How to Install Kimi CLI on macOS: Step-by-Step Guide

Install Kimi CLI on macOS by running curl -LsSf https://code.kimi.com/install.sh | bash, which automatically bootstraps the uv package manager and installs the tool for Python 3.13.

Kimi CLI (also referred to as Kimi Code CLI) is an open-source command-line interface developed by MoonshotAI that provides interactive AI coding assistance. Distributed as a Python uv tool, it offers a streamlined installation process for macOS users. This guide walks you through how to install kimi-cli on macOS using the official installer or manual uv commands, based on the current source code in the MoonshotAI/kimi-cli repository.

One-Line Installation for macOS

The fastest way to install kimi-cli on macOS is using the official installation script. This approach handles all dependencies automatically.

Execute the following command in Terminal:

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

This single command downloads and executes the installer script located at scripts/install.sh in the repository. According to the source code, the script performs three critical operations:

• Detects download tools: It checks for curl or wget availability to fetch the uv installer (lines 5-12)
• Installs uv if missing: If uv is not found on your PATH, the script installs it; otherwise, it reuses the existing installation (lines 19-24)
• Installs the package: Finally, it executes uv tool install --python 3.13 kimi-cli to install the CLI for Python 3.13 (line 31)

Manual Installation with uv

If you already have uv installed on your macOS system, you can skip the installation script and install kimi-cli directly. This method executes the same command used internally by the installer.

Run the following command:

uv tool install --python 3.13 kimi-cli

This command is explicitly defined in scripts/install.sh at line 31 and targets Python 3.13 as the recommended runtime environment.

Verify the Installation

After installation completes, confirm that the kimi executable is available on your system PATH by checking its version:

kimi --version

The uv package manager generates the kimi executable and places it in your PATH during installation. If the command returns version information, your installation of kimi-cli on macOS is successful.

Managing Your Installation

Once installed, you can maintain kimi-cli using standard uv tool commands. The project documentation in docs/en/guides/getting-started.md (lines 66-75) outlines the following management operations:

Upgrade kimi-cli on macOS

To update to the latest release while bypassing the cache:

uv tool upgrade kimi-cli --no-cache

Uninstall kimi-cli from macOS

To remove the CLI from your system completely:

uv tool uninstall kimi-cli

Initial Configuration

After you install kimi-cli on macOS, navigate to your project directory and invoke the tool:

kimi

On first launch, the CLI prompts you to configure an LLM provider using the /login slash command. This workflow is documented in the Getting Started guide (lines 77-92). Complete this authentication step to begin the interactive AI session.

Summary

• Install kimi-cli on macOS by running curl -LsSf https://code.kimi.com/install.sh | bash, which automates uv setup and Python 3.13 configuration.
• The installer logic resides in scripts/install.sh and handles dependency detection, uv installation, and package deployment.
• Alternative manual installation uses uv tool install --python 3.13 kimi-cli if uv is already present.
• Verify installation with kimi --version, upgrade with uv tool upgrade kimi-cli --no-cache, and uninstall with uv tool uninstall kimi-cli.
• First-time users must run kimi and execute /login to configure their LLM provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does installing kimi-cli on macOS require Python to be pre-installed?

No. The installation script automatically handles Python dependencies through uv, which manages its own Python runtimes. The script specifically targets Python 3.13 during installation (line 31), so you do not need to manually install Python beforehand.

What is uv and why does kimi-cli use it?

uv is a fast, modern Python package manager written in Rust. According to the pyproject.toml configuration and installation scripts in the MoonshotAI/kimi-cli repository, uv serves as the distribution mechanism because it provides reproducible installations and efficient dependency resolution without requiring complex virtual environment management.

Can I install kimi-cli on macOS without using curl?

Yes. If you prefer not to use the curl-based installer, you can manually install uv first, then run uv tool install --python 3.13 kimi-cli. Alternatively, if you have wget available, the installation script can detect and use it instead of curl (lines 5-12).

Where is the kimi executable installed on macOS?

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

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}