Pinner CLI is a free, open-source command-line program for pinning content to IPFS, the InterPlanetary File System. It is built for developers, system administrators and technically minded users who want to keep files available on a decentralized network without working through a graphical interface. If you already use a terminal on Windows and want a lightweight way to pin content, this tool is designed for that workflow.
The project is released under the MIT license and is currently at version 0.2.1, a number that points to an early stage of development. Pinner CLI for Windows can be installed with the winget package manager using a single command. Treat it as a young tool: test it on non-critical content first and keep your own copies of anything important.
What Is IPFS and Why Pinning Matters
IPFS, the InterPlanetary File System, is a peer-to-peer network for storing and sharing files. Instead of asking a single server for a file by its location, the network identifies content by a cryptographic hash of its data, usually shown as a content identifier, or CID. Anyone who holds a copy can serve it, and the same CID always points to the same bytes.
That design has a practical consequence. Files on IPFS are only available while some node keeps them. A node that has merely viewed or cached a file may discard it later to free space. Pinning is the way to say that a particular file should stay on your node until you remove the pin.
For newcomers, the difference between caching and pinning is the most important idea to grasp. Caching is temporary and driven by demand. Pinning is a deliberate commitment that uses your own disk space and bandwidth, so plan storage capacity before pinning large directories.
Who Pinner CLI Is For
Pinner CLI suits people who are comfortable with a terminal and want to automate their work. Web developers publishing static sites to IPFS are a natural audience, since they can pin a build output as part of a deployment routine. System administrators who manage shared resources may find the same approach useful for keeping important files reachable.
Researchers and archivists also work with content they want to keep available without depending on a single host. A dataset, document collection or set of images can be pinned so that other people on the network can retrieve it by CID. The tool does not decide what should be preserved; that remains your responsibility.
Less technical users may find it harder to start. Without a graphical interface, they need to be comfortable typing commands, reading help output and checking results in the terminal. If that sounds unfamiliar, a visual IPFS application may be a gentler starting point, which the comparison section explores.
Practical Use Cases for Pinning Content
One common scenario is publishing a static website. After generating the files, you pin the output directory so that its CID stays available even when your own server is offline. This is useful for project documentation, landing pages or demos that should remain accessible over time.
Another scenario is archiving. Suppose you have a folder of reference files, research notes or open data that you want to keep alive. Pinning the directory on a machine you control means the content continues to be served as long as that machine stays online and the pin remains in place.
A third case involves sharing within a group. Team members who run IPFS nodes can pin the same CID, which spreads copies across more peers. Everyone can confirm they received identical data because the CID is derived from the content itself. Pinning consumes disk space on every machine that holds a copy, so agree on what gets pinned and who maintains it.
Key features
Pinning Content to IPFS
Command-Line Workflow
Open Source Under the MIT License
Simple Winget Installation
How to install Pinner CLI on Windows
PS> winget install Pinner.Cli- 1
Check that winget is available
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run winget --version. If the command returns a version number, your system is ready. If it does not, update the App Installer package from Microsoft Store and try again.
- 2
Install Pinner CLI
Run winget install Pinner.Cli in the same terminal. Winget downloads the package and installs it. Wait for the command to finish and read any messages it prints before moving on.
-
Confirm the installation
Close and reopen your terminal so the updated environment loads, then check that the program starts. If the command is not recognized, restart Windows and try again. If you prefer a manual download, use only the official website at pinner.xyz or the project's GitHub Releases page, and keep the safety checks described below in mind.
How to use Pinner CLI
Pinner CLI works best when you have a clear idea of what you want to keep available. Before you start, decide which file or directory should be pinned and confirm that you have enough free disk space to store it.
- Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and check that the program starts after installation.
- Look at the built-in help output to find the exact syntax for the pin command, since options can differ between releases.
- Choose the file or directory you want to pin and make a copy of it first, so the original stays safe if something goes wrong.
