# Install the CLI

> Kaitoi CLI is the local companion app. Install it to run recipes on your own machine, connect local services to Kaitoi Studio, or use Kaitoi Code from the terminal.

Source: https://kaitoi.io/docs/cli/install/
Section: Kaitoi CLI
Written for: Anyone who wants to run Kaitoi work on their own computer.
Prerequisites: A Kaitoi Studio account
Last reviewed: 2026-09-16

---

Kaitoi CLI is the local companion app for Kaitoi. Install it when you want to
work from your own computer, run local recipes, connect local services to Kaitoi
Studio, or use Kaitoi Code from the terminal.

One installer gives you five things:

- **Kaitoi CLI**, the `kaitoi` command and its interactive terminal dashboard
- **Kaitoi Code**, Penny in your terminal, via `kaitoi code`
- **Kaitoi Crew**, durable autonomous delivery, via `kaitoi crew`
- **Kaitoi Runtime**, local recipe execution, via `kaitoi runtime`
- **Kaitoi Connect**, secure tunnels for local services, via `kaitoi connect`

## Download

Installers are published on the public releases page:

- [macOS (.dmg)](https://github.com/kaitoi-labs/kaitoi-cli/releases/latest/download/Kaitoi-CLI-macOS.dmg)
- [Windows (.exe)](https://github.com/kaitoi-labs/kaitoi-cli/releases/latest/download/Kaitoi-CLI-Windows-Setup.exe)
- [Linux (.tar.gz)](https://github.com/kaitoi-labs/kaitoi-cli/releases/latest/download/Kaitoi-CLI-Linux.tar.gz)
- [checksums.txt](https://github.com/kaitoi-labs/kaitoi-cli/releases/latest/download/checksums.txt), if you want to verify the download

Every link points at the current release. You can also browse
[all releases](https://github.com/kaitoi-labs/kaitoi-cli/releases), or use
**Settings → Developer → CLI** inside Kaitoi Studio.

## Install

### macOS

1. Download the `.dmg`.
2. Open it and install Kaitoi CLI.
3. Open Kaitoi CLI from Applications, or run `kaitoi` from a terminal.

If macOS blocks the app the first time, open it from Finder with
**Control-click → Open**, or approve it in System Settings.

### Windows

1. Download the `.exe` installer.
2. Run the installer.
3. Open Kaitoi CLI from the Start menu, or run `kaitoi` from PowerShell or
   Command Prompt.

After installing or upgrading on Windows, close every Command Prompt, PowerShell
and Windows Terminal window before opening a new terminal. If `kaitoi` still
opens an older version, run `where.exe kaitoi` or `Get-Command kaitoi -All` and
make sure `C:\Program Files\Kaitoi CLI\kaitoi.exe` is the first result. You can
check the installed binary directly:

```powershell
& "C:\Program Files\Kaitoi CLI\kaitoi.exe" --version
```

### Linux

1. Download `Kaitoi-CLI-Linux.tar.gz`.
2. Extract it:

```bash
tar -xzf Kaitoi-CLI-Linux.tar.gz
```

3. Run the installer script:

```bash
./install-linux.sh
```

The script picks the right AppImage for your CPU, installs it under
`~/.local/share/kaitoi-cli`, links `kaitoi` into `~/.local/bin`, replaces an
older `~/.local/bin/kaitoi` link or file, and warns you if another `kaitoi`
command still appears earlier in `PATH`.

## First run

Launch the interactive dashboard:

```bash
kaitoi
```

The dashboard is a local view of:

- account login status
- local runtime status
- installed and available recipes
- local service connectivity
- Connect tunnels for Runtime, Ollama, ComfyUI and Blender
- a chat panel, which reaches the model through your Kaitoi account
- a button to open Kaitoi Code in a new terminal

## Log in

Kaitoi CLI and Kaitoi Code share one stored login.

From the dashboard, use the **Login** button. From a terminal:

```bash
kaitoi connect login
```

Kaitoi Code also prompts you to log in the first time it needs your account.

The browser login accepts the same verified email and password, GitHub, and
Google accounts you use for Kaitoi Studio. The browser hands the completed login
back to the CLI on your computer. Do not copy tokens between the browser and the
terminal.

## Current limitations

- The installers are published for macOS, Windows and Linux only.
- Generating a recipe from the dashboard uses your Kaitoi account. Running
  `kaitoi runtime generate` from the command line calls Anthropic directly and
  needs your own key. See
  [Recipes and the local runtime](/docs/cli/recipes/).