---
title: "alis accounts"
url: "https://docs.alisx.com/reference/cli/accounts/"
---
# alis accounts

Choose your active account: the one account the console, the CLI and the TUI all work in, that your usage in Ideate and Build is measured against, and that is invoiced at the end of the month. For anyone who belongs to more than one account, and for agents that hit `ACTIVE_BUILD_ACCOUNT_REQUIRED`.

## Synopsis

```bash
alis accounts list [flags]
alis accounts select accounts/ACCOUNT [flags]
```

Aliases: `accounts`, `account`.

## Description

An authenticated session must carry an active account before platform commands run. `list` shows the accounts available for selection; `select` sets the active account and refreshes your sign-in. Usage you generate in Ideate and Build is measured against the active account, and that account receives the invoice for its users' spend. `alis ideate` lists, finds and creates projects in it. Switching here switches the console too, and switching in the console switches the CLI. See [Accounts and billing](https://docs.alisx.com/explanation/accounts-and-billing.md).

## Subcommands

### alis accounts list

List accounts available for account selection.

```bash
alis accounts list [flags]
```

No flags beyond the [global flags](https://docs.alisx.com/reference/cli/index.md#global-flags).

### alis accounts select

Set the active account and refresh your sign-in.

```bash
alis accounts select accounts/ACCOUNT [flags]
```

No flags beyond the [global flags](https://docs.alisx.com/reference/cli/index.md#global-flags).

## Examples

```bash title="Terminal"
alis accounts list --json
alis accounts select accounts/<id> --json
```

## JSON output

`list` returns `accounts[]`, each with `name` (`accounts/<id>`), `display_name` and `active`.

```json
{
  "accounts": [
    {"name": "accounts/<id>", "display_name": "Acme", "active": true},
    {"name": "accounts/<other-id>", "display_name": "Acme Labs", "active": false}
  ]
}
```

## Notes

- A command that returns `ACTIVE_BUILD_ACCOUNT_REQUIRED` (exit 1) needs `select` first. An agent must ask the user which account should own the usage; it must never choose a billing account on the user's behalf.
- Account membership is managed separately from product and build environment access: being active in an account doesn't by itself give you Ideate or Build there.