---
title: Rancher CLI
description: Interact with Rancher using command line interface (CLI) tools from your workstation.
---
The Rancher CLI (Command Line Interface) is a unified tool that you can use to interact with Rancher. With this tool, you can operate Rancher using a command line rather than the GUI.
### Download Rancher CLI
The binary can be downloaded directly from the UI.
1. In the upper left corner, click **☰**.
1. At the bottom of the navigation sidebar menu, click **About**.
1. Under the **CLI Downloads section**, there are links to download the binaries for Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can also check the [releases page for our CLI](https://github.com/rancher/cli/releases) for direct downloads of the binary.
### Requirements
After you download the Rancher CLI, you need to make a few configurations. Rancher CLI requires:
- Your Rancher Server URL, which is used to connect to Rancher Server.
- An API Bearer Token, which is used to authenticate with Rancher. For more information about obtaining a Bearer Token, see [Creating an API Key](../user-settings/api-keys.md).
### CLI Authentication
Before you can use Rancher CLI to control your Rancher Server, you must authenticate using an API Bearer Token. Log in using the following command (replace `` and `` with your information):
```bash
$ ./rancher login https:// --token
```
If Rancher Server uses a self-signed certificate, Rancher CLI prompts you to continue with the connection.
### Project Selection
Before you can perform any commands, you must select a Rancher project to perform those commands against. To select a [project](../../how-to-guides/new-user-guides/manage-clusters/projects-and-namespaces.md) to work on, use the command `./rancher context switch`. When you enter this command, a list of available projects displays. Enter a number to choose your project.
**Example: `./rancher context switch` Output**
```
User:rancher-cli-directory user$ ./rancher context switch
NUMBER CLUSTER NAME PROJECT ID PROJECT NAME
1 cluster-2 c-7q96s:p-h4tmb project-2
2 cluster-2 c-7q96s:project-j6z6d Default
3 cluster-1 c-lchzv:p-xbpdt project-1
4 cluster-1 c-lchzv:project-s2mch Default
Select a Project:
```
After you enter a number, the console displays a message that you've changed projects.
```
INFO[0005] Setting new context to project project-1
INFO[0005] Saving config to /Users/markbishop/.ranchcli2.json
```
Ensure you can run `rancher kubectl get pods` successfully.
### Commands
The following commands are available for use in Rancher CLI.
| Command | Result |
|---|---|
| `apps, [app]` | Performs operations on catalog applications (i.e., individual [Helm charts](https://docs.helm.sh/developing_charts/)) or Rancher charts. |
| `catalog` | Performs operations on [catalogs](../../pages-for-subheaders/helm-charts-in-rancher.md). |
| `clusters, [cluster]` | Performs operations on your [clusters](../../pages-for-subheaders/kubernetes-clusters-in-rancher-setup.md). |
| `context` | Switches between Rancher [projects](../../how-to-guides/new-user-guides/manage-clusters/projects-and-namespaces.md). For an example, see [Project Selection](#project-selection). |
| `inspect [OPTIONS] [RESOURCEID RESOURCENAME]` | Displays details about [Kubernetes resources](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/cheatsheet/#resource-types) or Rancher resources (i.e.: [projects](../../how-to-guides/new-user-guides/manage-clusters/projects-and-namespaces.md) and [workloads](../../pages-for-subheaders/workloads-and-pods.md)). Specify resources by name or ID. |
| `kubectl` |Runs [kubectl commands](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/overview/#operations). |
| `login, [l]` | Logs into a Rancher Server. For an example, see [CLI Authentication](#cli-authentication). |
| `namespaces, [namespace]` |Performs operations on namespaces. |
| `nodes, [node]` |Performs operations on nodes. |
| `projects, [project]` | Performs operations on [projects](../../how-to-guides/new-user-guides/manage-clusters/projects-and-namespaces.md). |
| `ps` | Displays [workloads](../../pages-for-subheaders/workloads-and-pods.md) in a project. |
| `settings, [setting]` | Shows the current settings for your Rancher Server. |
| `ssh` | Connects to one of your cluster nodes using the SSH protocol. |
| `help, [h]` | Shows a list of commands or help for one command. |
### Rancher CLI Help
Once logged into Rancher Server using the CLI, enter `./rancher --help` for a list of commands.
All commands accept the `--help` flag, which documents each command's usage.
### Limitations
The Rancher CLI **cannot** be used to install [dashboard apps or Rancher feature charts](../../pages-for-subheaders/helm-charts-in-rancher.md).