---
name: "glab-variable-update"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "glab"
version: "1.126.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/glab-variable-update"
---

# glab-variable-update(1)

Update an existing variable for a project or group.

## NAME

glab-variable-update - Update an existing variable for a project or group.

## SYNOPSIS

**glab variable update   \[flags\]**

## DESCRIPTION

You can pass the variable value from standard input. Use **--group** to update a variable for a group instead of the current project. The **--scope** flag does not apply to group variables.

Only the attributes you pass are changed. For example, **--protected**, **--masked**, **--raw**, **--type** and **--description** keep their current values unless you set them. To turn a boolean attribute off, use **--protected=false**.

## OPTIONS

**-d**, **--description**=""\
 	Set description of a variable.

**-g**, **--group**=""\
 	Set variable for a group.

**-m**, **--masked**\[=false\]\
 	Whether the variable is masked.

**-p**, **--protected**\[=false\]\
 	Whether the variable is protected.

**-r**, **--raw**\[=false\]\
 	Whether the variable is treated as a raw string.

**-s**, **--scope**="*"*\
 	*The environment\_scope of the variable. Values: all (*), or specific environments.

**-t**, **--type**="env\_var"\
 	The type of a variable: env\_var, file.

**-v**, **--value**=""\
 	The value of a variable.

## OPTIONS INHERITED FROM PARENT COMMANDS

**-h**, **--help**\[=false\]\
 	Show help for this command.

**-R**, **--repo**=""\
 	Select another repository. You can use either OWNER/REPO or GROUP/NAMESPACE/REPO. The full URL or Git URL is also accepted.

## EXAMPLE

```
glab variable update WITH_ARG "some value"
glab variable update FROM_FLAG -v "some value"
glab variable update FROM_ENV_WITH_ARG "${ENV_VAR}"
glab variable update FROM_ENV_WITH_FLAG -v"${ENV_VAR}"
glab variable update FROM_FILE < secret.txt
cat file.txt | glab variable update SERVER_TOKEN
cat token.txt | glab variable update GROUP_TOKEN -g mygroup
```

## SEE ALSO

**[glab-variable(1)](/glab-variable/1.md)**