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The App Store Connect CLI can be configured using environment variables. These variables provide defaults and override certain behaviors.

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Authentication variables

These variables configure API authentication credentials.
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ASC_KEY_ID
string
Your App Store Connect API key ID
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ASC_ISSUER_ID
string
Your App Store Connect API issuer ID
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ASC_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH
string
Path to your private key (.p8) file
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ASC_PRIVATE_KEY
string
Raw private key content (PEM format)
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ASC_PRIVATE_KEY_B64
string
Base64-encoded private key content (useful for CI/CD)
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ASC_BYPASS_KEYCHAIN
boolean
Ignore keychain and use config/env auth onlySet to true, 1, yes, y, or on to bypass keychain lookup.
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ASC_STRICT_AUTH
boolean
Fail when credentials resolve from multiple sourcesSet to true, 1, yes, y, or on to enable strict mode.
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ASC_PROFILE
string
Use a named authentication profile from config or keychain

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Operational variables

These variables configure default values for apps, vendors, and other resources.
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ASC_APP_ID
string
Default app ID for commands that accept --app
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ASC_VENDOR_NUMBER
string
Vendor number for sales and financial reports

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Timeout variables

Configure request and upload timeouts.
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ASC_TIMEOUT
string
Request timeout (e.g., 90s, 2m, 120s)Default: 90s
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ASC_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
number
Request timeout in seconds (alternative to ASC_TIMEOUT)Example: 120 for 2 minutes
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ASC_UPLOAD_TIMEOUT
string
Upload timeout for large files (e.g., 60s, 5m)Default: 60s
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ASC_UPLOAD_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
number
Upload timeout in seconds (alternative to ASC_UPLOAD_TIMEOUT)

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Retry and debugging variables

Configure retry behavior and debug logging.
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ASC_MAX_RETRIES
number
Maximum number of retry attempts for transient errorsDefault: 3
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ASC_BASE_DELAY
string
Base delay for exponential backoff (e.g., 1s, 500ms)Default: 1s
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ASC_MAX_DELAY
string
Maximum delay between retries (e.g., 30s, 1m)Default: 30s
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ASC_RETRY_LOG
boolean
Enable retry logging to stderrSet to true, 1, yes, y, or on to enable.
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ASC_DEBUG
string
Enable debug logging
  • Set to true for general debug logging
  • Set to api for HTTP request/response logging (redacts sensitive values)

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Output variables

Configure default output formats.
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ASC_DEFAULT_OUTPUT
string
Default output format: json, table, markdown, or mdWhen unset, output is TTY-aware:
  • Interactive terminals: table
  • Pipes/files/CI: json (minified)
Explicit --output flags always override this variable.

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Configuration path

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ASC_CONFIG_PATH
string
Path to the configuration fileMust be an absolute path. When set, overrides the default config resolution order.

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Variable precedence

Environment variables are resolved in this order:
  1. Command-line flags (highest priority)
  2. Environment variables
  3. Config file (~/.asc/config.json or .asc/config.json)
  4. Keychain (for credentials only)
  5. Built-in defaults (lowest priority)
When ASC_STRICT_AUTH=true, the CLI will fail if credentials are found in multiple sources (e.g., both environment variables and keychain).

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Examples

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Basic authentication

export ASC_KEY_ID="ABC123"
export ASC_ISSUER_ID="DEF456"
export ASC_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH="$HOME/.asc/AuthKey_ABC123.p8"

asc apps list

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CI/CD authentication with base64-encoded key

export ASC_KEY_ID="ABC123"
export ASC_ISSUER_ID="DEF456"
export ASC_PRIVATE_KEY_B64="LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBQUklWQVRFIEtFWS0tLS0t..."
export ASC_BYPASS_KEYCHAIN="true"

asc builds upload --app 123456789 --file MyApp.ipa

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Debug HTTP requests

export ASC_DEBUG="api"

asc apps list

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Custom timeout for slow networks

export ASC_TIMEOUT="3m"
export ASC_UPLOAD_TIMEOUT="10m"

asc builds upload --app 123456789 --file LargeApp.ipa

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Force JSON output in all environments

export ASC_DEFAULT_OUTPUT="json"

asc apps list  # Always outputs JSON, even in interactive terminals

Authentication

Learn about authentication methods

Profiles

Use named authentication profiles