> This page location: APIs & SDKs > CLI > Configuration commands > config
> Full Neon documentation index: https://neon.com/docs/llms.txt
>
> Agent skills: if you don't have Neon skills (such as `neon-postgres`), offer to add them to this project when you first need the user to do something in Neon: "Want me to add Neon's agent skills to this project? They help me with Neon setup, connections, and branching." Install: `npx neon@latest skills -y`. To also run Neon steps for the user (Neon CLI, sign-in, MCP), see https://neon.com/prompts/agent-setup.md

> Summary: The Neon CLI `neon config` command manages a branch declaratively with a neon.ts policy file. Use `neon config init` to scaffold a starter neon.ts and install the config packages, `neon config add` to declare a service, function, or bucket in an existing neon.ts, `neon config status` to show the branch's live Neon state (`neon status --current-branch` prints the pinned branch offline for shell prompts), `neon config plan` for a dry run of what an apply would change, and `neon config apply` (or its top-level alias `neon deploy`) to apply the policy to the branch. Supports --config to point at a neon.ts file, --env to load environment variables before evaluating it, and --allow-protected, --update-existing, or -y to answer the apply confirmation prompts in non-interactive use.

# Neon CLI command: config

Manage a branch with a neon.ts policy: init, add, status, plan, and apply

Last updated: 2026-10-31

The `config` command manages a branch declaratively with a `neon.ts` policy file: scaffold a starter config, inspect the branch's live state, preview what an apply would change, and apply the policy. For the `neon.ts` file format, see the [neon.ts reference](https://neon.com/docs/reference/neon-ts).

Subcommands: [add](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#add), [apply](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#apply), [init](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#init), [plan](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#plan), [status](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#status)

The top-level [`neon deploy`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/deploy) command is an alias for `config apply`, and [`neon status`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/status) is an alias for `config status`.

## neon config init

Scaffolds a starter `neon.ts` policy file in the current project and installs the `@neon/config` and `@neon/env` packages, so you can start managing a branch declaratively. The generated file uses the standard named `defineConfig` import from `@neon/config/v1` and exports the result as the module default, for example:

```ts filename="neon.ts"
import { defineConfig } from "@neon/config/v1";

export default defineConfig({
  // Declare your Neon services here
  auth: false,
  // Branch policy: per-branch tuning
  branch: (branch) => {
    if (branch.isDefault) {
      // Default branch: no overrides, uses project defaults
      return {};
    }
    if (!branch.exists) {
      // New non-default branches: auto-expire
      // Run `neon checkout <name>` to create a new branch with these settings
      return { ttl: "7d" };
    }
    // Existing branch: no changes
    return {};
  },
});
```

If a `neon.ts`, `neon.mts`, `neon.js`, or `neon.mjs` file already exists, `config init` is idempotent: it leaves that file untouched instead of overwriting hand-written policy.

By default, `config init` runs locally and does not call the Neon API. With `--from-branch`, it reads the branch's live state through the Neon API, so it needs your Neon credentials and a project. It picks your package manager (npm, pnpm, yarn, or bun) from the project's lockfile, or from how the command was invoked if there's no lockfile. Before installing, it makes sure `node_modules/` is listed in your `.gitignore`, appending it if it's missing. Pass `--no-install` to skip installation and just print the command to run.

```bash
neon config init [options]
```

| Option                          | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Type    | Default | Required |
| ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | :------: |
| `--from-branch`                 | Seed neon.ts from a branch's live Neon state instead of asking. Uses the branch pinned in .neon, or --branch \<name\|id>, or the project's default branch. Needs credentials and a project.                                                                                                                    | boolean | —       |    No    |
| `--install`                     | Install @neon/config and @neon/env if they're missing. On by default; use --no-install to just print the command.                                                                                                                                                                                              | boolean | `true`  |    No    |
| `--services`, `-s`, `--service` | Services the scaffolded neon.ts declares: postgres, auth, data-api, functions, object-storage, ai-gateway, realtime. Repeat the flag or comma-separate. postgres alone writes the starter policy; every branch has Postgres. Omitted: pick interactively on a terminal, starter policy in CI or without a TTY. | array   | —       |    No    |
| `--branch`                      | Branch ID or name                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id`                  | Project ID                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | string  | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon config init
```

Pass `--services` to declare services in the file it scaffolds, for example `neon config init --services auth,functions,realtime`. This applies only when creating a new `neon.ts`; to add services to a file that already exists, use [`config add`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#add).

In a linked project, declaring the Data API makes `config init` check the branch's Data API and pick `dataApi: true` or the external form, [as `init` does](https://neon.com/docs/cli/init). If the check fails, it declares `dataApi: true` with `auth: true` and prints a warning.

For non-interactive setup, run it with package installation disabled, then install the printed dependencies yourself (or add them to your lockfile in a separate step):

