# Install yubico-piv-tool with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, winget, zypper

Command-line tool for the YubiKey PIV application. Version 2.7.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-25.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:yubico-piv-tool
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install yubico-piv-tool
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install yubico-piv-tool
```

  Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: security/yubico-piv-tool/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

### Linux

- apk (92%):

```sh
sudo apk add yubico-piv-tool
```

  Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: yubico-piv-tool from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

- Debian apt (92%):

```sh
sudo apt install libykpiv-dev
```

  Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: libykpiv-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

- dnf (92%):

```sh
sudo dnf install yubico-piv-tool
```

  Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: yubico-piv-tool from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

- Nix (92%):

```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#yubico-piv-tool
```

  Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/yu/yubico-piv-tool/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

- pacman (92%):

```sh
sudo pacman -S yubico-piv-tool
```

  Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: yubico-piv-tool from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

- zypper (92%):

```sh
sudo zypper install libykcs11-2
```

  Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libykcs11-2 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

### Windows

- Scoop (92%):

```sh
scoop install main/yubico-piv-tool
```

  Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/yubico-piv-tool.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1

- winget (92%):

```sh
winget install --id Yubico.PIVTool -e
```

  Evidence: Windows Package Manager source index: Yubico.PIVTool from https://cdn.winget.microsoft.com/cache/source.msix

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:yubico-piv-tool
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Package manager page:** <https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/yubico-piv-tool>
- **Version:** 2.7.3
- **Source summary:** Command-line tool for the YubiKey PIV application
- **Homepage:** <https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/Yubico/yubico-piv-tool>
- **Upstream docs:** <https://developers.yubico.com/PIV>
- **License:** BSD-2-Clause
- **Source archive:** <https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/Releases/yubico-piv-tool-2.7.3.tar.gz>
- **Last updated:** 2026-06-25T13:38:13+02:00
- **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00

## Executables

- yubico-piv-tool (cli)
- yubico-piv-tool (alias)

## Dependencies

- openssl@3

## Build dependencies

- check
- cmake
- gengetopt
- help2man
- pkgconf

## Uses from macOS

- pcsc-lite

## Install behavior

- Post-install hook: not defined
- Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-07-08
- Package-manager version: 2.7.3
- Package-manager updated: 2026-06-25
- Local data: ok
- Upstream repository: https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/
- info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.
## Project history and usage

Yubico PIV Tool is the command-line, library, and PKCS#11 toolchain for the YubiKey PIV application, packaged because it turns hardware-backed smart-card identity into scriptable Unix tooling.

### Project history

Yubico’s PIV tooling grew from the YubiKey NEO/YubiKey 4 era when YubiKeys exposed a Personal Identity Verification smart-card interface compatible with NIST SP 800-73 concepts. The developer documentation describes PIV as enabling RSA or ECC signing and decryption with private keys stored on the smart card, exposed through interfaces such as PKCS#11.

The project bundles several layers: the `yubico-piv-tool` command, the libykpiv library, and the YKCS11 PKCS#11 module. That combination made it useful both for direct provisioning tasks and for applications that already know how to talk PKCS#11.

Over time, release notes show the project tracking newer YubiKey capabilities and platform integration needs: improved YKCS11 behavior, Windows/minidriver integration, firmware 5.7-era RSA3072/RSA4096, ED25519 and X25519 support, key deletion and movement, and expanded error handling.

### Adoption history

Adoption followed enterprise and developer uses of YubiKeys as smart-card-like credentials: client certificates, SSH through PKCS#11, code signing, certificate requests, and hardware-backed private-key operations. Distribution packages often split the command-line tool, development library, and PKCS#11 module, reflecting its use both by humans and by other applications.

Yubico’s own guides for SSH with PIV and PKCS#11 helped make the package a standard dependency in hardware-backed SSH setups before OpenSSH’s newer FIDO2 key types became widespread. Even with FIDO2 available, PIV remains relevant where certificate, PKCS#11, or smart-card interoperability is required.

### How it is used

Users use `yubico-piv-tool` to generate keys on a YubiKey, import keys or certificates, create certificate signing requests, read and write PIV objects, inspect status, verify PINs, and test signatures. Applications can use YKCS11 when they need a PKCS#11 provider for the YubiKey PIV applet.

For package users, the practical pattern is often: install the tool, initialize or inspect the PIV applet, provision slots such as 9a for authentication, and point OpenSSH, OpenSSL, Firefox, Java keytool, or another PKCS#11-aware consumer at the YKCS11 module.

### Why package nerds care

This package is a bridge between hardware security tokens and the Unix package ecosystem. It is small on the surface, but it explains why smart-card support pulls in PC/SC, PKCS#11, OpenSSL, and vendor-specific libraries in real deployments.

It also documents the hardware reality ponytail code usually cannot ignore: firmware capabilities matter, slots matter, PIN/PUK/management-key state matters, and package upgrades may unlock algorithms only when the physical YubiKey supports them.

### Timeline

- 2014: Yubico copyright notices and forum activity show the PIV tool emerging in the YubiKey NEO/PIV era.
- 2016: yubico-piv-tool 2.0.0 is discussed as a major YKCS11 release with a more complete PKCS#11 implementation.
- 2017-2020: Linux distributions package yubico-piv-tool and YKCS11 for command-line and PKCS#11 use.
- 2024-01-31: Version 2.5.0 adds firmware 5.7-era support for RSA3072/RSA4096, ED25519, X25519, key deletion, and key movement.
- 2026-01-20: Version 2.7.3 release notes include X25519 ECDH work and Windows/minidriver usability improvements.

### Related projects

- Related projects include YubiKey Manager, YKCS11, libykpiv, OpenSC, OpenSSH, OpenSSL, p11-kit, PC/SC Lite, piv-go, yubikey-agent, PIV standards, and NIST SP 800-73.

### Sources

- <https://developers.yubico.com/PIV/Guides/SSH_with_PIV_and_PKCS11.html>
- <https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/>
- <https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/Release_Notes.html>
- <https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/YKCS11/>
