The `link` command binds the current directory to a Neon project and writes a `.neon` context file. Once linked, commands you run here (or in any subdirectory) know which organization, project, and branch to use, so you don't repeat `--org-id` and `--project-id` every time.

`link` always pins a branch as part of that context. Pass `--branch` to choose one, or use [`checkout`](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-checkout) to switch it later.

:::callout{intent="note" title="Behavior changed in Neon CLI 5.0.0"}
Before 5.0.0, `link` wrote `orgId` and `projectId` but pinned a branch only when you passed `--branch`, so a `.neon` file could be incomplete. From 5.0.0, `link` always pins a branch, and `--no-checks` also requires `--branch`. In non-interactive scripts, pass `--branch` (or `-y` for the default branch).
:::

:::callout{intent="note" title="Prefer link over set-context"}
For most workflows, use `neon link` instead of manually running `neon set-context --project-id ...`. The `link` command guides you through organization and project selection and ensures the context file is complete.
:::

## Usage

```bash
neon link [options]
```

## Options

| Option                    | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Type    | Default | Required |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | -------- |
| `--branch`, `--branch-id` | Branch name or ID to pin in the context (resolved to its name before writing).                                                                                                                                                                        | string  | —       | No       |
| `--checks`                | Verify the org/project/branch exist (and resolve the org from the project) before writing. On by default; use --no-checks to write the context offline with no API calls — it then requires --org-id, --project-id, and --branch, and skips env pull. | boolean | `true`  | No       |
| `--clear`                 | Remove the org/project/branch context (writes an empty context file) instead of linking.                                                                                                                                                              | boolean | `false` | No       |
| `--config`                | Offer to create neon.ts after interactive linking. Use --no-config to skip the offer                                                                                                                                                                  | boolean | `true`  | No       |
| `--env-pull`              | Pull the linked branch's Neon env vars (DATABASE\_URL, ...) into a local .env after linking. On by default; use --no-env-pull to skip, for example when injecting env at runtime with `neon-env run` (from `@neon/env`) or `neon dev`.                | boolean | `true`  | No       |
| `--org-id`                | Organization ID to link to                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | string  | —       | No       |
| `--params`                | JSON object with link parameters, e.g. '{"orgId":"...","projectId":"..."}' or '{"orgId":"...","projectName":"...","regionId":"..."}'. Flags take precedence over fields in --params.                                                                  | string  | —       | No       |
| `--project-id`            | Existing project ID to link to                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | string  | —       | No       |
| `--project-name`          | Name for a new project to create and link to                                                                                                                                                                                                          | string  | —       | No       |
| `--region-id`             | Region ID for a new project (e.g. aws-us-east-2). Required with --project-name.                                                                                                                                                                       | string  | —       | No       |
| `--yes`, `-y`             | Skip prompts. Select the only organization and project, or print IDs and the flag to pass. Pin the default branch when several exist. Does not create a project unless --project-name and --region-id are set.                                        | boolean | `false` | No       |

By default, linking pulls the linked branch's environment variables (such as `DATABASE_URL`) into a local `.env` file. Use `--no-env-pull` to skip this step, for example when you inject environment variables at runtime instead.

After an interactive link, `link` also prompts you to create a [`neon.ts` config](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-config) when the directory doesn't already have one, so you can manage the project's Neon setup as code. Accept the prompt to write `neon.ts`, or pass `--no-config` to skip it. This applies to interactive linking only; non-interactive runs never prompt.

## Interactive mode (default)

Run `neon link` with no flags for guided prompts:

```bash
neon link
```

```title="Output"
? Which organization would you like to link? › Personal Org (org-abc123)
? Which project would you like to link? › + Create new project
? Name for the new project: › my-app
? Which region should the new project run in? › AWS US East (Ohio) (aws-us-east-2)
Created project polished-snowflake-12345678 ("my-app") in aws-us-east-2.
Linked .neon:
  orgId:     org-abc123
  projectId: polished-snowflake-12345678
  branch:    br-steep-math-aiu3vve7
```

## Non-interactive mode

Use flags or a `--params` JSON blob for scripts, CI, and AI agents:

```bash
# Link to an existing project (pin a branch, or pass -y for the default)
neon link --org-id org-abc123 --project-id polished-snowflake-12345678 --branch main

# Create a new project and link
neon link --org-id org-abc123 --project-name my-app --region-id aws-us-east-2

# Same payload, one JSON blob
neon link --params '{"orgId":"org-abc123","projectName":"my-app","regionId":"aws-us-east-2"}'
```

Flags take precedence over fields in `--params`.

Because `link` writes a complete context, a non-interactive run needs a branch: pass `--branch` (or `--branch-id`), or use `-y` to pin the project's default branch. `link` pins the only branch automatically when a project has just one.

Agents find the IDs with `neon orgs list --output json` and `neon projects list --org-id <org-id> --output json`, then link with `--project-id` (or create a project with `--org-id`, `--project-name`, and `--region-id`).

## The`.neon`context file

`link` is a thin wrapper around [`set-context`](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-set-context): both write to the same `.neon` file, so anything `link` can write, `set-context` can write too. `link` writes the file into the current working directory by default. If an existing `.neon` is found in any parent directory, that file is reused, so commands run from a subdirectory of a linked project still pick up the project's context. To pin the location explicitly, pass the global `--context-file <path>` option. See [Using a named context file](/guides/apis-sdks-cli-set-context#using-a-named-context-file).

Example `.neon` file:

```json
{
  "orgId": "org-abc123",
  "projectId": "polished-snowflake-12345678",
  "branch": "br-steep-math-aiu3vve7"
}
```

The first time a `.neon` file is created, the CLI adds `.neon` to `.gitignore` in that folder so local project settings are not committed by accident. If you want to commit `.neon` and share context with your team, remove the entry from `.gitignore`. The CLI doesn't re-add it when updating an existing file.

:::callout{intent="note"}
Neon does not save confidential information to the context file (for example, auth tokens). You can safely commit this file to your repository or share it with others.
:::

## Organization-scoped API keys

Organization-scoped API keys (those created at the organization level rather than the user level) cannot list user organizations or call the regions endpoint. `link` handles this transparently:

- If the API key is org-scoped and at least one project already exists in the org, the CLI auto-detects the `org_id` from the first project.
- When the regions endpoint is not allowed, `link` falls back to a built-in static region list.

## Related pages

- [Neon CLI command: login](./apis-sdks-cli-login.md)
- [Neon CLI command: init](./apis-sdks-cli-init.md)
- [Neon CLI command: ask](./apis-sdks-cli-ask.md)
- [Neon CLI command: mcp](./apis-sdks-cli-mcp.md)
- [Neon CLI command: skills](./apis-sdks-cli-skills.md)
- [Neon CLI command: plugins](./apis-sdks-cli-plugins.md)
- [Neon CLI command: claim](./apis-sdks-cli-claim.md)
- [Neon CLI command: bootstrap](./apis-sdks-cli-bootstrap.md)
- [Neon CLI command: checkout](./apis-sdks-cli-checkout.md)
- [Neon CLI command: git](./apis-sdks-cli-git.md)

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