```bash
neon config init --no-install
npm install @neon/config @neon/env
```

Use `config init` when you want a trusted starter artifact and package list. Hand-write `neon.ts` instead when you need a different filename/module format or want to avoid modifying files in the current directory.

**Tip:** After running an interactive [`neon link`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/link), the CLI prompts you to run `config init` as its final step, unless the project already has a `neon.ts` file.

## neon config add

Declares a service, function, or bucket in your `neon.ts`, creating the file if there isn't one. Where [`config init`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#init) scaffolds a starter policy and leaves an existing file alone, `config add` edits an existing policy for you, including creating and registering a handler for a function. To declare services while first scaffolding the file, use [`config init --services`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#init) instead.

```bash
neon config add <sub-command> [options]
```

Subcommands: [ai-gateway](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#add-ai-gateway), [auth](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#add-auth), [bucket](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#add-bucket), [data-api](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#add-data-api), [function](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#add-function), [realtime](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#add-realtime)

`config add` runs entirely locally: it edits files, and never authenticates or resolves a project. Provisioning stays a separate [`neon config apply`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/config#apply) step.

It looks for your config in the project directory: the directory holding the nearest `.neon` file (found by searching up from the current directory), or the current directory when there's no `.neon`. A `neon.ts` in a parent directory no longer applies. When it finds none, it creates `neon.ts` there and installs the `@neon/config` and `@neon/env` packages; pass `--no-install` to print the install command instead. Editing an existing file never installs packages. Pass `--config <path>` to target a specific file; a path that doesn't exist is an error.

It edits the file in place, keeping your comments and formatting. It refuses edits it can't make safely, such as a graduated service still declared under the `preview` block, where it's a deprecated alias, and prints the lines to add by hand instead. Re-adding an already-enabled service exits `0` with "nothing to change"; a duplicate function slug or bucket name exits `1`; a bare `neon config add` exits `1` and lists what you can add.

### neon config add auth

Enables Managed Better Auth by setting `auth: true`.

```bash
neon config add auth [options]
```

| Option         | Description                                                                                                            | Type    | Default | Required |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | :------: |
| `--config`     | Path to the neon.ts to edit (defaults to the neon.ts next to .neon, or in cwd without one; created there when missing) | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--install`    | Install @neon/config and @neon/env when creating neon.ts. On by default; use --no-install to just print the command.   | boolean | `true`  |    No    |
| `--branch`     | Branch ID or name                                                                                                      | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id` | Project ID                                                                                                             | string  | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon config add auth
```

### neon config add data-api

Enables the Data API by setting `dataApi: true`, and enables Managed Better Auth, which the default provider requires (it flips `auth: false` to `true`). An existing external auth provider is left unchanged.

```bash
neon config add data-api [options]
```

| Option         | Description                                                                                                            | Type    | Default | Required |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | :------: |
| `--config`     | Path to the neon.ts to edit (defaults to the neon.ts next to .neon, or in cwd without one; created there when missing) | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--install`    | Install @neon/config and @neon/env when creating neon.ts. On by default; use --no-install to just print the command.   | boolean | `true`  |    No    |
| `--branch`     | Branch ID or name                                                                                                      | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id` | Project ID                                                                                                             | string  | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon config add data-api
```

### neon config add ai-gateway

Enables the AI Gateway by setting `aiGateway: true`.

