# Update a computer

> Update `name`, `protected`, `ports` and `env` live, without a restart.

> Nevia is in beta and open to selected teams. Public launch in Dec 2026. The CLI installs with `curl -fsSL https://get.nevia.cloud | sh`, and the MCP server is at https://api.nevia.cloud/mcp. A person signs in once in the browser.
> Setup, sign-in and requesting access: [SKILL.md](https://nevia.cloud/SKILL.md). When Nevia fits and when it doesn't: [why.md](https://nevia.cloud/why.md).

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://nevia.cloud/llms.txt). This page's HTML version: https://nevia.cloud/docs/reference/api/computers/updateComputer

`PATCH https://api.nevia.cloud/v1/computers/{cmp}`

## Authorization

- `bearerAuth`: HTTP bearer in the Authorization header

Send the token in the `Authorization: Bearer <token>` header. See [Authenticate](https://nevia.cloud/docs/reference/api.md#authenticate).

## Parameters

| Name | In | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `cmp` | path | string | yes | Computer id: 27 lowercase letters and digits. Match `^[A-Za-z0-9_-]{1,64}$`. |
| `Idempotency-Key` | header | string | no | Optional retry key, kept 24 hours. Length `1 <= length <= 255`. |

## Request body

Content type: `application/json`, required

Schema: `ComputerUpdateRequest`

Fields to change on a computer

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `name` | string | no | Unique within the workspace per resource kind. Match `^[a-z0-9]([a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?$`. Length `1 <= length <= 63`. |
| `protected` | boolean | no |  |
| `ports` | array<PortMapping> | no | Port mappings, each with a unique `published`. Items `items <= 16`. |
| `env` | object | no | Env vars merged into the stored env, used by every exec and session. A `null` value detaches a var. Values can use `{{secrets.NAME}}` or `{{variables.NAME}}` templates. [Computer environment variables](https://nevia.cloud/docs/reference/computer-env.md). |

## Behavior

- Updates to one computer run one at a time.
- With `Idempotency-Key`, a retry replays the original response without reapplying an older configuration.
- `env` merges into the stored env. `null` detaches a var.
- The merged env applies from the next exec on, in any state but `deleting`.
- The API checks new references as in a create.
- `ports` replaces the mappings on the running machine.

## Example request

### cURL

```bash
curl -X PATCH "https://api.nevia.cloud/v1/computers/01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "protected": true
  }'
```

### JavaScript

```js
const body = JSON.stringify({
  "protected": true
})

fetch("https://api.nevia.cloud/v1/computers/01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm", {
  method: "PATCH",
  headers: {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${process.env.TOKEN}`
  },
  body
})
```

### Python

```python
import os
import requests

url = "https://api.nevia.cloud/v1/computers/01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm"
body = """{
  "protected": true
}"""
response = requests.request("PATCH", url, data = body, headers = {
  "Content-Type": "application/json", 
  "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['TOKEN']}"
})

print(response.text)
```

## Responses

### 200

The computer, with `operations` empty.

Content type: `application/json`

Schema: `ComputerResponse`

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `computer` | Computer | yes | Computer running an OCI image. |
| `operations` | array<OperationId> | yes | Operations this request started. |

Example:

```json
{
  "computer": {
    "id": "01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm",
    "workspace": "01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h",
    "name": "api-staging",
    "state": "ready",
    "pending": null,
    "image": "docker.io/library/python:3.13-slim",
    "image_digest": "sha256:9f86d081884c7d659a2feaa0c55ad015a3bf4f1b2b0b822cd15d6c15b0f00a08",
    "ports": [
      {
        "published": 8080,
        "target": 8080,
        "protocol": "http1",
        "url": "https://01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm.machines.example:8080"
      }
    ],
    "url": "https://01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm.machines.example",
    "env_keys": [
      "LOG_LEVEL",
      "OPENAI_KEY"
    ],
    "env_vars": [
      {
        "name": "LOG_LEVEL",
        "source": "literal",
        "missing": false
      },
      {
        "name": "OPENAI_KEY",
        "source": "secret",
        "missing": false
      }
    ],
    "generation": 1,
    "protected": false,
    "parent": null,
    "from_checkpoint": null,
    "error": null,
    "created_at": "2026-09-10T12:34:56Z",
    "last_started_at": "2026-09-10T12:35:12Z",
    "last_active_at": "2026-09-10T12:40:03Z",
    "deleted_at": null
  },
  "operations": [
    "01d4cnjm89yk0r3xtv80dy0x7by"
  ]
}
```

### 400

`validation_failed`: malformed body, unknown field, or invalid id or name. Fix `details.field` and retry. `validation_failed`: `env` names a secret or variable that does not exist in the workspace.

