# How to Install Helm

> How to install Helm, the package manager for Kubernetes, and use it to deploy applications to a cluster.

- Source: https://www.itwonderlab.com/install-kubernetes-helm/
- Published: 2023-11-07
- Updated: 2026-10-05
- Author: Javier Ruiz Jiménez (https://www.javierruizjimenez.com/)
- Site: IT Wonder Lab (https://www.itwonderlab.com/)

---

## Install Helm for managing Kubernetes package deployments on Ubuntu

[Helm](https://helm.sh/) is the package manager for Kubernetes that simplifies deploying and managing applications on a Kubernetes cluster. It streamlines the process with pre-configured packages (charts) and simplifies updates, rollbacks, and collaboration in a Kubernetes environment.

![Helm: a chart from a repository plus your values file is rendered by the helm CLI into Kubernetes manifests and installed in the cluster as a release](https://www.itwonderlab.com/media/tutorials/Diagrams/ITWL-Helm-Chart-Release.svg "From a Helm chart and values to a release in the cluster")

### Install Helm

To install, follow the [official installation instructions](https://helm.sh/docs/intro/install/). The quickest way is the installer script of the Helm project, which downloads and installs the latest release:

```bash
curl -fsSL -o get_helm.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/helm/helm/main/scripts/get-helm-3
chmod 700 get_helm.sh
./get_helm.sh
```

> [!NOTE]
> Older versions of this tutorial used the apt repository at `baltocdn.com`, which has been retired. Check the [Helm installation page](https://helm.sh/docs/intro/install/) for the current apt, snap and package manager options.

### Check Helm installation

Check that Helm has been installed and can search packages.

```shell
$ helm search hub nfs
WARNING: Kubernetes configuration file is group-readable. This is insecure. Location: /etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
WARNING: Kubernetes configuration file is world-readable. This is insecure. Location: /etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml
URL                                                     CHART VERSION   APP VERSION     DESCRIPTION                                       
https://artifacthub.io/packages/helm/awesome/na...      1.0.1           4.0.2           nfs-subdir-external-provisioner is an automatic...
https://artifacthub.io/packages/helm/obeone/nfs...      1.1.2           2.2.2           A lightweight, robust, flexible, and containeri...
https://artifacthub.io/packages/helm/rimusz/nfs...      0.1.6           v3.1.0-k8s1.11  nfs-client-provisioner is an automatic provisio...
...
```

### Use Helm with K3s

Add `--kubeconfig /etc/rancher/k3s/k3s.yaml` to the Helm commands to specify the location of the Kubernetes configuration file.