gcloud-components-update

Update all components to the latest version

$ gcloud components update

$ gcloud components update --version=[1.2.3]

$ gcloud components update --quiet

gcloud components update [COMPONENT...] [--allow-unsafe-upgrades] [--version=VERSION] [--version-check-interval=INTERVAL] [GLOBAL-FLAGS]

--allow-unsafe-upgrades
    Permit updates to pre-release or unstable versions.
Default: false.

--version=VERSION
    Pin update to a specific version string (e.g., '456.0.0').

--version-check-interval=INTERVAL
    Set update check frequency (duration like '1h', '1d').
Default: 1h.

--configuration=CONFIGURATION
    Use specified gcloud configuration (global flag).

--help
    Display detailed help (global flag).

--verbosity=VERBOSITY
    Set output verbosity: 'debug', 'info', 'warning', 'error', 'critical' (global flag).

COMPONENT...
    Optional list of specific components to update (e.g., 'kubectl', 'bq').

The gcloud components update command refreshes the Google Cloud CLI (formerly SDK) and all its installed components to the latest stable versions available from Google's repositories.

It checks for updates across core tools like gcloud, kubectl, dq, gsutil, and others, downloading and installing new releases as needed. Components without updates are noted as current.

This ensures access to the newest features, bug fixes, security patches, and compatibility improvements. By default, it targets stable releases only, skipping pre-releases unless specified. Updates may require administrative privileges if the installation is system-wide.

Run it regularly (e.g., weekly) or integrate into scripts for automated maintenance. It respects the active configuration and logs progress, including any skipped or failed updates.

Version checking occurs periodically based on the interval setting, balancing update notifications with performance.

Requires internet access and may prompt for sudo if not user-installed.
Backups not automatic; test post-update.
Large installs can take time and disk space.

Update all: gcloud components update
Specific component: gcloud components update kubectl bq
Pre-release: gcloud components update --allow-unsafe-upgrades

0: Success.
1: Update failed or interrupted.
2: Invalid arguments.

Introduced with Google Cloud SDK v100+ (2015), evolved alongside gcloud CLI rebranding (2021). Tracks Cloud SDK releases, with automated updates since v220+. Usage surged with Kubernetes/GKE adoption.

gcloud components install(1), gcloud components list(1), gcloud components remove(1)