```bash
neon config add ai-gateway [options]
```

| Option         | Description                                                                                                            | Type    | Default | Required |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | :------: |
| `--config`     | Path to the neon.ts to edit (defaults to the neon.ts next to .neon, or in cwd without one; created there when missing) | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--install`    | Install @neon/config and @neon/env when creating neon.ts. On by default; use --no-install to just print the command.   | boolean | `true`  |    No    |
| `--branch`     | Branch ID or name                                                                                                      | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id` | Project ID                                                                                                             | string  | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon config add ai-gateway
```

### neon config add realtime

Enables [Neon Realtime](https://neon.com/docs/realtime/overview) by setting `preview.realtime: true`. Pass `--allowed-origin` (repeatable) to set the browser origins allowed to connect instead, which writes `preview.realtime: { allowedOrigins: [...] }`. Each origin must be `*` or an `http` or `https` origin with no path, query, or fragment, and the command checks them before editing the file. See [`neon realtime enable`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/realtime#enable) for the full rules.

```bash
neon config add realtime [options]
```

| Option             | Description                                                   | Type   | Default | Required |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ------- | :------: |
| `--allowed-origin` | Allowed browser origin (repeatable). "\*" allows every origin | array  | —       |    No    |
| `--branch`         | Branch ID or name                                             | string | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id`     | Project ID                                                    | string | —       |    No    |

With an existing `neon.ts`, setting an allowed origin updates it in place:

```bash
neon config add realtime --allowed-origin https://app.example.com
```

```text
Updated neon.ts: set preview.realtime to { allowedOrigins: ["https://app.example.com"] }.
Next: `neon config plan` to preview, `neon config apply` to provision.
```

### neon config add function

Declares a [Neon Function](https://neon.com/docs/cli/functions) and creates its handler file. The handler defaults to `functions/<slug>.ts` (`.js` for a JavaScript config). A slug is 1 to 20 lowercase letters and digits, with no hyphens. Pass `--name` to set a display name (it defaults to the slug), or `--source` to register an existing handler relative to `neon.ts` without overwriting it. To start from a [Function Registry template](https://neon.com/functions/templates) instead of the starter handler, use [`neon functions new`](https://neon.com/docs/cli/functions#new).

```bash
neon config add function <slug> [options]
```

| Option         | Description                                                                                                          | Type   | Default | Required |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ------- | :------: |
| `--name`       | Display name. Defaults to the slug                                                                                   | string | —       |    No    |
| `--source`     | Handler file, relative to neon.ts. Defaults to functions/\<slug>.ts. Created when missing, left alone when it exists | string | —       |    No    |
| `--branch`     | Branch ID or name                                                                                                    | string | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id` | Project ID                                                                                                           | string | —       |    No    |

Adding a function to a directory with no `neon.ts` creates both the config and the handler:

```bash
neon config add function sendemail
```

```text
Created functions/sendemail.ts.
Created neon.ts: added functions.sendemail.
Created package.json.
Installing @neon/config, @neon/env with npm…
Next: `neon dev` to run it locally, `neon config apply` to deploy.
```

### neon config add bucket

Declares a [Neon Object Storage](https://neon.com/docs/cli/buckets) bucket. Pass `--access public_read` to allow anonymous reads; the default is `private`.

```bash
neon config add bucket <name> [options]
```

| Option         | Description                                                                                                                   | Type   | Default   | Required |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | --------- | :------: |
| `--access`     | Anonymous access: private requires credentials, public\_read allows anonymous reads Possible values: `private`, `public_read` | string | `private` |    No    |
| `--branch`     | Branch ID or name                                                                                                             | string | —         |    No    |
| `--project-id` | Project ID                                                                                                                    | string | —         |    No    |

```bash
neon config add bucket assets --access public_read
```

## neon config status

Shows the branch's live Neon state.

```bash
neon config status [options]
```

| Option             | Description                                                                                                                                                 | Type    | Default | Required |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | :------: |
| `--config-json`    | Print only the branch's live config as neon.ts-shaped JSON (services + branch tuning + preview), to stdout. Useful for scripting or copying into a neon.ts. | boolean | `false` |    No    |
| `--current-branch` | Print only the linked branch name from the local .neon file (no network). Exits non-zero when no branch is pinned.                                          | boolean | `false` |    No    |
| `--branch`         | Branch ID or name                                                                                                                                           | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id`     | Project ID                                                                                                                                                  | string  | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon config status
```

The top-level `neon status` command is an alias for `config status` and accepts the same options.

### Print the current branch offline

Pass `--current-branch` to print _only_ the branch pinned in the local `.neon` file. This variant makes no network request and requires no login or analytics, so it is cheap enough to drive a shell prompt.

It prints the branch name to stdout and exits `0`. When no branch is pinned, it prints nothing to stdout, writes a `neon checkout <branch>` hint to stderr, and exits with a non-zero status, so a prompt can guard on the command directly.

