ipget is a command-line tool for people who want to fetch files from IPFS, the InterPlanetary File System, and save them to a local disk. It suits users who are comfortable in a terminal, especially those who already think of wget as a familiar way to download things. Be aware before you start: the project is no longer maintained and its repository is archived, so it will not receive fixes.
The tool is open source under the MIT license and written in Go. Its job is narrow: take a content identifier, retrieve the object from the IPFS network, and write it out as a file. That focus is part of its appeal, but it also means you should plan around an unmaintained program that may not keep pace with network changes.
What Is IPFS and Why Downloads Work Differently
IPFS, the InterPlanetary File System, is a peer-to-peer network for storing and sharing files. Instead of asking one specific server for a file by its location, a client asks the network for content identified by a hash of that content. Any peer that holds the data can answer.
That design changes how a download behaves. A link to a website depends on one host staying online, but a content identifier can be served by several peers, and popular content tends to be available from more places. The trade-off is that availability depends on someone still holding the data, so a file nobody pins may disappear from the network.
Tools such as ipget sit on the client side of this model. They ask the network for an identifier and write the result to a local file, which is why the workflow resembles a traditional download even though the network underneath is different.
Who Ipget Is For and Where It Fits
ipget suits a fairly narrow group: people who already work in a terminal and want to pull a known IPFS object to disk without installing a full node.
A few realistic scenarios include:
- Fetching a single published document or dataset whose CID has been shared by a project.
- Retrieving files inside a shell script or scheduled job, where a graphical tool would get in the way.
- Testing whether a given CID resolves from your location, which helps when debugging IPFS publishing.
- Learning how content retrieval works by watching a simple command do one thing.
It is less suited to people who want a browser-style experience, who need to publish content, or who expect ongoing updates. Those needs point toward a node or desktop tool instead.
Key Terms to Know Before You Start
Several terms come up repeatedly in IPFS documentation and in discussions of tools like this one.
A content identifier, or CID, is the string that names a piece of content. Change even one byte of a file and its CID changes, which is what makes the identifier useful for checking integrity.
A peer is any computer on the network that stores and serves data. A pin tells a node to keep a copy of content so it stays available. A gateway is a web server that lets a browser fetch IPFS content over HTTP, which is handy for quick checks but is a different path from direct retrieval.
Knowing these terms makes command output easier to interpret and helps you decide whether you need pinning or only retrieval.
Key features
Wget-Style Retrieval
Focused Scope
Open Source Code
How to install Ipget on Windows
- 1
Open the Official Source
Go to the project's repository at github.com/ipfs/ipget and open the Releases page. Download only from the official website or that GitHub Releases page, never from mirror sites that offer repackaged installers.
- 2
Verify the File
Look for a published SHA-256 checksum or signature next to the download, and compare it with the value your computer calculates. If nothing is published for the file, treat that as a reason for extra caution before running it.
-
Place and Run the Executable
Move the executable into a folder you control, then run it from a command prompt. Adding that folder to your PATH lets you call the program from any directory without typing its full location.
How to use Ipget
Once the executable runs, the workflow is short. Everything depends on having the right content identifier, so keep it handy.
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell in the folder that holds ipget.exe.
- Run the program with the help option to see the flags your version supports.
- Copy the CID of the file you want from the publisher or another IPFS tool.
- Run ipget with that CID and choose an output name, following the help text.
- Wait for the transfer to finish, then check the file size and open the file to confirm it looks right.
- Save the CID in a note so you can fetch the same content again later.
Pros & cons
- Simple, wget-style workflow for IPFS downloads
- Open source under the MIT license, so the code can be read
- Narrow scope that is easy to call from scripts
- Free to use
- Archived and no longer maintained, so no fixes or updates are expected
- No graphical interface
- No Windows build is guaranteed; check the releases page for one
- Requires comfort with the command line
Is Ipget safe?
ipget is archived, so it will not receive security fixes. That makes the source of your download and the checks you run on it especially important. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page for the project, and check the latest version on the official website before you install. Verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running the file. Never enter a seed phrase on third-party websites, and never trust a download link that arrives through an ad or a message. The program retrieves content rather than handling wallets or keys, but you should still treat anything fetched from IPFS as untrusted until you have inspected it.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ipfs/ipget. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
ipget sits at the narrow end of the IPFS tool family. Kubo is the reference IPFS node, which runs a full peer and does much more than retrieval. IPFS Desktop puts a node in your system tray for people who prefer a graphical view. Peergos focuses on end-to-end encrypted, peer-to-peer file storage and sharing, while Pinner CLI is built for pinning content. ZeroNet takes a different route, hosting decentralized sites rather than retrieving individual files. If you only need one file from IPFS and want something lightweight, ipget fits. If you need a full node that you run over time, Kubo or IPFS Desktop is the better starting point.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- v0.13.2
- Last update
- 4 Aug 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/ipfs/ipget
Frequently asked questions
No. The project is no longer maintained and its repository is archived, so it will not receive new features or security fixes. It can still handle simple retrieval tasks, but treat it as a fixed tool rather than a current one. Read the safety notes before you download anything.
It can be, if you get it from the official source and check the file. Download from the GitHub Releases page, compare the SHA-256 checksum or signature, and avoid copies from third-party sites. Because the project is archived, it will not receive security patches, which is the main reason for caution.
Place the executable in a folder, open a terminal there, and run the program with a content identifier from IPFS. The command retrieves the content and saves it as a local file. Check the help output for the options your version supports.
A CID, or content identifier, is a string that points to a specific piece of content on IPFS. Because it is derived from the content itself, the same CID refers to the same data no matter which peer serves it. You usually copy it from the publisher or from another IPFS tool.
Kubo is the reference IPFS node for people who need a full implementation. IPFS Desktop offers a system tray node with a graphical interface. Pinner CLI suits pinning workflows, and Peergos fits encrypted file sharing. Choose based on whether you need simple retrieval, a running node, or sharing.
No, ipget is a command-line program with no graphical front end. If you prefer a visual workflow, IPFS Desktop runs a node from the system tray. For scripted retrieval, the terminal approach is more direct and easier to automate.
Verdict
ipget is a tidy, wget-style tool for fetching IPFS content from the command line, released under the MIT license. Its archived status is the deciding factor. It suits someone who needs a simple retrieval tool for a one-off task and accepts that no updates will come. If you need ongoing security maintenance or a full node, choose an actively developed alternative from the list below.