Neon Auth for Next.js

Help developers set up @neondatabase/auth in Next.js App Router applications (auth only, no database).

When to Use

Use this skill when:

Setting up Neon Auth in Next.js (App Router)
User mentions "next.js", "next", or "app router" with Neon Auth
Auth-only setup (no database needed)

Critical Rules

Server vs Client imports: Use correct import paths
'use client' directive: Required for client components using hooks
CSS Import: Choose ONE - either /ui/css OR /ui/tailwind, never both
onSessionChange: Always call router.refresh() to update Server Components

Critical Imports

Purpose	Import From
Unified Server (`createNeonAuth`)	`@neondatabase/auth/next/server`
Client Auth	`@neondatabase/auth/next`
UI Components	`@neondatabase/auth/react/ui`
View Paths (static params)	`@neondatabase/auth/react/ui/server`

Note: Use createNeonAuth() from @neondatabase/auth/next/server to get a unified auth instance that provides:

.handler() - API route handler
.middleware() - Route protection middleware
All Better Auth server methods (.signIn, .signUp, .getSession, etc.)

Setup

1. Install

npm install @neondatabase/auth

2. Environment (`.env.local`)

NEON_AUTH_BASE_URL=https://your-auth.neon.tech
NEON_AUTH_COOKIE_SECRET=your-secret-at-least-32-characters-long

Important: Generate a secure secret (32+ characters) for production:

openssl rand -base64 32

3. Server Setup (`lib/auth/server.ts`)

Create a auth instance that provides handler, middleware, and server methods:

import { createNeonAuth } from '@neondatabase/auth/next/server';

export const auth = createNeonAuth({
  baseUrl: process.env.NEON_AUTH_BASE_URL!,
  cookies: {
    secret: process.env.NEON_AUTH_COOKIE_SECRET!,
    sessionDataTtl: 300,          // Optional: session data cache TTL in seconds (default: 300 = 5 min)
    domain: '.example.com',       // Optional: for cross-subdomain cookies
  },
});

4. API Route (`app/api/auth/[...path]/route.ts`)

import { auth } from '@/lib/auth/server';

export const { GET, POST } = auth.handler();

5. Middleware (`middleware.ts`)

import { auth } from '@/lib/auth/server';

export default auth.middleware({
  loginUrl: '/auth/sign-in',
});

export const config = {
  matcher: ['/dashboard/:path*', '/account/:path*'],
};

6. Client (`lib/auth/client.ts`)

'use client';
import { createAuthClient } from '@neondatabase/auth/next';

export const authClient = createAuthClient();

7. Provider (`app/providers.tsx`)

'use client';
import { NeonAuthUIProvider } from '@neondatabase/auth/react/ui';
import Link from 'next/link';
import { useRouter } from 'next/navigation';
import { authClient } from '@/lib/auth/client';

export function Providers({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  const router = useRouter();

  return (
    <NeonAuthUIProvider
      authClient={authClient}
      navigate={router.push}
      replace={router.replace}
      onSessionChange={() => router.refresh()}
      redirectTo="/dashboard"
      Link={({href, children}) => <Link to={href}>{children}</Link>}
    >
      {children}
    </NeonAuthUIProvider>
  );
}

8. Layout (`app/layout.tsx`)

import { Providers } from './providers';
import '@neondatabase/auth/ui/css';

export default function RootLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  return (
    <html lang="en">
      <body>
        <Providers>{children}</Providers>
      </body>
    </html>
  );
}

9. Auth Pages (`app/auth/[path]/page.tsx`)

import { AuthView } from '@neondatabase/auth/react/ui';
import { authViewPaths } from '@neondatabase/auth/react/ui/server';

export function generateStaticParams() {
  return Object.values(authViewPaths).map((path) => ({ path }));
}

export default async function AuthPage({ params }: { params: Promise<{ path: string }> }) {
  const { path } = await params;
  return <AuthView pathname={path} />;
}

CSS & Styling

Import Options

Without Tailwind (pre-built CSS bundle ~47KB):

// app/layout.tsx
import '@neondatabase/auth/ui/css';

With Tailwind CSS v4 (app/globals.css):

@import 'tailwindcss';
@import '@neondatabase/auth/ui/tailwind';

IMPORTANT: Never import both - causes duplicate styles.

