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brew

Install transmission-cli with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, pacman, scoop, zypper

Lightweight BitTorrent client. Version 4.1.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-30.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install transmission-cli

local Homebrew formula metadata

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add transmission-cli

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · transmission-cli · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install transmission-cli

Debian stable package indexes · transmission-cli · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install transmission-cli

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · transmission-cli · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S transmission-cli

Arch Linux sync databases · transmission-cli · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install transmission-daemon

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · transmission-daemon · source: download.opensuse.org

Windows

Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/transmission-cli

Scoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/transmission-cli.json · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Lightweight BitTorrent client

Commands and aliases

  • transmission-cli
  • transmission-create
  • transmission-daemon
  • transmission-edit
  • transmission-remote
  • transmission-show

history

Project history and usage

Transmission CLI is the command-line packaging surface of Transmission, a fast, lightweight, open-source BitTorrent client. The package exposes `transmission-daemon`, `transmission-remote`, and torrent utility commands for users who run Transmission on servers, NAS devices, routers, and other headless systems.

Project history

Transmission presents itself as a multi-interface BitTorrent client: native macOS GUI, GTK and Qt clients, a Windows-compatible Qt GUI, a headless daemon, and a web UI. Its homepage emphasizes simple defaults, native integration, low resource use, and suitability for home NAS and media servers.

The CLI story has changed over time. The official README says `transmission-remote` is now the preferred CLI client, while the older standalone `transmission-cli` client is deprecated, limited to one torrent at a time, and kept primarily for older hardware that depends on it.

Transmission 4.0.0 was a major modernization release. The official release notes describe more than a year of work, over a thousand commits since 3.00, a migration from C90 to modern C++, a rewritten web client, stronger testing, BitTorrent v2 support, and better resource efficiency. Official releases continued into the 4.1 series, with 4.1.3 published in 2026.

Adoption history

Transmission's adoption is tied to its reputation for low overhead and easy defaults. The official homepage says Ubuntu chose Transmission as its default BitTorrent client in part because of its easy learning curve, and it also states that Transmission has been used by Western Digital, Zyxel, and Belkin, supporting its role on embedded, NAS, and appliance-like hardware.

For command-line users, adoption centers on `transmission-daemon` plus `transmission-remote`. The headless documentation shows the daemon running in the background, exposing RPC on port 9091, and accepting commands for adding and removing torrents, listing downloads, showing session information, checking progress, and shutting the daemon down.

How it is used

A typical headless workflow starts `transmission-daemon`, edits `~/.config/transmission-daemon/settings.json` while the daemon is stopped, then controls the session with `transmission-remote`. Users add magnet links or torrent files, list torrent IDs, stop or start selected torrents, remove items, inspect session info, and rely on the web UI or RPC protocol for remote control.

The package also includes utilities for working with torrent metadata: `transmission-show` examines `.torrent` files, `transmission-create` creates them, and `transmission-edit` edits them. Distribution packages may split these tools differently, which is why a CLI-specific package matters.

Why package nerds care

For package nerds, Transmission CLI is the headless half of a well-known desktop BitTorrent client. It is the package you install on a server, seedbox, router, or NAS when a GUI is unnecessary but the same stable Transmission core and RPC ecosystem are desired.

It also has a packaging wrinkle: the historical `transmission-cli` executable is deprecated, but package names such as `transmission-cli` often remain because users actually want the daemon, remote controller, and helper tools bundled under that long-standing CLI package identity.

Timeline

  • Earlier CLI era: The standalone `transmission-cli` client was created before `transmission-remote` and later became deprecated.
  • 3.00 era: The headless documentation examples show Transmission 3.00 daemon and RPC usage.
  • 2023: Transmission 4.0.0 modernized the codebase, web client, testing, and BitTorrent feature support.
  • 2026: Official releases list Transmission 4.1.3.

Related projects

  • Transmission CLI is part of the broader Transmission project alongside the macOS, GTK, Qt, Windows, daemon, web UI, RPC protocol, and torrent-metadata utility surfaces.

security posture

Risk level: orange

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service.

Risk classifier

orange risk · medium confidence · infrastructure

Why

  • broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
  • formula declares a Homebrew service

Signals

  • metadata:service
  • text:client

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
  • Formula metadata declares a service or daemon block.
  • Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
  • Installs with 3 runtime dependencies.
  • Build metadata lists 3 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Linux
~/.config/transmission-cli/settings.json~/.config/transmission-daemon/settings.json
macOS
~/Library/Application Support/Transmission/settings.json~/Library/Preferences/org.m0k.transmission.plist
Windows
%LOCALAPPDATA%/transmission-daemon/settings.json%LOCALAPPDATA%/transmission/settings.json

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
transmission-clicliglobal executable
transmission-createcliglobal executable
transmission-daemoncliglobal executable
transmission-editcliglobal executable
transmission-remotecliglobal executable
transmission-showcliglobal executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08
manager version4.1.3
manager updated2026-06-30
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/transmission/transmission

