---
name: containers-ts-storage-object-helm-fails
title: Why does installing the Object storage Helm plug-in fail?
description: Troubleshoot Helm installation failures for Cloud Object Storage.
last-updated: 2026-08-12
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/containers?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Why does installing the Object storage Helm plug-in fail?
{: #cos_helm_fails}
{: support}

Troubleshoot Helm installation failures for Cloud Object Storage.
{: shortdesc}

[Virtual Private Cloud]{: tag-vpc} [Classic infrastructure]{: tag-classic-inf}


When you install the IBM Cloud Object Storage `ibmc` Helm plug-in, the installation fails with one of the following errors:
{: tsSymptoms}

```sh
Error: symlink /Users/iks-charts/ibm-object-storage-plugin/helm-ibmc /Users/ibm/.helm/plugins/helm-ibmc: file exists
```
{: screen}

```sh
Error: fork/exec /home/iksadmin/.helm/plugins/helm-ibmc/ibmc.sh: permission denied
```
{: screen}


When the `ibmc` Helm plug-in is installed, a symlink is created from the `~/.helm/plugins/helm-ibmc` directory for Linux systems or the `~/Library/helm/plugins/helm-ibmc` directory for Mac OS to the directory where the `ibmc` Helm plug-in is located on your local system, which is usually in `./ibmcloud-object-storage-plugin/helm-ibmc`.
{: tsCauses}

When you remove the `ibmc` Helm plug-in from your local system, or you move the `ibmc` Helm plug-in directory to a different location, the symlink is not removed.

If you see a `permission denied` error, you don't have the required `read`, `write`, and `execute` permission on the `ibmc.sh` bash file so that you can execute `ibmc` Helm plug-in commands.


Review the following steps based on the error type.
{: tsResolve}

- For symlink errors:

    1. Remove the IBM Cloud Object Storage Helm plug-in.

        Linux example
        ```sh
        rm -rf ~/.helm/plugins/helm-ibmc
        ```
        {: pre}

        Mac OS example
        ```sh
        rm -rf ~/Library/helm/plugins/helm-ibmc for macOS
        ```
        {: pre}

    2. Follow the [documentation](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/containers?topic=containers-storage_cos_install&format=markdown) to re-install the `ibmc` Helm plug-in and the IBM Cloud Object Storage plug-in.

- For permission errors:

    1. Change the permissions for the `ibmc` plug-in.
        Linux example
        ```sh
        chmod 755 ~/.helm/plugins/helm-ibmc/ibmc.sh
        ```
        {: pre}

        Mac OS example
        ```sh
        chmod 755 ~/Library/helm/plugins/helm-ibmc/ibmc.sh
        ```
        {: pre}

    2. Try out the `ibm` Helm plug-in.
    
        ```sh
        helm ibmc --help
        ```
        {: pre}

3. [Continue installing the IBM Cloud Object Storage plug-in](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/containers?topic=containers-storage_cos_install&format=markdown).