grok

Start an interactive session in the current directory

TLDR

Start an interactive session in the current directory

$ grok

Start in a specific directory

$ grok -d [path/to/project]

Run a one-off command and exit (headless mode)

$ grok -p "[prompt]"

Specify a different model

$ grok -m [grok-4-latest]

Run with custom API key

$ grok -k [your_api_key]

Add an MCP server

$ grok mcp add [server-name] --transport stdio --command bun --args [server.js]

SYNOPSIS

grok [options] [prompt]
grok mcp add server-name [--transport type] [--command cmd] [--args args]

Grok CLI is an open-source AI agent that brings the power of xAI's Grok directly into your terminal. It provides a conversational interface for coding assistance, file operations, and shell command execution through natural language.
The tool operates in two modes: interactive mode for extended sessions with ongoing dialogue, and headless mode (-p) for scripted automation and one-off commands. Grok can navigate codebases, view and edit files, run bash commands, and intelligently select appropriate tools for requested tasks.
Configuration can be set via environment variables (GROK_API_KEY, GROK_BASE_URL, GROK_MODEL), user settings (~/.grok/user-settings.json), or project-level settings (.grok/settings.json). Custom instructions can be placed in .grok/GROK.md files.

PARAMETERS

-V, --version

Display version information.

-d, --directory path

Set working directory for the session.

-k, --api-key key

Provide xAI Grok API credentials.

-u, --base-url url

Custom API endpoint (default: https://api.x.ai/v1).

-m, --model model

Specify AI model (grok-4-latest, grok-3-latest, grok-3-fast, grok-3-mini-fast, grok-code-fast-1).

-p, --prompt text

Execute single prompt in headless mode and exit.

--max-tool-rounds n

Limit the number of tool execution rounds.

-h, --help

Display help documentation.

CAVEATS

Requires an xAI API key which must be obtained from the xAI API Console. The CLI uses the xAI API endpoint by default and requires Node.js version 18 or higher. API usage is subject to xAI's rate limits and billing. The Morph Fast Apply feature for high-speed code editing requires additional configuration.

HISTORY

Grok CLI emerged as an open-source project in 2024 following xAI's public release of their Grok API. Built by the Superagent AI community, it provides terminal access to xAI's Grok models. The tool gained significant traction in 2025 as a challenger to proprietary coding assistants, with xAI announcing their official Grok Build coding agent in January 2026 to provide first-party CLI support.