# Zeabur Update Service

> Use when modifying service config without full redeploy. Use when updating env vars and restarting single service. Use when user says "change env var", "update config", "fix variable without redeploying", "upgrade service version", "update image tag", or "change service tag".

- Skill: `zeabur/zeabur-update-service` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add zeabur/zeabur-update-service`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/zeabur/zeabur-update-service/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: zeabur (https://skillmd.com/u/zeabur)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/zeabur/zeabur-update-service

---


# Zeabur Update Service Without Redeploy

> **Always use `npx zeabur@latest` to invoke Zeabur CLI.** Never use `zeabur` directly or any other installation method. If `npx` is not available, install Node.js first.

## Workflow

```bash
# 1. Get service ID (use the `zeabur-service-list` skill)
npx zeabur@latest service list --project-id <project-id> -i=false

# 2. Check current variables
npx zeabur@latest variable list --id <service-id> -i=false

# 3a. Add new variables (errors if key already exists)
npx zeabur@latest variable create --id <service-id> \
  --key "KEY1=value1" \
  --key "KEY2=value2" \
  -i=false -y

# 3b. Update existing variables (only updates specified keys)
npx zeabur@latest variable update --id <service-id> \
  --key "KEY1=new_value1" \
  -i=false -y

# 4. Restart service (use the `zeabur-restart` skill for details)
npx zeabur@latest service restart --id <service-id> -y -i=false
```

## Caveats

| Issue | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| `${VAR}` references | Set in Dashboard, not CLI (shell expands to empty) |

## Update Image Tag (Upgrade / Downgrade Service Version)

For prebuilt/marketplace services, update the image tag to switch versions.

> **This is the ONLY correct path for version upgrades or downgrades.** Do NOT use `zeabur-deploy` (or any redeploy / delete-and-recreate flow) as a substitute — those flows can orphan or wipe the service's mounted disk. A tag update triggers a clean redeploy with the new image while the volume stays attached.

### Workflow

```bash
# 1. Get service ID (use the `zeabur-service-list` skill)
npx zeabur@latest service list --project-id <project-id> -i=false

# 2. Update tag (triggers redeploy automatically)
npx zeabur@latest service update tag --id <service-id> -t <new-tag> -y -i=false
```

### Flags

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--id` | Service ID (**required**, do not use `--name`) |
| `-t, --tag` | New image tag to deploy |
| `--env-id` | Environment ID (optional, resolved automatically) |
| `-y, --yes` | Skip confirmation |

> **Note:** Updating the tag triggers a new deployment. The service will restart with the updated image.

## When to Use

- Fix environment variable typos
- Add missing config
- Change ports, URLs, credentials
- Upgrade a prebuilt service to a newer version
- **No need to redeploy entire template**