums.txt` before you run it:

```bash title="Linux"
sha256sum --ignore-missing -c checksums.txt
```

```bash title="macOS"
shasum -a 256 markdrop_0.5.0_darwin_arm64.tar.gz
# compare with the matching line in checksums.txt
```

Then extract the archive and move `markdrop` (or `markdrop.exe`) to a folder on your `PATH`.

## Uninstall

1. Run `markdrop logout` to delete the API token saved on this computer, if you saved one. See [Sign in and API tokens](https://docs.markdrop.in/cli/login-and-tokens).
2. Remove the binary: `brew uninstall markdrop`, or delete `/usr/local/bin/markdrop` or `~/bin/markdrop`. On Windows, delete the `%LOCALAPPDATA%\markdrop` folder.

## Next steps

**[Sign in](https://docs.markdrop.in/cli/login-and-tokens)**

Save an API token so `upload` and `replace` can publish as you.

**[Publish a file](https://docs.markdrop.in/cli/upload-and-replace)**

Put a video, PDF or HTML page behind a link and update it later.

**[Send a file](https://docs.markdrop.in/cli/send-and-receive)**

Send a file or folder straight to another computer.

**[Every command](https://docs.markdrop.in/cli/reference)**

Flags, defaults, environment variables and exit codes.