v0
auth
Clerk Missing Environment Variables Error
Your Clerk integration fails with 'Missing CLERK_SECRET_KEY' or 'Missing CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY' errors. The application won't start or authentication features are unavailable.
Clerk requires both public and secret keys properly set in your environment variables for client and server-side operations.
Error Messages You Might See
Missing CLERK_SECRET_KEY
Missing CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY
Cannot authenticate with Clerk
[Clerk] Missing required environment variable
Common Causes
- Missing .env.local file in root directory with Clerk keys
- Keys not properly copied from Clerk Dashboard into env file
- CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY only set on server-side, should be in public client env
- CLERK_SECRET_KEY exposed in client-side code or .env file without local suffix
- Environment variables not reloaded after adding new .env.local file
How to Fix It
Get your keys: Log into Clerk Dashboard, go to API Keys section, copy both publishable and secret keys.
Create .env.local: In your project root, create .env.local with:NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=pk_test_...
CLERK_SECRET_KEY=sk_test_...
Restart dev server: After updating env file, stop and restart npm run dev.
Verify setup: Check Clerk middleware in middleware.ts includes all necessary protected routes.
Real developers can help you.
Meïr Ankri
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I’m a Senior Python Developer specializing in building secure, scalable, and highly available systems. I work primarily with Python, Django, FastAPI, Docker, PostgreSQL, and modern AI tooling such as PydanticAI, focusing on clean architecture, strong design principles, and reliable DevOps practices. I enjoy solving complex engineering problems and designing systems that are maintainable, resilient, and built to scale.
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My work focuses on modern web technologies, including TypeScript, Angular, Node.js, and cloud-based architectures. I enjoy solving complex technical problems and helping teams turn product ideas and prototypes into working platforms that can grow and scale.
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Sage Fulcher
Hey I'm Sage! Im a Boston area software engineer who grew up in South Florida. Ive worked at a ton of cool places like a telehealth kidney care startup that took part in a billion dollar merger (Cricket health/Interwell health), a boutique design agency where I got to work on a ton of exciting startups including a photography education app, a collegiate Esports league and more (Philosophie), a data analytics as a service startup in Cambridge (MA) as well as at Phillips and MIT Lincoln Lab where I designed and developed novel network security visualizations and analytics. I've been writing code and furiously devoted to using computers to make people’s lives easier for about 17 years. My degree is in making computers make pretty lights and sounds. Outside of work I love hip hop, the Celtics, professional wrestling, magic the gathering, photography, drumming, and guitars (both making and playing them)
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Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Where do I find my Clerk API keys?
In your Clerk Dashboard, click 'API Keys' in the sidebar. Copy the publishable key and secret key.
What's the difference between the two keys?
Publishable key is for client-side (prefix pk_). Secret key is for server-side only (prefix sk_). Never expose secret key.
Why doesn't Vercel see my env vars?
Set the same variables in Vercel project settings under Environment Variables. Redeploy after adding them.