Skip to main content
Guides Menu
Cloud & DevOps

How to Install kubectl on Windows

Install kubectl on Windows so you can connect to a Kubernetes cluster, inspect resources, and run kubectl commands from any terminal.

Vishal Hulawale
Vishal Hulawale·
April 2026·5 min read

Supported Versions

1.35.31.34.61.33.10

Official Source

kubernetes.io (official)

Environment Setup

1 PATH entry

Verify Step

kubectl version --client

DevTools Installer is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the publisher of kubectl. All product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. Downloads are sourced directly from the official publisher.

Prerequisites

Install these tools first if you want kubectl to work correctly.

A Kubernetes Clusterkubectl is just a CLI — it needs a cluster to connect to. For local development, enable Kubernetes in Docker Desktop (Settings → Kubernetes → Enable Kubernetes) or install minikube.

Install With DevTools Installer

Use this path if you want DevTools Installer to download the official package and handle the Windows setup for you.

  1. 1Open DevTools Installer.
  2. 2In Cloud & DevOps, select "Kubernetes CLI (kubectl)".
  3. 3Click "Install Selected".
  4. 4Let the installer download the official kubectl.exe binary, place it in , and add that directory to PATH.
  5. 5Open a new terminal window after the install finishes.
  6. 6Run to confirm the CLI is available.

Download Source

DevTools Installer downloads from the official publisher:

https://dl.k8s.io/release/v1.35.3/bin/windows/amd64/kubectl.exe

PATH & Environment Variables

DevTools Installer sets the following automatically:

PATH entries

C:\Program Files\kubectl

Verification

DevTools Installer verifies the install by running:

kubectl version --client

Expected output: Client Version: v1.35.3

Manual Installation Steps

Use these steps if you want to run the installer yourself and apply the Windows PATH or environment changes manually.

  1. 1Download the official binary from https://dl.k8s.io/release/v1.35.3/bin/windows/amd64/kubectl.exe
  2. 2Create the folder if it does not already exist.
  3. 3Move kubectl.exe into .
  4. 4Add to your system PATH.
  5. 5Open a new terminal and run .
  6. 6Configure a kubeconfig file before you try to connect to a cluster.

Need to upgrade, downgrade, or remove kubectl?

DevTools Installer can also upgrade kubectl to a newer version, roll back to an older one, or cleanly uninstall it — including PATH entries and environment variables. No manual cleanup required.

What Is kubectl Used For?

  • Deploying and managing containerized applications on Kubernetes clusters.
  • Inspecting cluster resources — pods, services, deployments, config maps, and secrets.
  • Debugging running containers with "kubectl logs", "kubectl exec", and "kubectl describe".
  • Applying Kubernetes manifests (YAML/JSON) to create or update infrastructure declaratively.
  • Integrating with CI/CD pipelines for automated deployments to staging and production clusters.

Common Issues And Fixes

Check the problem and the exact fix before you reinstall anything. Some guides also include the reason the issue happens.

Problem

"kubectl" is not recognized after installation

Exact fix

Ensure C:\Program Files\kubectl is in your system PATH and open a new terminal. Run "where kubectl" to verify the binary is found.

Problem

kubectl cannot connect to a cluster

Exact fix

kubectl reads cluster credentials from the kubeconfig file at %USERPROFILE%\.kube\config. Verify the file exists and contains the correct server address and credentials. Use "kubectl config get-contexts" to list available contexts.

Problem

Version skew warning between client and server

Exact fix

kubectl should be within one minor version of the cluster's Kubernetes version. If your cluster runs 1.34.x, use kubectl 1.33.x–1.35.x. Install the matching version via DevTools Installer.

Problem

Certificate or TLS errors when connecting

Exact fix

Your kubeconfig may have an expired or invalid certificate. Re-authenticate with your cluster provider (e.g., "aws eks update-kubeconfig" for EKS, "az aks get-credentials" for AKS).

Tips for kubectl

  • ✓kubectl is a standalone binary with no installer — DevTools Installer simply places it in a PATH directory. This makes upgrades straightforward.
  • ✓Use "kubectl config use-context <name>" to switch between multiple cluster configurations.
  • ✓Enable shell autocompletion for faster commands: for PowerShell, run "kubectl completion powershell | Out-String | Invoke-Expression".
  • ✓kubectl is a prerequisite for Helm and Istio. Install kubectl first before installing those tools.

Related Guides

Helm

Install Helm on Windows so you can deploy Kubernetes charts, manage releases, and use helm commands against a cluster that kubectl can already reach.

Istio (istioctl)

Install istioctl on Windows so you can install, validate, and manage an Istio service mesh on a Kubernetes cluster.

AWS CLI

Install AWS CLI on Windows so you can run aws commands, configure credentials, and manage AWS resources without using the browser console for every task.

Back to All Guides