Dark Mode

The provider includes next-themes. Control via defaultTheme prop:

<NeonAuthUIProvider
  defaultTheme="system" // 'light' | 'dark' | 'system'
  // ...
>

Custom Theming

Override CSS variables in globals.css:

:root {
  --primary: hsl(221.2 83.2% 53.3%);
  --primary-foreground: hsl(210 40% 98%);
  --background: hsl(0 0% 100%);
  --foreground: hsl(222.2 84% 4.9%);
  --card: hsl(0 0% 100%);
  --card-foreground: hsl(222.2 84% 4.9%);
  --border: hsl(214.3 31.8% 91.4%);
  --input: hsl(214.3 31.8% 91.4%);
  --ring: hsl(221.2 83.2% 53.3%);
  --radius: 0.5rem;
}

.dark {
  --background: hsl(222.2 84% 4.9%);
  --foreground: hsl(210 40% 98%);
  /* ... dark mode overrides */
}

NeonAuthUIProvider Props

Full configuration options:

<NeonAuthUIProvider
  // Required
  authClient={authClient}

  // Navigation (Next.js specific)
  navigate={router.push}        // router.push for navigation
  replace={router.replace}      // router.replace for redirects
  onSessionChange={() => router.refresh()} // Refresh Server Components!
  redirectTo="/dashboard"       // Where to redirect after auth
  Link={({href, children}) => <Link to={href}>{children}</Link>}                   // Next.js Link component

  // Social/OAuth Providers
  social={{
    providers: ['google'],
  }}

  // Feature Flags
  emailOTP={true}               // Enable email OTP sign-in
  emailVerification={true}      // Require email verification
  magicLink={false}             // Magic link (disabled by default)
  multiSession={false}          // Multiple sessions (disabled)

  // Credentials Configuration
  credentials={{
    forgotPassword: true,       // Show forgot password link
  }}

  // Sign Up Fields
  signUp={{
    fields: ['name'],           // Additional fields: 'name', 'username', etc.
  }}

  // Account Settings Fields
  account={{
    fields: ['image', 'name', 'company', 'age', 'newsletter'],
  }}

  // Organization Features
  organization={{}}             // Enable org features

  // Dark Mode
  defaultTheme="system"         // 'light' | 'dark' | 'system'

  // Custom Labels
  localization={{
    SIGN_IN: 'Welcome Back',
    SIGN_UP: 'Create Account',
    FORGOT_PASSWORD: 'Forgot Password?',
    OR_CONTINUE_WITH: 'or continue with',
  }}
>
  {children}
</NeonAuthUIProvider>

Server Components (RSC)

Get Session in Server Component

// NO 'use client' - this is a Server Component
import { auth } from '@/lib/auth/server';

// Server components using `auth` methods must be rendered dynamically
export const dynamic = 'force-dynamic'

export async function Profile() {
  const { data: session } = await auth.getSession();

  if (!session?.user) return <div>Not signed in</div>;

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Hello, {session.user.name}</p>
      <p>Email: {session.user.email}</p>
    </div>
  );
}

Route Handler with Auth

// app/api/user/route.ts
import { auth } from '@/lib/auth/server';
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export async function GET() {
  const { data: session } = await auth.getSession();

  if (!session?.user) {
    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Unauthorized' }, { status: 401 });
  }

  return NextResponse.json({ user: session.user });
}

Server Actions

Server actions use the same auth instance from lib/auth/server.ts:

Sign In Action

// app/actions/auth.ts
'use server';
import { auth } from '@/lib/auth/server';
import { redirect } from 'next/navigation';

export async function signIn(formData: FormData) {
  const { error } = await auth.signIn.email({
    email: formData.get('email') as string,
    password: formData.get('password') as string,
  });

  if (error) {
    return { error: error.message };
  }

  redirect('/dashboard');
}

export async function signUp(formData: FormData) {
  const { error } = await auth.signUp.email({
    email: formData.get('email') as string,
    password: formData.get('password') as string,
    name: formData.get('name') as string,
  });

  if (error) {
    return { error: error.message };
  }

  redirect('/dashboard');
}

export async function signOut() {
  await auth.signOut();
  redirect('/');
}

Available Server Methods

The auth instance from createNeonAuth() provides all Better Auth server methods:

// Authentication
auth.signIn.email({ email, password })
auth.signUp.email({ email, password, name })
auth.signOut()
auth.getSession()

// User Management
auth.updateUser({ name, image })

// Organizations
auth.organization.create({ name, slug })
auth.organization.list()

// Admin (if enabled)
auth.admin.listUsers()
auth.admin.banUser({ userId })