- <https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/YubiKey_PIV_introduction.html>
- <https://docs.yubico.com/software/yubikey/tools/pivtool/Introduction.html>
- <https://packages.debian.org/sid/i386/ykcs11>
- <https://packages.debian.org/sid/utils/yubico-piv-tool>


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

## Source Database Details

- **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API
- **Tap:** homebrew/core
- **Full Name:** yubico-piv-tool
- **Version Scheme:** 0
- **Revision:** 0
- **Bottle Stable Root URL:** <https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core>
- **Deprecated:** no
- **Disabled:** no
- **Keg Only:** no
- **URL Keys:** stable

## Other Package-Manager Records

- Debian apt - libykpiv-dev - 2.7.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libykpiv-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Development files for the YubiKey PIV Library | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/
- Debian apt - libykpiv2 - 2.7.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: libykpiv2 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Library for communication with the YubiKey PIV smartcard | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/
- Debian apt - ykcs11 - 2.7.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: ykcs11 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | PKCS#11 module for the YubiKey PIV applet | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/
- Debian apt - yubico-piv-tool - 2.7.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: yubico-piv-tool from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Command line tool for the YubiKey PIV applet | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/
- Nix - yubico-piv-tool: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/yu/yubico-piv-tool/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- Ubuntu apt - libykpiv-dev - 2.2.0-1.1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libykpiv-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Development files for the YubiKey PIV Library | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/
- Ubuntu apt - libykpiv2 - 2.2.0-1.1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libykpiv2 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Library for communication with the YubiKey PIV smartcard | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/
- Ubuntu apt - ykcs11 - 2.2.0-1.1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: ykcs11 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | PKCS#11 module for the YubiKey PIV applet | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/
- Ubuntu apt - yubico-piv-tool - 2.2.0-1.1build2: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: yubico-piv-tool from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Command line tool for the YubiKey PIV applet | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/
- apk - yubico-piv-tool - 2.7.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: yubico-piv-tool from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | PIV Tools for yubikey | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool
- apk - yubico-piv-tool-dev - 2.7.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: yubico-piv-tool-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | PIV Tools for yubikey (development files) | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool
- apk - yubico-piv-tool-doc - 2.7.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: yubico-piv-tool-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | PIV Tools for yubikey (documentation) | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool
- apk - yubico-piv-tool-libs - 2.7.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: yubico-piv-tool-libs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | PIV Tools for yubikey (libraries) | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool
- apk - yubico-piv-tool-static - 2.7.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: yubico-piv-tool-static from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | PIV Tools for yubikey (static library) | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool
- dnf - yubico-piv-tool - 2.7.3-1.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: yubico-piv-tool from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Tool for interacting with the PIV applet on a YubiKey | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/
- dnf - yubico-piv-tool-devel - 2.7.3-1.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: yubico-piv-tool-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Tool for interacting with the PIV applet on a YubiKey | https://developers.yubico.com/yubico-piv-tool/


## Related links

- [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata.
- [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata.
- [Security and crypto packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/security-crypto-tools/) - Matched security, identity, cryptography, password, signing, or certificate metadata.
- [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider.
- [openssl@3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openssl-3/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [check](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/check/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [cmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [gengetopt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gengetopt/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [help2man](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/help2man/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [opensc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/opensc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, pkcs11, security, smart-card.
- [yubikey-agent](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/yubikey-agent/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, piv, security, yubikey.
- [age-plugin-yubikey](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/age-plugin-yubikey/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, piv, security, yubikey.
- [gnupg-pkcs11-scd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gnupg-pkcs11-scd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, pkcs11, security, smart-card.
- [pivit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pivit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, piv, security, yubikey.
- [softhsm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/softhsm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, pkcs11, security.
- [ykman](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ykman/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, security, yubikey.
- [ykpers](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ykpers/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, security, yubikey.
- [libfido2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libfido2/) - Security-sensitive metadata or terminology overlaps. Shared terms: authentication, cli, hardware, openssl, openssl-3.

## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/yubico-piv-tool.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/yubico-piv-tool.yml)


## Sources

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