---
layout: doc
page_title: credentials update - Command
description: >-
  The "credentials update" command updates an existing credential resource.
---

# credentials update

Command: `boundary credentials update`

The `credentials update` command lets you update Boundary credential resources.

## Examples

The following example updates an existing user password credential with a new password:

```shell-session
$ export NEW_SSH_USER_PASSWORD="my-new-long-password"

$ boundary credentials update username-password -id credup_J15mtU4qmy \
   -password env://NEW_SSH_USER_PASSWORD
```

**Example output:**

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```plaintext
Credential information:
  Created Time:          Tue, 22 Aug 2023 15:56:07 PDT
  Credential Store ID:   csst_5GGWwRngd7
  Description:           Ops admin who needs to access the machine
  ID:                    credup_J15mtU4qmy
  Name:                  ssh-user
  Type:                  username_password
  Updated Time:          Tue, 22 Aug 2023 21:26:34 PDT
  Version:               2

  Scope:
    ID:                  p_1zMlAwGHtH
    Name:                quick-start-project
    Parent Scope ID:     o_R0wbo0H6Zl
    Type:                project

  Authorized Actions:
    no-op
    read
    update
    delete

  Attributes:
    Password HMAC:       JxqSB5DJ_dBlTCJAfkX6k-o-6CwjgEDmmnbrTxvQ7_g
    Username:            ssh-user
```

</CodeBlockConfig>


## Usage

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```shell-session
$ boundary credentials update [type] [sub command] [options] [args]
```

</CodeBlockConfig>

### Command options

- `-description` `(string: "")` - A description to set on the credential.
- `-id` `(string: "")` - The ID of the credential to update.
- `-name` `(string: "")` - A name to set on the credential.
- `-version` `(int: 0)` - The version of the credential to update.
If you don't specify a version, the command performs a check-and-set automatically.

#### Usages by type

The available types are `json`, `ssh-private-key`, and `username-password`.

<Tabs>
<Tab heading="JSON">

The `credentials update json` command lets you update a JSON credential.

#### Example

The following example updates a JSON credential with the ID `csst_1234567890`:

```shell-session
$ boundary credentials update json \
   -id csst_1234567890 \
   -name devops \
   -description "For DevOps usage"
```

#### Usage

<CodeBlockConfig hideClipboard>

```shell-session
$ boundary credentials update json [options] [args]
```

</CodeBlockConfig>

#### JSON object credential options

The following options are specific to JSON credentials in addition to the command options:

- `-bool-kv` `(map: {})` – A key=value Boolean value to add to the request's object map.
You can specify this option multiple times.
This value can be a reference to a file on disk (`file://`) or an environment variable (`env://`) from which Boundary reads the value.
- `-kv` `(map: {})` – A key=value pair to add to the request's object map.
This option can also be a key value only which will set a JSON null as the value.
If you provide a value, Boundary automatically infers the type.
Use `-string-kv`,`-bool-kv`, or `-num-kv` to override the type.
You can specify this option multiple times.
This value can be a reference to a file on disk (`file://`) or an environment variable (`env://`) from which Boundary reads the value.
- `-num-kv` `(map: {})` – A key=value numeric value to add to the request's object map.
You can specify this option multiple times.
This value can be a reference to a file on disk (`file://`) or an environment variable (`env://`) from which Boundary reads the value.
- `-object` `(string: "")` - A JSON map value to use as the entirety of the request's object map.
Usually this is sourced from a file using `file://` syntax.
This option is exclusive with the other kv flags.
- `-string-kv` `(map: {})` – A key=value string value to add to the request's object map.
You can specify this option multiple times.
This value can be a reference to a file on disk (`file://`) or an environment variable (`env://`) from which Boundary reads the value.

</Tab>
<Tab heading="SSH private key">

The `credentials update ssh-private-key` lets you update an SSH private key credential.

#### Example

The following example updates an SSH private key with the ID `clvlt_1234567890`:

```shell-session
$ boundary credentials update ssh-private-key \
   -id clvlt_1234567890 \
   -name devops \
   -description "For DevOps usage"
```

#### Usage

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```shell-session
$ boundary credentials update ssh-private-key [options] [args]
```

</CodeBlockConfig>

#### SSH private key credential options

The following options are specific to SSH private key credentials in addition to the command options:

- `-private-key` `(string: "")` - The SSH private key associated with the
   credential.
   This value can be a reference to a file on disk (`file://`) or an environment variable (`env://`) from which Boundary reads the value.
- `-private-key-passphrase` `(string: "")` - The passphrase associated with the
   SSH private key.
   Boundary ingores this value if the private key does not require a passphrase or if you do not supply a private key.
   This value can be a reference to a file on disk (`file://`) or an environment variable (`env://`) from which Boundary reads the value.
   If you leave this option empty, and the key requires a passphrase, you can enter it manually.
- `-username` `(string: "")` - The username associated with the credential.

</Tab>
<Tab heading="Username password">

The `credentials update username-password` command lets you update a username password type.

#### Example

The following example updates a username password credential with the ID `clvlt_1234567890`:

```shell-session
$ boundary credentials update username-password \
   -id clvlt_1234567890 \
   -name devops \
   -description "For DevOps usage"
```

#### Usage

<CodeBlockConfig hideClipboard>

```shell-session
$ boundary credentials update username-password [options] [args]
```

</CodeBlockConfig>

#### Username password credential options

The following options are specific to username password credentials in addition to the command options:

- `-password` `(string: "")` - The password associated with the credential.
This value can be a reference to a file on disk (`file://`) or an environment variable (`env://`) from which Boundary reads the value.
- `-username` `(string: "")` - The username associated with the credential.

</Tab>
</Tabs>

@include 'cmd-option-note.mdx'