Client Components

Session Hook

'use client';
import { authClient } from '@/lib/auth/client';

export function Dashboard() {
  const { data: session, isPending, error } = authClient.useSession();

  if (isPending) return <div>Loading...</div>;
  if (error) return <div>Error: {error.message}</div>;
  if (!session) return <div>Not signed in</div>;

  return <div>Hello, {session.user.name}</div>;
}

Client-Side Auth Methods

'use client';
import { authClient } from '@/lib/auth/client';

// Sign in
await authClient.signIn.email({ email, password });

// Sign up
await authClient.signUp.email({ email, password, name });

// OAuth
await authClient.signIn.social({
  provider: 'google',
  callbackURL: '/dashboard',
});

// Sign out
await authClient.signOut();

// Get session
const session = await authClient.getSession();

UI Components

AuthView - Main Auth Interface

import { AuthView } from '@neondatabase/auth/react/ui';

// Handles: sign-in, sign-up, forgot-password, reset-password, callback, sign-out
<AuthView pathname={path} />

Conditional Rendering

import {
  SignedIn,
  SignedOut,
  AuthLoading,
  RedirectToSignIn,
} from '@neondatabase/auth/react/ui';

function MyPage() {
  return (
    <>
      <AuthLoading>
        <LoadingSpinner />
      </AuthLoading>

      <SignedIn>
        <Dashboard />
      </SignedIn>

      <SignedOut>
        <LandingPage />
      </SignedOut>

      {/* Auto-redirect if not signed in */}
      <RedirectToSignIn />
    </>
  );
}

UserButton

import { UserButton } from '@neondatabase/auth/react/ui';

function Header() {
  return (
    <header>
      <nav>...</nav>
      <UserButton />
    </header>
  );
}

Account Management

import {
  AccountSettingsCards,
  SecuritySettingsCards,
  SessionsCard,
  ChangePasswordCard,
  ChangeEmailCard,
  DeleteAccountCard,
  ProvidersCard,
} from '@neondatabase/auth/react/ui';

Organization Components

import {
  OrganizationSwitcher,
  OrganizationSettingsCards,
  OrganizationMembersCard,
  AcceptInvitationCard,
} from '@neondatabase/auth/react/ui';

Social/OAuth Providers

Configuration

<NeonAuthUIProvider
  social={{
    providers: ['google'],
  }}
>

Programmatic OAuth

// Client-side
await authClient.signIn.social({
  provider: 'google',
  callbackURL: '/dashboard',
});

Supported Providers

google, github, twitter, discord, apple, microsoft, facebook, linkedin, spotify, twitch, gitlab, bitbucket

Middleware Configuration

Basic Protected Routes

import { auth } from '@/lib/auth/server';

export default auth.middleware({
  loginUrl: '/auth/sign-in',
});

export const config = {
  matcher: ['/dashboard/:path*', '/account/:path*', '/settings/:path*'],
};

Custom Logic

import { auth } from '@/lib/auth/server';
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';

export default auth.middleware({
  loginUrl: '/auth/sign-in',
});

Account Pages Setup

Account Layout (`app/account/[path]/page.tsx`)

import {
  SignedIn,
  RedirectToSignIn,
  AccountSettingsCards,
  SecuritySettingsCards,
  SessionsCard,
  ChangePasswordCard,
} from '@neondatabase/auth/react/ui';

export default async function AccountPage({ params }: { params: Promise<{ path: string }> }) {
  const { path = 'settings' } = await params;

  return (
    <>
      <RedirectToSignIn />
      <SignedIn>
        {path === 'settings' && <AccountSettingsCards />}
        {path === 'security' && (
          <>
            <ChangePasswordCard />
            <SecuritySettingsCards />
          </>
        )}
        {path === 'sessions' && <SessionsCard />}
      </SignedIn>
    </>
  );
}

Advanced Features

Anonymous Access

Enable RLS-based data access for unauthenticated users:

// lib/auth/client.ts
'use client';
import { createAuthClient } from '@neondatabase/auth/next';

export const authClient = createAuthClient({
  allowAnonymous: true,
});

Get JWT Token

const token = await authClient.getJWTToken();

// Use in API calls
const response = await fetch('/api/data', {
  headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
});

Cross-Tab Sync

Automatic via BroadcastChannel. Sign out in one tab signs out all tabs.

Session Refresh in Server Components

The onSessionChange callback is crucial for Next.js:

<NeonAuthUIProvider
  onSessionChange={() => router.refresh()} // Refreshes Server Components!
  // ...
>

Without this, Server Components won't update after sign-in/sign-out.

