rclone Version

rclone version prints version information, build details, Go runtime version, and the operating system. Use it to verify your installation, check for updates, and include in bug reports.

Quick Summary

Always include rclone version output when troubleshooting issues or filing bug reports. It provides the exact build and runtime context needed for diagnosis.

Basic Syntax

rclone version [flags]

Output Example

rclone v1.65.0
- os/version: ubuntu 22.04 (64 bit)
- os/kernel: 5.15.0-91-generic (x86_64)
- os/type: linux
- os/arch: amd64
- go/version: go1.21.5
- go/linking: static
- go/tags: none

Key Flags

Flag	Description
--check	Check for new versions

# Check if a newer version is available
rclone version --check

yours:  1.65.0
latest: 1.66.0
upgrade: https://downloads.rclone.org/v1.66.0

Practical Examples

Verify Installation

rclone version

Check for Updates

rclone version --check

Include in Bug Reports

# Copy full version info for a bug report
rclone version 2>&1 | xclip -selection clipboard

Script Version Check

#!/bin/bash
# Ensure minimum rclone version
REQUIRED="1.60.0"
CURRENT=$(rclone version | head -1 | grep -oP 'v\K[0-9.]+')

if [ "$(printf '%s\n' "$REQUIRED" "$CURRENT" | sort -V | head -1)" != "$REQUIRED" ]; then
  echo "rclone $REQUIRED or higher required (found $CURRENT)"
  exit 1
fi

Common Pitfalls

Pitfall	Consequence	Prevention
Outdated rclone with new backend features	Missing features, auth failures	Run rclone version --check regularly
Different versions on different servers	Inconsistent behavior	Standardize version across servers
Package manager version behind	Older than latest stable	Install from rclone.org for latest

What's Next

Examples with Output

1. Basic version check

Verify the installed version and build architecture. Command:

rclone version

Output:

rclone v1.65.0
- os/version: ubuntu 22.04 (64 bit)
- os/arch: amd64
- go/version: go1.21.5

2. Check for available updates

See if a newer stable release is ready for download. Command:

rclone version --check

Output:

yours:  1.65.0
latest: 1.66.0
upgrade: https://downloads.rclone.org/v1.66.0

3. Extract just the version number

Get a clean string for use in version-sensitive scripts. Command:

rclone version | head -1 | awk '{print $2}'

Output:

v1.65.0

4. Verify backend compatibility

Check if your current build supports a specific backend. Command:

rclone version --check | grep "drive"

Output:

(Confirms 'drive' is in the supported backends list)

5. Check for beta versions

Identify if you are running a stable build or a development beta. Command:

rclone version

Output:

rclone v1.66.0-beta.7521.9a32c1 (if running beta)