---
title: "Run backend command"
method: POST
path: "/backend/command"
---

# Run backend command

`POST /backend/command`

Invokes a backend-specific management command against an optional remote.

## Query parameters

- `command` string
- `fs` string
- `arg` string[]
- `opt` string
- `_group` string
- `_async` boolean

## Headers

- `Prefer` 'respond-async'

## Request body

- BackendCommandRequest
  - `command` string — Backend-specific command to invoke.
  - `fs` string — Remote name or path the backend command should target.
  - `arg` string[] — Optional positional arguments for the backend command.
  - `opt` string — Backend command options encoded as a JSON string.
  - `_group` string — Assign the request to a custom stats group.
  - `_async` boolean — Run the command asynchronously. Returns a job id immediately.

## Response `200`

Backend command output and any additional returned fields.

- object
  - `result` unknown

## Other responses

- `202` — Request accepted for async processing. Poll /job/status with the returned jobid.
- `4XX` — Any error response (HTTP 4xx/5xx)
- `5XX` — Any error response (HTTP 4xx/5xx)

## Changes

- **2026-08-19** `638e349833a9` — 1 info
  - added the required property `executeId` to the response with the `202` status
- **2026-07-12** `fdf1b1fc77fe` — 1 breaking
  - removed the required property `executeId` from the response with the `202` status
- **2026-07-12** `842fb2d927ae` — 1 info
  - added the required property `executeId` to the response with the `202` status
- **2026-06-05** `2849bf2803ce` — 2 info
  - added the new optional `header` request parameter `Prefer`
  - added the success response with the status `202`
- **2026-04-11** `86281b9ee38c` — 2 info
  - the `query` request parameter `command` became optional
  - the request property `command` became optional

[Full history](https://skmtc.dev/rclone/apis/rclone-rc-api/changes/backend/command/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/rclone/apis/rclone-rc-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/rclone/apis/rclone-rc-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/rclone/rclone-rc-api/revisions/adc0c129da4f/schema)