--- title: Using ipfs-update description: This page provides installation and usage guidance for ipfs-update, a command-line utility that can be used to install, uninstall, dowgrade and upgrade IPFS Kubo. current-ipfs-updater-version: v1.9.0 --- # ipfs-update The ipfs-update tool is a command-line utility that can be used to install, uninstall, downgrade and upgrade IPFS [Kubo](../install/command-line.md). :::callout See the [project repository](https://github.com/ipfs/ipfs-update#from-source) if you'd prefer to build ipfs-update from source. ::: ## Install ipfs-update The ipfs-update tool can be downloaded using pre-built binaries from [`dist.ipfs.tech`](https://dist.ipfs.tech/#ipfs-update). Binaries are also available from the [IPFS Update GitHub release page](https://github.com/ipfs/ipfs-update/releases). :::: tabs ::: tab windows id="install-ipfs-update-windows" ### Windows 1. Download the Windows binary from [`dist.ipfs.tech`](https://dist.ipfs.tech/#ipfs-update). ```powershell wget https://dist.ipfs.tech/ipfs-update/v1.9.0/ipfs-update_v1.9.0_windows-amd64.zip -Outfile ipfs-update_v1.9.0_windows-amd64.zip ``` 1. Unzip the file to a sensible location, such as `~\Apps\ipfs-update_v1.9.0`: ```powershell Expand-Archive -Path ipfs-update_v1.9.0_windows-amd64.zip -DestinationPath ~\Apps\ipfs-update_v1.9.0 ``` 1. Move into the `ipfs-update_v1.9.0` folder: ```powershell cd Apps\ipfs-update_v1.9.0\ipfs-update\ ``` 1. Check that the `ipfs-update.exe` works: ```powershell .\ipfs-update.exe --version ``` At this point, ipfs-update is usable. However, it's strongly recommended that you first add `ipfs-update.exe` to your `PATH` using the following steps: 1. Print the current working directory and copy it to your clipboard: ```powershell pwd ``` 1. Check if a profile file for PowerShell already exists: ```powershell Test-Path $profile ``` If a profile already file exists, skip the next step and proceed to step 8. 1. Create a new PowerShell profile file: ```powershell New-Item -path $profile -type file –force ``` 1. Add the address copied in step 5 to PowerShell's `PATH` by adding it to the end of the `Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1` file stored in `Documents\WindowsPowerShell`: ```powershell Add-Content C:\Users\\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1 "[System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('PATH',`$Env:PATH+';;C:\Users\\Apps\ipfs-update_v1.9.0\ipfs-update')" ``` 1. Close and reopen your PowerShell window. 1. Test that your `PATH` is set correctly by going to your home folder and asking `ipfs-update` for the version: ```powershell ipfs-update --version ``` :::tip If an error occurs on the next startup of PowerShell while loading the profile file, change the PowerShell `ExecutionPolicy` to `Unrestricted`, as described in the [Microsoft PowerShell documentation](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.security/set-executionpolicy?view=powershell-7). ::: ::: ::: tab macOS id="install-ipfs-update-mac" ### macOS 1. Download the macOS binary from [`dist.ipfs.tech`](https://dist.ipfs.tech/#ipfs-update). ```bash curl -O https://dist.ipfs.tech/ipfs-update/v1.9.0/ipfs-update_v1.9.0_darwin-amd64.tar.gz ``` 1. Unzip the file: ```bash tar -xvzf ipfs-update_v1.9.0_darwin-amd64.tar.gz ``` 1. Move into the `ipfs-update` folder ```bash cd ipfs-update ``` 1. Run the install script: ```bash sudo bash install.sh ``` 4. Check that `ipfs-update` installed properly: ```bash ipfs-update --version ``` ::: ::: tab linux id="install-ipfs-update-linux" ### Linux 1. Download the Linux binary from [`dist.ipfs.tech`](https://dist.ipfs.tech/#ipfs-update). ```bash wget https://dist.ipfs.tech/ipfs-update/v1.9.0/ipfs-update_v1.9.0_linux-amd64.tar.gz ``` 1. Unzip the file: ```bash tar -xvzf ipfs-update_v1.9.0_linux-amd64.tar.gz ``` 1. Move into the `ipfs-update` folder: ```bash cd ipfs-update ``` 1. and run the install script: ```bash sudo bash install.sh ``` 4. Test that `ipfs-update` has installed correctly: ```bash ipfs-update --version ``` ::: :::: ## Install Kubo The ipfs-update tool can be used to install Kubo. You can install the latest version, or specify a specific version. ### Latest version To install the latest release of Kubo, use the `latest` tag: ```bash ipfs-update install latest ``` ### Specific version To install a specific Kubo ``, run: ```bash ipfs-update install ``` :::tip When `ipfs-update install` is run and a version of IPFS is already installed, that version is _stashed_ and can be reverted to later. ::: ## Roll-back Kubo version Use the `revert` function to roll-back to a previous version of Kubo: ```bash ipfs-update revert ``` The `revert` function is useful if a newly installed version needs to be reverted to a more stable version, or you want to test or use older versions of Kubo. ## Uninstall ipfs-update To uninstall IPFS Update, delete the binary and `ipfs-update` from your `PATH` variable. :::: tabs ::: tab windows id="uninstall-ipfs-update-windows" ### Windows 1. Find the location of the `ipfs-update.exe` file: ```powershell gci -recurse -filter ipfs-update.exe -File -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue ``` 2. Remove the `ipfs-update` directory: ```powershell Remove-Item -Recurse -Force C:\Users\\Apps\ipfs-update_v1.9.0 ``` 3. Delete the `ipfs-update` directory from the `PATH` variable. :::tip This process differs between Windows installations, so please check the [Microsoft documentation for details](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/setting-the-path-and-environment-variables-for-command-line-builds?view=msvc-160). ::: ::: ::: tab macOS id="uninstall-ipfs-update-macos" ### MacOS 1. Find the location of the `ipfs-update` file: ```bash sudo find / -name ipfs-update ``` 2. Remove the file: ```bash sudo rm /usr/local/bin/ipfs-update ``` ::: ::: tab linux id="uninstall-ipfs-update-linux" ### Linux 1. Find the location of the `ipfs-update` file: ```bash sudo find / -name ipfs-update ``` 2. Remove the file: ```bash sudo rm /usr/local/bin/ipfs-update ``` ::: ::::