npiperelay is a tool that allows you to access a Windows named pipe in a way that is more compatible with a variety of command-line tools. With it, you can use Windows named pipes from the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Essentially it exposes stdin and stdout to processes in WSL, and relays information to a named pipe used by processes running in Windows, typically with help of the socat tool in the WSL distro.
Publisher’s description
What is npiperelay?
npiperelay is an open-source program for Windows from albertony. It is written in Go.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit and 32-bit as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.12.1, released on September 3, 2026. 11 versions are listed since July 9, 2024, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 5.1 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (albertony/npiperelay) has 138 stars.
Project description on GitHub: “npiperelay allows you to access Windows named pipes from WSL”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
- Updated in the last two months
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: npiperelay is an open-source Windows tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained.
Is npiperelay safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
F57695F9ABEE6D68F9079FEB6BC22640A183FF49908975A668740CAF4ED356E5· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 11 versions ›11 versions over 2 years · about 5.1 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.12.1Latest | September 3, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.12.0 | August 20, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.11.4 | July 8, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 1.11.3 | June 8, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 1.11.1 | April 8, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 1.11.0 | March 9, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 1.10.0 | February 11, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 1.9.3 | February 5, 2026 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id albertony.npiperelay -eRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- albertony
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/albertony/npiperelay
- Written in
- Go
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 1.12.1
- Released
- September 3, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- July 9, 2024
- Versions listed
- 11
- Updates / year
- 5.1
- GitHub stars
- 138
- GitHub forks
- 13
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- albertony.npiperelay
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Frequently asked questions
Is npiperelay free?
Yes. npiperelay is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is npiperelay safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install npiperelay with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does npiperelay run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of npiperelay?
The versions page lists all 11 versions with links to their official installer files, back to July 9, 2024.
Can I use npiperelay without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.