# How to Install Kimi CLI on Linux: A Complete Guide Using uv

> Easily install Kimi CLI on Linux using the official one line installer for Python 3.13. Get the fastest setup with uv package manager today.

- Repository: [Moonshot AI/kimi-cli](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-07-25

---

**The fastest way to install Kimi CLI on Linux is to run the official one-line installer that bootstraps the uv package manager and installs the tool for Python 3.13.**

Kimi CLI (also referred to as Kimi Code CLI) is MoonshotAI's command-line interface for interacting with Kimi AI models. According to the MoonshotAI/kimi-cli source code, the application is distributed as a Python uv tool, which provides a fast, reproducible installation path on Linux systems.

## Method 1: Install Kimi CLI Using the Official One-Liner

The recommended approach for most Linux users is the automated installer script hosted at `code.kimi.com`. This script handles all dependencies and configures the environment automatically.

Run the following command in your terminal:

```bash
curl -LsSf https://code.kimi.com/install.sh | bash

```

### How the Installer Works

The installation logic resides in [[`scripts/install.sh`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/scripts/install.sh)](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/scripts/install.sh) and performs three key operations:

1. **Detects your download tool** – The script checks for `curl` or `wget` availability ([lines 5-12](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/scripts/install.sh#L5-L12)) to fetch the uv installer.
2. **Bootstraps uv** – If uv is not already present on your `PATH`, the script installs it; otherwise, it reuses the existing installation ([lines 19-24](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/scripts/install.sh#L19-L24)).
3. **Installs the package** – Finally, the script executes `uv tool install --python 3.13 kimi-cli` to install the CLI targeting Python 3.13 ([line 31](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/scripts/install.sh#L31)).

## Method 2: Manual Installation with uv

If you already have **uv** installed on your Linux system, you can skip the script and install Kimi CLI directly:

```bash
uv tool install --python 3.13 kimi-cli

```

This command is identical to the one invoked by the automated installer and creates the `kimi` executable in your uv tools directory.

## Verify Your Installation

After installation completes, confirm that the `kimi` command is available on your system `PATH`:

```bash
kimi --version

```

The uv tool manager generates this executable automatically during the installation process.

## Managing Your Kimi CLI Installation

Once installed, you can maintain the tool using uv's built-in commands.

### Upgrading Kimi CLI

To update to the latest release while bypassing the cache:

```bash
uv tool upgrade kimi-cli --no-cache

```

This command is documented in the [Getting Started guide](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/docs/en/guides/getting-started.md) ([lines 66-75](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/docs/en/guides/getting-started.md#L66-L75)).

### Uninstalling Kimi CLI

To remove the tool from your system:

```bash
uv tool uninstall kimi-cli

```

## First Run and Configuration

After you install Kimi CLI on Linux, navigate to your project directory and invoke the tool:

```bash
kimi

```

On first launch, the CLI prompts you to configure an LLM provider using the `/login` slash command. The complete first-run workflow is detailed in [[`docs/en/guides/getting-started.md`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/docs/en/guides/getting-started.md)](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/docs/en/guides/getting-started.md) ([lines 77-92](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/docs/en/guides/getting-started.md#L77-L92)).

## Summary

- **One-line installer**: Use `curl -LsSf https://code.kimi.com/install.sh | bash` for automated setup on Linux.
- **Manual option**: Run `uv tool install --python 3.13 kimi-cli` if uv is already installed.
- **Source files**: The installation logic is defined in [[`scripts/install.sh`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/scripts/install.sh)](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/scripts/install.sh), while package metadata lives in [[`pyproject.toml`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/pyproject.toml)](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/pyproject.toml).
- **Maintenance**: Use `uv tool upgrade` and `uv tool uninstall` to manage the lifecycle of your Kimi CLI installation.
- **Configuration**: Initial setup requires running `kimi` and using `/login` to authenticate with your LLM provider.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do I need Python installed before running the Kimi CLI installer?

No. The installer script automatically handles Python 3.13 via uv. The [[`scripts/install.sh`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/scripts/install.sh)](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-cli/blob/main/scripts/install.sh) explicitly targets Python 3.13 when invoking the installation command, so you do not need a pre-existing Python environment on your Linux system.

### Can I install Kimi CLI on Linux without using the one-line script?

Yes. If you prefer not to run the automated script, you can manually install uv first, then execute `uv tool install --python 3.13 kimi-cli`. This approach gives you full control over the uv installation process while achieving the same end result.

### How do I update Kimi CLI to the latest version?

Run `uv tool upgrade kimi-cli --no-cache` to fetch and install the latest release. The `--no-cache` flag ensures you bypass any stale package indexes and receive the most recent version available in the repository.

### Where does the installation script place the Kimi CLI executable?

The `kimi` binary is managed by uv and placed in uv's tool directory, which is automatically added to your shell's `PATH` during the installation process. You can verify the location by running `which kimi` after installation completes.