Linear CLI authentication guide

Authenticate Linear CLI safely

Connect the CLI to your Linear workspace using your own personal API key. The key is entered in your terminal and is never submitted to LinearCli.com.

Prepare your credentials

Create a personal API key

Open Linear in your browser and follow this path inside your account:

Settings Account Security Personal API keys
  1. Select Create key.
  2. Give the key a clear label such as CLI.
  3. Copy the generated key and keep it private.

Personal API keys require Linear member access and are not available to guest accounts.

Connect your workspace

Run the authentication command

Run the following command in your terminal. Linear CLI will then ask for the personal API key you created.

linear auth login
Terminal prompt Enter your Linear API key: ***

Paste the key here in your terminal—not on this website.

The recommended login method stores the key in the native system keyring: macOS Keychain, Windows Credential Manager or Linux libsecret.

Confirm the connection

Verify the authenticated workspace

Use this command to display the current authenticated user and Linear workspace.

linear auth whoami

If your user and workspace appear, Linear CLI authentication is working.

Authentication complete

Connect your project next

Configure the repository where you plan to use Linear CLI.
Continue to configuration

LinearCli.com is an independent documentation reference. It does not request, receive or store Linear API keys.