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Neon · Command

neonctl auth

Authenticates the Neon CLI through a browser, which is the recommended interactive method. A personal API key is the documented alternative for non-interactive use.

How it works

The command starts browser-based authentication for the Neon CLI. After authorization, the CLI can access the user's Neon account without requiring an API key on each command.

Syntax

neon auth

Returns

Authenticates the CLI session with the user's Neon account; the documentation does not specify a command output value.

Key points

  • The CLI supports account authentication through documented web authentication or API-key authentication methods.
  • Browser-based authentication is the recommended interactive approach.
  • Use neon auth to start the browser authentication flow.
  • Authorization is completed in a browser window after the command starts.
  • The API key can be stored in the NEON_API_KEY environment variable to avoid repeating it.

Common mistakes

  • The command requires completing authorization in the browser before the CLI can use the account.
  • For non-interactive environments, use a personal API key instead of browser authentication.

Example: Authenticate interactively

neon auth

Authenticates the Neon CLI through a browser.

When to use it

Local setup

A developer is setting up the Neon CLI locally for the first time.

Interactive account access

A user wants to authorize CLI access without manually entering an API key for every command.

Automated authentication

A script or CI job cannot open a browser.

Interview questions

QHow do you authenticate the Neon CLI interactively?

Run neon auth. It uses browser-based authentication and opens a browser window for account authorization.

Follow-up: How would you authenticate in CI? Use a personal Neon API key, typically supplied through the environment or command configuration rather than browser interaction.

QWhat is the command syntax for browser authentication?

The documented command is neon auth; the current CLI documentation uses neon as the executable name.

Follow-up: How can a command use an API key without repeating it? Set the NEON_API_KEY environment variable.

QWhat is the non-interactive alternative to web authentication?

A personal Neon API key is the alternative documented for authentication. It can be created in the Neon Console and passed to CLI commands.

Follow-up: What is the recommended interactive method? Browser-based web authentication is recommended in the quickstart.

  • neon
  • NEON_API_KEY
  • neon projects list --api-key

Source: Neon CLI quickstart. Checked 2026-10-16.