- Run the pin command against that path and wait for the process to finish.
- Record the CID that the program returns. This identifier is how other people and nodes will find the content.
- Test availability from a second machine or a public IPFS gateway to confirm the content can be retrieved.
- Review pinned content regularly. Remove pins you no longer need so your storage does not fill up unnoticed.
Save your commands in a script if you repeat this process often, so each run follows the same steps.
Pros & cons
- Free to use and released under the permissive MIT license
- Open source, so the code can be read and reviewed
- Simple installation on Windows with a single winget command
- Focused on one job: pinning content to IPFS
- Well suited to scripting and repeatable workflows
- Version 0.2.1 signals an early stage, so behavior may change between releases
- Command-line only, with no graphical interface for beginners
- Pinning uses your own storage and bandwidth, which can add up for large content
- Getting the most out of it requires working knowledge of IPFS
Is Pinner CLI safe?
Pinner CLI is a command-line tool that stores and serves data on your machine, so treat it with the same care as any software that touches your files. Download it only from the official website at pinner.xyz or from the project's GitHub Releases page, and avoid mirror sites and bundled installers. Verify the SHA-256 checksum of any downloaded file against the value the project publishes, and check a signature if one is provided. Because the code is MIT-licensed, you can also review it yourself. Pinning a file publishes it to the network, so never pin private documents or sensitive data. Before installing, check the latest version on the official website, since early releases may receive important fixes.
- Official source only. Download from pinner.xyz. 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
Pinner CLI sits at the command-line end of the IPFS world. Kubo is the reference IPFS node, which you run as a node you manage yourself and control through its own commands. Pinner CLI is narrower, concentrating on pinning as its main job. IPFS Desktop takes the opposite approach, placing a node in the system tray with a visual interface that suits people who prefer clicking to typing. Storj is a different model altogether: a decentralized cloud storage network that works on its own protocol rather than IPFS. Choose Pinner CLI if you want a small, scriptable pinning tool, Kubo if you need a full node, and IPFS Desktop if you want a graphical starting point.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- 0.2.1
- Last update
- —
- Windows support
- Yes (available via winget)
- Official site
- pinner.xyz
- Install command
- winget install Pinner.Cli
Frequently asked questions
Pinner CLI is used to pin content to IPFS, which means keeping a copy of a file or directory on your machine so it stays available to the network. It is aimed at users who prefer working from a Windows terminal. Typical uses include keeping static websites, documentation or archived files reachable over time. Pinning is a deliberate step, separate from the temporary caching that IPFS nodes do automatically.
Yes, Pinner CLI is free to download and use. It is released under the MIT license, which allows personal and commercial use, modification and redistribution as long as the license notice is kept.
Pinner CLI can be installed safely when you get it from an official source and check its integrity. Use winget or the official website and GitHub Releases page rather than third-party download sites. Review the SHA-256 checksum where available, and remember that the open-source code can be inspected. The main risk comes from unofficial copies of any program.
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run winget install Pinner.Cli. Winget downloads and installs the program in one step. Restart your terminal afterward, then check that the program starts. The installation section above walks through each step in more detail.
Uploading adds content to a node, while pinning tells that node to keep it indefinitely. Content that is only cached can be removed later to free space. A pinned file stays on your machine until you unpin it. If you want content to remain reachable, pinning is the step that matters.
No, Pinner CLI is a command-line tool and works from a terminal. Users who want a visual interface can look at IPFS Desktop, which places a node in the system tray. Command-line tools suit scripting, while graphical tools suit occasional manual use.
Verdict
Pinner CLI is a focused, free and open-source option for people who want to pin content to IPFS from Windows. It is best suited to developers, administrators and technically confident users who work in a terminal and automate routine tasks. Beginners who want a visual experience may prefer a graphical IPFS app, while those who need a full node should look at Kubo. Because the version is still 0.2.1, treat it as an early tool, test it with non-critical content and keep backups of anything valuable.