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:transmission-cli
Version4.1.3
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/transmission-cli
Homepagehttps://transmissionbt.com/
Repositoryhttps://github.com/transmission/transmission
Upstream docshttps://github.com/transmission/transmission/tree/main/docs
LicenseGPL-2.0-only OR GPL-3.0-only
Source archivehttps://github.com/transmission/transmission/releases/download/4.1.3/transmission-4.1.3.tar.xz
Last updated2026-06-30T12:22:58Z
Pulseupdated
Dependencieslibevent, libpsl, miniupnpc
Build dependenciescmake, gettext, pkgconf
Uses from macOScurl
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicedeclared
CaveatsThis formula only installs the command line utilities. Transmission.app can be downloaded directly from the website: https://www.transmissionbt.com/ Alternatively, install with Homebrew Cask: brew install --cask transmission

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Nametransmission-cli
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
URL Keys
  • stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

transmission-cli 4.1.0~beta2+dfsg-3+deb13u1

lightweight BitTorrent client (command line programs)

https://transmissionbt.com/

sudo apt install transmission-cli
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: transmission
  • 12 dependencies
  • 2 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Transmission Cli
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: transmission-cli from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Ubuntu apt95%

transmission-cli 4.0.5-1build5

lightweight BitTorrent client (command line programs)

https://transmissionbt.com/

sudo apt install transmission-cli
  • Section: universe/net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: transmission
  • 10 dependencies
  • 2 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Transmission Cli
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: transmission-cli from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

transmission-cli 4.1.2-r0

Lightweight GTK BitTorrent client (cli)

https://transmissionbt.com/

sudo apk add transmission-cli
  • License: GPL-3.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: transmission
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Transmission Cli
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: transmission-cli from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

transmission-cli 4.1.2-1.fc45

Transmission command line implementation

http://www.transmissionbt.com

sudo dnf install transmission-cli
  • License: MIT and GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: transmission
  • 13 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Transmission Cli
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: transmission-cli from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
pacman95%

transmission-cli 4.1.1-1

Fast, easy, and free BitTorrent client (CLI tools, daemon and web client)

http://www.transmissionbt.com/

sudo pacman -S transmission-cli
  • License: GPL-2.0-or-later
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 7 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Transmission Cli
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: transmission-cli from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz
Scoop95%

main/transmission-cli

scoop install main/transmission-cli
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Transmission Cli
Scoop official bucket manifest trees · api.github.com · Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/transmission-cli.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Debian apt92%

transmission-daemon 4.1.0~beta2+dfsg-3+deb13u1

lightweight BitTorrent client (daemon)

https://transmissionbt.com/

sudo apt install transmission-daemon
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: transmission
  • 13 dependencies
  • 4 optional deps
  • installed executable or alias match
  • Matched by: Transmission Daemon
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: transmission-daemon from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Ubuntu apt92%

transmission-daemon 4.0.5-1build5

lightweight BitTorrent client (daemon)

https://transmissionbt.com/

sudo apt install transmission-daemon
  • Section: universe/net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: transmission
  • 11 dependencies
  • 2 optional deps
  • installed executable or alias match
  • Matched by: Transmission Daemon
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: transmission-daemon from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk92%

transmission-daemon 4.1.2-r0

Lightweight GTK BitTorrent client (daemon and webinterface)

https://transmissionbt.com/

sudo apk add transmission-daemon
  • License: GPL-3.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: transmission
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • installed executable or alias match
  • Matched by: Transmission Daemon
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: transmission-daemon from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk92%

transmission-remote 4.1.2-r0

Lightweight GTK BitTorrent client (remote client)

https://transmissionbt.com/

sudo apk add transmission-remote
  • License: GPL-3.0-only
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: transmission
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • installed executable or alias match
  • Matched by: Transmission Remote
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: transmission-remote from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf92%

transmission-daemon 4.1.2-1.fc45

Transmission daemon

http://www.transmissionbt.com

sudo dnf install transmission-daemon
  • License: MIT and GPL-2.0-only
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: transmission
  • 16 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • installed executable or alias match
  • Matched by: Transmission Daemon
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: transmission-daemon from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst
zypper92%

transmission-daemon 4.1.1-1.4

Daemon for the "transmission" BitTorrent client

https://www.transmissionbt.com/

sudo zypper install transmission-daemon
  • License: (GPL-2.0-only OR GPL-3.0-only) AND MIT
  • Category: Productivity/Networking/Other
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: transmission
  • 15 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • installed executable or alias match
  • Matched by: Transmission Daemon
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: transmission-daemon from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

Related tools

  • libeventRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • libpslRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • miniupnpcRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • cmakeBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • gettextBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • pkgconfBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • rtorrentShares av.db curated category or tags: bittorrent, cli, networking, p2p, torrent-client.
  • mktorrentShares av.db curated category or tags: bittorrent, cli, networking, p2p.
  • rqbitShares av.db curated category or tags: bittorrent, cli, networking, torrent-client.
  • btpdShares av.db curated category or tags: bittorrent, cli, daemon, networking, p2p.
  • intermodalShares av.db curated category or tags: bittorrent, cli, networking.
  • mabelShares av.db curated category or tags: bittorrent, cli, networking.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Used sources

  • Geiger risk classifier
  • Nucleus package database
  • av.db category and tag curation
  • cross-ecosystem install command graph
  • curated configuration and credential file locations
  • curated package history
  • external package-manager database matches
  • package relationship graph
  • package version freshness
  • package-page enrichment