Content type: `application/json`

Schema: `ErrorEnvelope`

Body of every error response

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `error` | Error | yes |  |

Example `validation_failed: malformed body, unknown field, or invalid id or name. Fix \`details.field\` and retry`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "validation_failed",
    "message": "Unknown field `colour` in the request body. Remove it; request bodies are strict.",
    "details": {
      "field": "colour",
      "in": "body"
    },
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

Example `validation_failed: \`env\` names a secret or variable that does not exist in the workspace`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "validation_failed",
    "message": "Invalid `env.OPENAI_KEY` in the request body: secret `OPENAI_KEY` does not exist in workspace 01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h. List them with GET /v1/secrets?workspace=01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h.",
    "details": {
      "field": "env.OPENAI_KEY",
      "in": "body"
    },
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

### 401

`unauthorized`: the credential is missing, malformed, expired, or revoked. Send a valid bearer token.

Content type: `application/json`

Schema: `ErrorEnvelope`

Body of every error response

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `error` | Error | yes |  |

Example `unauthorized`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "unauthorized",
    "message": "Missing credential. Send `Authorization: Bearer <token>` with an access token.",
    "details": {},
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

### 403

`forbidden`: the `env` references a secret or variable the caller may not reference. Secrets need the `editor` role or higher in the workspace, variables any role.

Content type: `application/json`

Schema: `ErrorEnvelope`

Body of every error response

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `error` | Error | yes |  |

Example `forbidden`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "forbidden",
    "message": "Referencing workspace secrets needs workspace#edit on workspace 01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h. Ask a workspace admin to change your role.",
    "details": {
      "workspace": "01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h",
      "permission": "workspace#edit"
    },
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

### 404

`not_found`: the computer does not exist, or you cannot see it. Both return the same response.

Content type: `application/json`

Schema: `ErrorEnvelope`

Body of every error response

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `error` | Error | yes |  |

Example `not_found`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "not_found",
    "message": "Computer 01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm was not found. List the computers you can access with GET /v1/computers?workspace=<ws>.",
    "details": {
      "computer": "01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm"
    },
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

### 409

`invalid_state`: the computer is being deleted, or `ports` is set while it is sleeping or transitioning. `name_conflict`: `name` is taken in the workspace. `idempotency_conflict`: the `Idempotency-Key` was already used with a different body.

Content type: `application/json`

Schema: `ErrorEnvelope`

Body of every error response

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `error` | Error | yes |  |

Example `invalid_state`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "invalid_state",
    "message": "Computer 01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm is being deleted and can no longer be changed. Poll GET /v1/operations/{op} from the DELETE response until it finishes.",
    "details": {
      "computer": "01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm",
      "workspace": "01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h",
      "state": "deleting"
    },
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

Example `name_conflict`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "name_conflict",
    "message": "A computer named api-staging already exists in workspace 01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h. Pick another name, or find it with GET /v1/computers?workspace=01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h&name=api-staging.",
    "details": {
      "workspace": "01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h",
      "name": "api-staging",
      "list_route": "GET /v1/computers?workspace=01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h"
    },
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

Example `idempotency_conflict`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "idempotency_conflict",
    "message": "Idempotency-Key 8f1c2a7e-3b4d-4c5e-9f0a-1b2c3d4e5f60 was already used for a different PATCH /v1/computers/{cmp} request. Use a new key for a new request.",
    "details": {
      "idempotency_key": "8f1c2a7e-3b4d-4c5e-9f0a-1b2c3d4e5f60"
    },
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

### 422

`not_supported`: the platform does not support the change, such as `ports` on a computer created before HTTPS port mappings existed.

Content type: `application/json`

Schema: `ErrorEnvelope`

Body of every error response

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `error` | Error | yes |  |

Example `not_supported`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "not_supported",
    "message": "This request is not supported for computer 01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm. If this computer uses an older guest image, create a fresh computer with POST /v1/computers and retry the request on the new computer. Quote request_id when reporting.",
    "details": {
      "computer": "01d4cnjk3xg90y576w8y6t4gdwm",
      "workspace": "01d4cnjjq40hnnh0nwmkg35nv2h"
    },
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

### 429

`rate_limited`: slow down. Retry after `Retry-After`.

Content type: `application/json`

Schema: `ErrorEnvelope`

Body of every error response

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `error` | Error | yes |  |

Example `rate_limited`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "rate_limited",
    "message": "Too many requests. Retry after 2 seconds.",
    "details": {
      "retry_after_seconds": 2
    },
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

### 500

`request_failed`, or the failed action's own code, such as `creation_failed`, `authorization_failed` or `command_execution_failed`. Quote `request_id` when reporting. The diagnostic stays in server logs.

Content type: `application/json`

Schema: `ErrorEnvelope`

Body of every error response

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `error` | Error | yes |  |

Example `request_failed`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "request_failed",
    "message": "request failed",
    "details": {},
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```

### 503

The action is temporarily unavailable, named by its code (`creation_failed`, `wake_failed`, ...). Wait at least `Retry-After` seconds (60 by default). `details.retryable` says whether repeating the request is safe. Keep the original `Idempotency-Key`. Signing in again does not help.

Content type: `application/json`

Schema: `ErrorEnvelope`

Body of every error response

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `error` | Error | yes |  |

Example `creation_failed`:

```json
{
  "error": {
    "code": "creation_failed",
    "message": "The computer could not be created. Try again later, and quote request_id if it persists.",
    "details": {
      "retryable": true
    },
    "request_id": "req_01j9k3m2p7q4r8s1"
  }
}
```