# Setting environment variables
<a name="setting-env-vars"></a>

Use the following instructions to set environment variables for an application in the Amplify console.

**Note**  
**Environment variables** is visible in the Amplify console’s **App settings** menu only when an app is set up for continuous deployment and connected to a git repository. For instructions on this type of deployment, see [Getting started with existing code](getting-started.md).

**To set environment variables**

1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the [Amplify console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/amplify/).

1. In the Amplify console, choose **Hosting**, and then choose **Environment variables**.

1. On the **Environment variables** page, choose **Manage variables**.

1. For **Variable**, enter your key. For **Value**, enter your value. By default, Amplify applies the environment variables across all branches, so you don’t have to re-enter variables when you connect a new branch.

1. (Optional) To customize an environment variable specifically for a branch, add a branch override as follows: 

   1. Choose **Actions** and then choose **Add variable override**.

   1. You now have a set of environment variables specific to your branch.

1. Choose **Save**.

## Create a new backend environment with authentication parameters for social sign-in
<a name="creating-a-new-backend-environment-with-authentication-parameters"></a>

**To connect a branch to an app**

1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the [Amplify console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/amplify/).

1. The procedure for connecting a branch to an app varies depending on whether you are connecting a branch to a new app or an existing app.
   + **Connecting a branch to a new app**

     1. On the **Build settings** page, locate the **Select a backend environment to use with this branch** section. For **Environment**, choose **Create new environment**, and enter the name of your backend environment. The following screenshot shows the **Select a backend environment to use with this branch** section of the **Build settings** page with **backend** entered for the backend environment name.  
![\[The Select a backend environment to use with this branch section of the Build settings page.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/amplify/latest/userguide/images/amplify-newenvironment-1.png)

     1. Expand the **Advanced settings** section on the **Build settings** page and add environment variables for social sign-in keys. For example, **AMPLIFY\$1FACEBOOK\$1CLIENT\$1SECRET** is a valid environment variable. For the list of Amplify system environment variables that are available by default, see the table in [Amplify environment variable reference](environment-variables.md#amplify-console-environment-variables).
   + **Connecting a branch to an existing app**

     1. If you are connecting a new branch to an existing app, set the social sign-in environment variables before connecting the branch. In the navigation pane, choose **App Settings**, **Environment variables**.

     1. In the **Environment variables** section, choose **Manage variables**.

     1. In the **Manage variables** section, choose **Add variable**.

     1. For **Variable** (key), enter your client ID. For **Value**, enter your client secret.

     1. Choose, **Save**.