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Authentication

Outcome: Atomic can reach a model provider and /model lists models you can select. Prerequisites: Installation is complete.

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Authenticate

Atomic can use subscription providers through /login, or API-key providers through environment variables or the auth file.

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Option 1: subscription login

Start Atomic and run:
Choose Use a subscription, then select a provider. Built-in subscription logins include Claude Pro/Max, ChatGPT Plus/Pro (Codex), and GitHub Copilot.

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Option 2: API key

Set an API key before launching Atomic:
You can also run /login, choose Use an API key, then select a provider to store the key in ~/.atomic/agent/auth.json. See Providers for all supported providers, environment variables, and provider-specific setup.

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Verify authentication

Start Atomic in any directory and run:
The model picker should list selectable models for the provider you configured, with the active one marked. If it is empty or Atomic reports no configured provider:
  • Re-run /login.
  • If using an API key, confirm its environment variable is exported in the shell that launched Atomic.
/login opens Select authentication method:. Choose Use a subscription or Use an API key to see the corresponding provider picker and credential-configuration status. That status can reflect stored, environment, runtime, or configuration credentials; it does not test connectivity or prove that a provider will accept a request. OAuth sign-ins that are not backed by a subscription are labeled account in the provider pickers and status. Cancelling a sign-in returns to the menu you started it from. Select a model with /model, then send a short prompt such as Reply with hello. A successful response confirms access for that request. If it fails, check the reported authentication, quota, model-access, or network error before retrying. A configured credential or a listed model alone does not prove access.

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Next step

Continue to First session.