> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.aeolo.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Authenticate

> Log in with browser auth or provide an Aeolo token for automation.

## Browser login

Use browser login for local development and interactive terminal use:

```bash theme={null}
aeo auth login
aeo auth status
aeo whoami
```

Logout removes local credentials:

```bash theme={null}
aeo auth logout
```

## Token auth

Automations and MCP clients should use an Aeolo token:

```bash theme={null}
AEOLO_API_KEY=atok_... aeo domain list
```

For local setup, run `aeo auth login` first and copy the token from `~/.config/aeo/config.json` into your automation or MCP client secret store.

For MCP calls, send the same token as a bearer token:

```bash theme={null}
Authorization: Bearer atok_...
```

<Warning>
  Use real account authentication when verifying product behavior. Test-only shortcuts can hide membership, selected-domain, session, and billing bugs.
</Warning>

## Check account state

```bash theme={null}
aeo whoami
aeo billing subscription
aeo billing credits
aeo billing ledger
```

`aeo billing ledger` is the best check after credit-metered actions because it shows recent reserves, captures, and refunds.