Change Environment Variables Saved In .env File With Python and dotenv

Question

I am trying to update .env environment variables with python. With os.environ I am able to view and change local environment variables, but I want to change the .env file. Using python-dotenv I can load .env entries into local environment variables

.env File

key=value

test.py

from dotenv import load_dotenv, find_dotenv
load_dotenv(find_dotenv())

print(os.environ['key']) # outputs 'value'

os.environ['key'] = "newvalue"

print(os.environ['key']) # outputs 'newvalue'

.env File

key=value

The .env File is not changed! Only the local env variable is changed. I could not find any documentation on how to update the .env file. Does anyone know a solution?

You will need to write to the `.env`. Your code does not do that. — jkr, Sep 10 '20 at 20:39
See the `dotenv.set_key` method https://saurabh-kumar.com/python-dotenv/reference/dotenv/#set_key — jkr, Sep 10 '20 at 20:42

score 41 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 05 '22 at 09:56

41

Use dotenv.set_key.

import dotenv

dotenv_file = dotenv.find_dotenv()
dotenv.load_dotenv(dotenv_file)

print(os.environ["key"])  # outputs "value"
os.environ["key"] = "newvalue"
print(os.environ['key'])  # outputs 'newvalue'

# Write changes to .env file.
dotenv.set_key(dotenv_file, "key", os.environ["key"])

edited Sep 05 '22 at 09:56

Niko Föhr

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answered Sep 10 '20 at 20:45

jkr

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dotenv.find_dotenv() is what i need. Thank you. – devugur Aug 20 '22 at 19:08

Change Environment Variables Saved In .env File With Python and dotenv

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