get a `True` or `False` result:

     ```powershell
      $(Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 .\kubectl.exe).Hash -eq $(Get-Content .\kubectl.exe.sha256)
     ```

1. Append or prepend the `kubectl` binary folder to your `PATH` environment variable.

1. Test to ensure the version of `kubectl` is the same as downloaded:

   ```cmd
   kubectl version --client
   ```
   
   Or use this for detailed view of version:

   ```cmd
   kubectl version --client --output=yaml
   ```



{{< note >}}
[Docker Desktop for Windows](https://docs.docker.com/docker-for-windows/#kubernetes)
adds its own version of `kubectl` to `PATH`. If you have installed Docker Desktop before,
you may need to place your `PATH` entry before the one added by the Docker Desktop
installer or remove the Docker Desktop's `kubectl`.
{{< /note >}}

### Install on Windows using Chocolatey, Scoop, or winget {#install-nonstandard-package-tools}

1. To install kubectl on Windows you can use either [Chocolatey](https://chocolatey.org)
   package manager, [Scoop](https://scoop.sh) command-line installer, or
   [winget](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/package-manager/winget/) package manager.

   {{< tabs name="kubectl_win_install" >}}
   {{% tab name="choco" %}}
   ```powershell
   choco install kubernetes-cli
   ```
   {{% /tab %}}
   {{% tab name="scoop" %}}
   ```powershell
   scoop install kubectl
   ```
   {{% /tab %}}
   {{% tab name="winget" %}}
   ```powershell
   winget install -e --id Kubernetes.kubectl
   ```
   {{% /tab %}}
   {{< /tabs >}}

1. Test to ensure the version you installed is up-to-date:

   ```powershell
   kubectl version --client
   ```

1. Navigate to your home directory:

   ```powershell
   # If you're using cmd.exe, run: cd %USERPROFILE%
   cd ~
   ```

1. Create the `.kube` directory:

   ```powershell
   mkdir .kube
   ```

1. Change to the `.kube` directory you just created:

   ```powershell
   cd .kube
   ```

1. Configure kubectl to use a remote Kubernetes cluster:

   ```powershell
   New-Item config -type file
   ```

{{< note >}}
Edit the config file with a text editor of your choice, such as Notepad.