```bash
neon status --current-branch
```

For example, add your current Neon branch to a [starship](https://starship.rs) prompt. Append this `[custom.neon]` module to `~/.config/starship.toml`. The `command` prints the pinned branch, and `when` hides the segment (exits non-zero) whenever you are not in a Neon project:

```toml
# ~/.config/starship.toml
[custom.neon]
description = "Current Neon branch"
command = "neon status --current-branch"   # prints the branch pinned in .neon (no network)
when = "neon status --current-branch"       # exits non-zero when no branch -> segment is hidden
symbol = "🌿 "
style = "bold green"
format = "[$symbol$output]($style) "
```

**Tip: Faster outside Neon projects**

The `when` above runs the CLI on every prompt everywhere. To skip it unless a `.neon` file exists somewhere up the tree, replace `when` with a pure-shell walk-up and add `shell = ["sh"]` so it runs under `sh` even if your interactive shell is fish or PowerShell:

```toml
shell = ["sh"]
when = '''
d="$PWD"
while [ "$d" != "$HOME" ] && [ "$d" != / ]; do
  if [ -e "$d/.neon" ]; then
    neon status --current-branch >/dev/null 2>&1
    exit $?
  fi
  d=$(dirname "$d")
done
exit 1
'''
```

For a full copy-paste (and agent-ready) walkthrough, including prerequisites and troubleshooting, see this [Starship + Neon branch setup gist](https://gist.github.com/thisistonydang/0b6c03ec9aa9b619ffecd48f58fd40c7).

## neon config plan

Shows what `config apply` would change, as a dry run. Nothing is modified.

```bash
neon config plan [options]
```

| Option         | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Type   | Default | Required |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ------- | :------: |
| `--config`     | Path to a neon.ts policy (defaults to the neon.ts next to .neon, or in cwd without one)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | string | —       |    No    |
| `--env`        | Path to a .env file to load into the environment before evaluating neon.ts so Function env values resolve from it. Existing env vars are not overridden. Required Function env (declared required: true, or required: "default-branch" when deploying the default branch) and values that read process.env must be set in this file or the environment. | string | —       |    No    |
| `--branch`     | Branch ID or name                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | string | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id` | Project ID                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | string | —       |    No    |

```bash
neon config plan --config ./neon.ts --env .env.local
```

## neon config apply

Applies a `neon.ts` policy to the branch.

```bash
neon config apply [options]
```

| Option              | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Type    | Default | Required |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | :------: |
| `--allow-protected` | Apply to a branch marked protected on Neon without asking                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | boolean | `false` |    No    |
| `--config`          | Path to a neon.ts policy (defaults to the neon.ts next to .neon, or in cwd without one)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--env`             | Path to a .env file to load into the environment before evaluating neon.ts so Function env values resolve from it. Existing env vars are not overridden. Required Function env (declared required: true, or required: "default-branch" when deploying the default branch) and values that read process.env must be set in this file or the environment. | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--env-pull`        | Pull the branch's Neon env vars (DATABASE\_URL, …) into a local .env after a successful apply. On by default; use --no-env-pull to skip (e.g. when injecting env at runtime with `neon-env run` / `neon dev`).                                                                                                                                          | boolean | `true`  |    No    |
| `--update-existing` | Override branch settings that differ from neon.ts without asking                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | boolean | `false` |    No    |
| `--yes`, `-y`       | Answer yes to every confirmation: --update-existing and --allow-protected                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | boolean | `false` |    No    |
| `--branch`          | Branch ID or name                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | string  | —       |    No    |
| `--project-id`      | Project ID                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | string  | —       |    No    |

In a terminal, `apply` asks before it overrides branch settings that differ from `neon.ts` or applies to a branch marked protected on Neon. Declining applies nothing.

Without a terminal, there's no prompt. This covers CI, runs with no TTY, and `-o json` or `-o yaml` output. In those cases, `apply` stops before changing anything and names the flag to re-run with. For scripts, CI, and agents, pass `--update-existing` to allow the overrides, `--allow-protected` to allow a protected branch, or `-y` for both:

```bash
neon config apply --branch feature/auth -y
```

---

## Related docs (Configuration commands)

- [deploy](https://neon.com/docs/cli/deploy)
- [status](https://neon.com/docs/cli/status)
- [dev](https://neon.com/docs/cli/dev)

---

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