# Error: unknown command “init” for “dbt” and can't uninstall dbt-cloud-cli and install dbt-core instead

**URL:** <https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/error-unknown-command-init-for-dbt-and-cant-uninstall-dbt-cloud-cli-and-install-dbt-core-instead/12558>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [March 21, 2024, 1:06pm UTC](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/error-unknown-command-init-for-dbt-and-cant-uninstall-dbt-cloud-cli-and-install-dbt-core-instead/12558 "2024-03-21T13:06:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![amm2592000](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discourse.getdbt.com/amm2592000/32/3812_2.png) [@amm2592000](https://discourse.getdbt.com/u/amm2592000)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 1:06pm UTC](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/error-unknown-command-init-for-dbt-and-cant-uninstall-dbt-cloud-cli-and-install-dbt-core-instead/12558/1 "2024-03-21T13:06:30Z")

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## The problem I’m having

I am trying to uninstall dbt-cloud-cli after knowing that the  
`pip install dbt`  
installs the dbt-cloud not the dbt-core

## The context of why I’m trying to do this

because whenever I try running  
` dbt init project-name`  
I got the error  
`Error: unknown command "init" for "dbt"`  
so I found someone with my case [Error: unknown command "init" for "dbt"](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/error-unknown-command-init-for-dbt/10580)  
that saying that I should uninstall dbt-cloud and install dbt-core instead

## What I’ve already tried

I have tried to uninstall dbt-cloud and install dbt-core so that may solve the problem of not being able to initialize the project  
I have followed what is written here [Where product teams design, test and optimize agents at Enterprise Scale — Restack](https://www.restack.io/docs/dbt-core-knowledge-uninstall-dbt-core) which is running  
`pip uninstall dbt`  
but after that when I run  
`dbt --version`  
I still have  
`dbt Cloud CLI - 0.37.0`

If anyone can help me I would be so grateful

---

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**Author:** ![avinashvishnu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discourse.getdbt.com/avinashvishnu/32/3938_2.png) [@avinashvishnu](https://discourse.getdbt.com/u/avinashvishnu)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 6:48am UTC](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/error-unknown-command-init-for-dbt-and-cant-uninstall-dbt-cloud-cli-and-install-dbt-core-instead/12558/2 "2024-04-24T06:48:05Z")

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I had the same issue. Initially a test version of Python was installed, and I had tried to install dbt using the same, and it failed to install in between throwing an error regarding inability to process certain packages.

Later, when I uninstalled the test version and installed the latest version of stable python, even before I could start installing dbt, I could see dbt cloud CLI installed. On more exploring found that there was residue during uninstallation. This can be identified by typing the below in your terminal :

where dbt

This would return path/s where it can find dbt installed. I removed the residue and retried installing dbt-core and other adapters, and voila! It worked. Hope this helps.

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**Author:** ![sumi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@sumi](https://discourse.getdbt.com/u/sumi)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2024, 8:57am UTC](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/error-unknown-command-init-for-dbt-and-cant-uninstall-dbt-cloud-cli-and-install-dbt-core-instead/12558/3 "2024-11-19T08:57:23Z")

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If you’re facing issues with the dbt installation (such as seeing `dbt Cloud CLI` instead of the correct version even after the command pip uninstall dbt ), here’s what worked for me:

1. Manually delete any existing `dbt` executables:  
Use File Explorer to search for any `dbt` files (such as `dbt.exe` or similar) and delete them.  
This removes any remnants of the previous installation, like the dbt Cloud CLI version.
2. Reinstall dbt

- Run (pip install dbt-core) to reinstall the correct dbt core and any necessary plugins

i hope it helps!