# Environment variables (/docs/cli/environment-variables)

> For the complete Prisma documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.prisma.io/docs/llms.txt). A markdown version of any docs page is available by appending `.md` to its URL.

The environment variables the Prisma CLI reads, what each one does, and the release that added it.

Location: CLI > Environment variables

The `prisma` command reads these environment variables. Set them in your shell profile or in your CI configuration. For one command, put the variable in front of it, as in this [`contract emit`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/contract-emit) run:

```bash title="Terminal"
PRISMA_DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1 npx prisma contract emit
```

In PowerShell, set it for the session:

```powershell title="PowerShell"
$env:PRISMA_DISABLE_TELEMETRY = "1"
npx prisma contract emit
```

The CLI does not read `.env` files or `DATABASE_URL` itself. Your `prisma.config.ts` does that, and the one [`orm init`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/orm-init) writes already loads `.env`; see [Configuration](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/configuration#config-file).

> [!NOTE]
> If you used the
> 
> `prisma-next`
> 
>  preview command
> 
> The `prisma` command ignores every `PRISMA_NEXT_*` variable, including `PRISMA_NEXT_DISABLE_TELEMETRY`. Drop the `NEXT_` part in shell profiles and CI: `PRISMA_NEXT_DISABLE_TELEMETRY` becomes `PRISMA_DISABLE_TELEMETRY`.
> 
> Your `prisma-next` telemetry opt-out does not carry over either, so the one-time telemetry notice prints again. Run `prisma telemetry disable` to opt out. The `prisma` command stores that choice in `~/.config/prisma/config.json` (Windows: `%APPDATA%\prisma\config.json`).

"Since" is the first `prisma` release that reads the variable.

| Variable                   | What it does                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Since      |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------- |
| `PRISMA_DISABLE_TELEMETRY` | Set to `1` to turn off anonymous [CLI telemetry](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/telemetry). Empty, `0`, and `false` leave it on.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 8.0.0-rc.1 |
| `DO_NOT_TRACK`             | Set to `1` to turn off telemetry. Other values do nothing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 8.0.0-rc.1 |
| `PRISMA_DEBUG`             | Set to `1` to print the CLI's debug output to stderr.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 8.0.0-rc.1 |
| `PRISMA_SKILLS_CHECK`      | Set to `0` to silence the notice that your project's [agent skills](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/skills) are out of date.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 8.0.0-rc.9 |
| `PRISMA_SERVICE_TOKEN`     | A service token for a Prisma Platform workspace, created in the [Prisma Console](https://console.prisma.io/?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=content\&utm_content=cli). Only the [Platform commands](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli#platform-commands) such as `auth`, `project`, and `deploy` use it, in place of a browser login, even if you are also logged in. | 8.0.0-rc.1 |
| `PRISMA_WORKSPACE_ID`      | The ID of the workspace the service token belongs to, from the workspace's settings in the Prisma Console. Set it alongside the token.                                                                                                                                                                                               | 8.0.0-rc.1 |
| `NO_COLOR`                 | Set to any value to turn off colored output. The [`--color` and `--no-color` flags](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/global-flags) override it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 8.0.0-rc.1 |
| `CI`                       | Set to any value except `false` to mark the run as CI: no telemetry, no skills notice, and no interactive prompts. `CI=false` forces the non-CI behavior even when a CI system set it.                                                                                                                                               | 8.0.0-rc.1 |

Agent skills are files in your project, in `.claude/skills` and similar folders, that teach AI coding agents about Prisma. Silencing the notice does not update them; `prisma skills sync` does.

You rarely need to set `CI` yourself: the CLI also detects the variables that CI providers such as GitHub Actions and GitLab CI set.

## Related pages

- [`auth`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/auth): Sign in to your Prisma account from the CLI, sign out, and manage workspace sessions.
- [`branch`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/branch): List platform branches for a project.
- [`bucket`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/bucket): Create and manage object-store buckets.
- [`Configuration`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/configuration): Configure Prisma ORM CLI commands with prisma.config.ts and global flags.
- [`contract emit`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/contract-emit): Emit Prisma ORM contract artifacts.