Error Handling

Server Actions

'use server';

export async function signIn(formData: FormData) {
  const { error } = await authServer.signIn.email({
    email: formData.get('email') as string,
    password: formData.get('password') as string,
  });

  if (error) {
    // Return error to client
    return { error: error.message };
  }

  redirect('/dashboard');
}

Client Components

'use client';

const { error } = await authClient.signIn.email({ email, password });

if (error) {
  toast.error(error.message);
}

Common Errors

Error	Cause
`Invalid credentials`	Wrong email/password
`User already exists`	Email already registered
`Email not verified`	Verification required
`Session not found`	Expired or invalid session

FAQ / Troubleshooting

Server Components not updating after sign-in?

Make sure you have onSessionChange={() => router.refresh()} in your provider:

<NeonAuthUIProvider
  onSessionChange={() => router.refresh()}
  // ...
>

Anonymous access not working?

Grant permissions to the anonymous role in your database:

GRANT SELECT ON public.posts TO anonymous;
GRANT SELECT ON public.products TO anonymous;

And configure RLS policies:

CREATE POLICY "Anyone can read published posts"
  ON public.posts FOR SELECT
  USING (published = true);

Middleware not protecting routes?

Check your matcher configuration:

export const config = {
  matcher: [
    '/dashboard/:path*',
    '/account/:path*',
    // Add your protected routes here
  ],
};

OAuth callback errors?

Ensure your API route is set up correctly at app/api/auth/[...path]/route.ts:

import { auth } from '@/lib/auth/server';
export const { GET, POST } = auth.handler();

Session not persisting?

Check cookies are enabled
Verify NEON_AUTH_BASE_URL is correct in .env.local
Verify NEON_AUTH_COOKIE_SECRET is set and at least 32 characters
Make sure you're not in incognito with cookies blocked

Session data cache not working?

Verify NEON_AUTH_COOKIE_SECRET is at least 32 characters long
Check cookies.secret is passed to createNeonAuth()
Optionally configure cookies.sessionDataTtl (default: 300 seconds)

Performance Notes

Session data caching: JWT-signed session_data cookie with configurable TTL (default: 5 minutes)
- Configure via cookies.sessionDataTtl in seconds
- Enables sub-millisecond session lookups (<1ms)
- Automatic fallback to upstream /get-session on cache miss
Request deduplication: Concurrent calls share single network request (10x faster cold starts)
Server Components: Use auth.getSession() for zero-JS session access
Cross-tab sync: <50ms via BroadcastChannel
Cookie domain: Optional cookies.domain for cross-subdomain cookie sharing

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Neon Auth for Next.js

When to Use

Critical Rules

Critical Imports

Setup

1. Install

2. Environment (.env.local)

3. Server Setup (lib/auth/server.ts)

4. API Route (app/api/auth/[...path]/route.ts)

5. Middleware (middleware.ts)

6. Client (lib/auth/client.ts)

7. Provider (app/providers.tsx)

8. Layout (app/layout.tsx)

9. Auth Pages (app/auth/[path]/page.tsx)

CSS & Styling

Import Options

Dark Mode

Custom Theming

NeonAuthUIProvider Props

Server Components (RSC)

Get Session in Server Component

Route Handler with Auth

Server Actions

Sign In Action

Available Server Methods

Client Components

Session Hook

Client-Side Auth Methods

UI Components

AuthView - Main Auth Interface

Conditional Rendering

UserButton

Account Management

Organization Components

Social/OAuth Providers

Configuration

Programmatic OAuth

Supported Providers

Middleware Configuration

Basic Protected Routes

Custom Logic

Account Pages Setup

Account Layout (app/account/[path]/page.tsx)

Advanced Features

Anonymous Access

Get JWT Token

Cross-Tab Sync

Session Refresh in Server Components

Error Handling

Server Actions

Client Components

Common Errors

FAQ / Troubleshooting

Server Components not updating after sign-in?

Anonymous access not working?

Middleware not protecting routes?

OAuth callback errors?

Session not persisting?

Session data cache not working?

Performance Notes

Source Transparency

Related Skills

neon-js

neon-js-react

neon-auth-react

neon-drizzle

2. Environment (`.env.local`)

3. Server Setup (`lib/auth/server.ts`)

4. API Route (`app/api/auth/[...path]/route.ts`)

5. Middleware (`middleware.ts`)

6. Client (`lib/auth/client.ts`)

7. Provider (`app/providers.tsx`)

8. Layout (`app/layout.tsx`)

9. Auth Pages (`app/auth/[path]/page.tsx`)

Account Layout (`app/account/[path]/page.tsx`)