> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://bolt-builder-bolt-cli-5b0aab46-mintlify-541a0110.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install Bolt on macOS, Linux, or Windows

> Install the Bolt CLI via curl, npm, bun, pnpm, yarn, Homebrew, Chocolatey, or Scoop. Covers upgrading, uninstalling, and the desktop app.

Bolt can be installed on macOS, Linux, and Windows using the method that fits your workflow — a one-line curl script, any major Node.js package manager, or a system package manager like Homebrew, Chocolatey, or Scoop.

## Quick install (macOS / Linux)

The fastest way to get started is the official install script. It auto-detects your OS and architecture, downloads the correct binary to `~/.bolt/bin`, and adds it to your `$PATH`.

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bolt-builder/bolt-cli/dev/install | bash
```

The installer also sets up optional voice input dependencies (sox and whisper-cpp for offline transcription). To skip that, pass `--no-voice`:

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bolt-builder/bolt-cli/dev/install | bash -s -- --no-voice
```

To pin a specific version:

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bolt-builder/bolt-cli/dev/install | bash -s -- --version 1.20.2
```

## Package managers

Install Bolt globally with the package manager of your choice:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash npm theme={null}
  npm i -g @bolt-builder/bolt-cli
  ```

  ```bash bun theme={null}
  bun add -g @bolt-builder/bolt-cli
  ```

  ```bash pnpm theme={null}
  pnpm add -g @bolt-builder/bolt-cli
  ```

  ```bash yarn theme={null}
  yarn global add @bolt-builder/bolt-cli
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Verify the installation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Check the installed version">
    After installation, confirm that `bolt` is available on your `$PATH`:

    ```bash theme={null}
    bolt --version
    ```

    If the command is not found, open a new terminal session (or re-source your shell config) so the updated `$PATH` takes effect.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Upgrading

Run `bolt upgrade` to update to the latest release:

```bash theme={null}
bolt upgrade
```

Bolt detects your original installation method automatically. You can override it with the `--method` flag:

```bash theme={null}
bolt upgrade --method <method>
```

Supported methods are: `curl`, `npm`, `pnpm`, `bun`, `brew`, `choco`, `scoop`.

You can also upgrade to a specific version by passing the version as a positional argument:

```bash theme={null}
bolt upgrade 1.20.2
```

## Uninstalling

To remove Bolt from your system:

```bash theme={null}
bolt uninstall
```

## Environment variables

| Variable               | Description                                        |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| `BOLT_LOG_LEVEL`       | Log verbosity: `DEBUG`, `INFO`, `WARN`, or `ERROR` |
| `BOLT_PRINT_LOGS`      | Print logs to stderr                               |
| `BOLT_PURE`            | Run without loading external plugins               |
| `BOLT_SERVER_PASSWORD` | Basic auth password for the headless API server    |
| `BOLT_SERVER_USERNAME` | Basic auth username for the headless API server    |

<Tip>
  Set `BOLT_PURE=1` when you want a clean run without any third-party plugins — useful for debugging or controlled CI environments.
</Tip>

## Desktop app

<Note>
  Bolt also ships as a native desktop application with multi-window session management, an integrated terminal and file tree, a command palette, 28 UI languages, and auto-updates. Download the latest release from the [releases page](https://github.com/Bolt-builder/bolt-cli/releases).

  On macOS you can install it in one line with no Gatekeeper detour:

  ```bash theme={null}
  curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bolt-builder/bolt-cli/dev/install-desktop | bash
  ```
</Note>