---
page_title: 'Command: login'
description: >-
  The terraform login command can be used to automatically obtain and save an
  API token for HCP Terraform, Terraform Enterprise, or any other host that
  offers Terraform services.
---

# Command: login

The `terraform login` command can be used to automatically obtain and save an
API token for HCP Terraform, Terraform Enterprise, or any other host that offers Terraform services.

-> **Note:** This command is suitable only for use in interactive scenarios
where it is possible to launch a web browser on the same host where Terraform
is running. If you are running Terraform in an unattended automation scenario,
you can
[configure credentials manually in the CLI configuration](/terraform/cli/config/config-file#credentials).

## Usage

Usage: `terraform login [hostname]`

If you don't provide an explicit hostname, Terraform will assume you want to
log in to HCP Terraform at `app.terraform.io`.

## Credentials Storage

By default, Terraform will obtain an API token and save it in plain text in a
local CLI configuration file called `credentials.tfrc.json`. When you run
`terraform login`, it will explain specifically where it intends to save
the API token and give you a chance to cancel if the current configuration is
not as desired.

If you don't wish to store your API token in the default location, you can
optionally configure a
[credentials helper program](/terraform/cli/config/config-file#credentials-helpers) which knows
how to store and later retrieve credentials in some other system, such as
your organization's existing secrets management system.

## Login Server Support

The `terraform login` command works with any server supporting the
[login protocol](/terraform/internals/login-protocol), including HCP Terraform
and Terraform Enterprise.
