# Logging in with the CLI
Source: https://docs.chain.link/cre/account/cli-login
Last Updated: 2026-05-22

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).

To deploy and manage workflows with the CRE CLI, you need to authenticate your CLI session with your CRE account. This guide walks you through the browser-based login process.> **TIP: CI/CD or headless environment?**
>
> If you need to authenticate without a browser (e.g., in a CI/CD pipeline), use [API key authentication](/cre/reference/cli/authentication#api-key-authentication) instead.## Prerequisites* [CRE CLI installed](/cre/getting-started/cli-installation) on your machine
* [CRE account created](/cre/account/creating-account)
* Access to your authenticator app for two-factor authentication## Login process### Step 1: Initiate login from the terminalOpen your terminal and run the login command:```bash
cre login
```This command will automatically open your default web browser to begin the authentication process.> **TIP: Browser doesn't open?**
>
> If your browser doesn't open automatically, the CLI will display a URL that you can manually copy and paste into your
> browser.### Step 2: Enter your email addressIn the browser window that opens, enter the email address associated with your CRE account and click **"Continue"**.![Enter email address](/images/cre/UI/login/1-email.webp)### Step 3: Enter your passwordEnter your account password and click **"Continue"**.![Enter password](/images/cre/UI/login/2-password.webp)### Step 4: Complete two-factor authenticationYou'll be prompted to complete two-factor authentication based on the method you configured during account creation:* **If you set up an authenticator app**: Open your authenticator app and enter the 6-digit one-time code it generates for your CRE account.
* **If you set up biometric authentication**: Use your fingerprint or face recognition as prompted by your device.Example of entering a one-time code from an authenticator app:![Enter one-time code (authenticator app example)](/images/cre/UI/login/3-one-time-code.webp)### Step 5: Confirm successful loginOnce authenticated, you'll see a confirmation message in your browser:![Login confirmation](/images/cre/UI/login/4-confirmation.webp)You can now close the browser window and return to your terminal. Your terminal will display:```bash
Login completed successfully
```Your CLI session is authenticated and ready to use.In the terminal, the CLI may show **"Fetching user context…"** while it downloads your organization's tenant configuration from the platform. It then writes **`~/.cre/context.yaml`** (registry manifest: vault gateway URL, registries, secrets auth flows, and related fields). That file is separate from your credentials file (`~/.cre/cre.yaml`). For details and a sanitized example, see [Tenant context cache](/cre/reference/cli/authentication#tenant-context-cache).> **CAUTION: Do not commit cre.yaml**
>
> **`~/.cre/cre.yaml`** contains your session credentials. Keep it in `~/.cre/` on your local machine only—never commit it to version control or copy it into a project repository.