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Getting started with the Fin CLI

Written by Dawn Perrott

The Fin CLI (@intercom/cli) is a command-line tool built for developers and AI coding agents, such as Claude Code, Cursor or Codex, to set up, configure and manage Intercom and Fin programmatically. You can point your coding agent at the CLI and ask it in plain language to set up Fin, import content, or change your Fin and Messenger configuration, without leaving your coding environment. Every command is designed to work without interactive prompts, with structured JSON output and clear error messages for use in automated workflows. Learn more at fin.ai/cli.

Requirements

  • Node.js 18 or higher (v20.6.0+ recommended)

  • An Intercom workspace in the US region (other regions are not currently supported)

Fin CLI or Fin Agent API MCP server? Use the Fin CLI when you want a coding agent to set up or change your workspace, such as configuring procedures, guidance, audiences, data connectors, workflows, the Messenger or articles. Use the Fin Agent API MCP server when you want an agent to use Fin, such as asking it questions or running procedures on behalf of a user.


Installation

Install the CLI globally via npm:

npm install -g @intercom/cli

Or run it directly without a global install:

npx @intercom/cli

Authentication

The CLI offers three authentication paths depending on your setup:

  • auth login — Enter an existing token directly.

  • auth bootstrap — Automatically create an app and retrieve a token using your email and password.

  • auth signup — Create a brand-new Intercom workspace from scratch.

Credentials are stored securely in your system keychain (macOS Keychain, Windows Credential Manager, or Linux libsecret), with an encrypted file fallback. Tokens expire after approximately 14 days. There is currently no automatic token refresh — you will need to re-authenticate when your token expires.

Key commands

One-command workspace setup

The intercom setup command automates workspace creation, Messenger installation, and help center population in a single step — no UI required.

intercom setup

Content ingestion from Markdown

Populate your help center by pointing the CLI at a local directory of Markdown files:

intercom setup --content-dir ./docs

Raw API access

The intercom api command provides direct access to any Intercom API endpoint, similar to how the GitHub CLI works with gh api:

intercom api 

Fin configuration

Manage Fin procedures, guidance, audiences, data connectors, simulations, and workflows directly from the terminal — no need to visit the Intercom UI.

Use the CLI with Claude Code or another coding agent

Install and authenticate the CLI, then ask your coding agent what you want to do in plain language. For example, "Set up Fin on our site and import ./docs/help as articles", or "Only show the Messenger launcher to logged-in users". The agent runs the matching CLI commands for you. To review what it will change before anything is applied, ask it to use the --plan or --dry-run flags first.

Resource management

The CLI includes dedicated commands for managing common Intercom resources:

Command

Operations

intercom articles

list, get, create, update, delete

intercom contacts

list, get, create, update, delete

intercom conversations

list, get, reply

intercom help-center

list, get, create

intercom messenger

get, update, snippet

intercom fin

procedures, guidance, audiences, data connectors, simulations, workflows

intercom me

show current workspace info

Planning and dry-run modes

Two flags are available to validate commands before running them:

  • --plan: Lists the steps the CLI would take without executing them. Useful for AI agents reviewing a workflow before committing.

  • --dry-run: Validates the command and its inputs without making any changes.

Output modes

All commands support --json for structured output suitable for piping into other tools. You can also filter output inline using --jq — no system jq installation required.

Known limitations

  • US region only — other regions are not currently supported.

  • Tokens expire after approximately 14 days with no automatic refresh.

  • The auth signup and auth bootstrap commands use internal endpoints that may require Web Application Firewall (WAF) exceptions in some production environments.

  • Node.js 18 or higher is required. OAuth browser flow is not yet supported — token-based authentication (auth login --token) is the primary supported path.


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