updateSession

The updateSession client method modifies or refreshes the data stored in the current user's session payload, without requiring them to sign out and back in.

syntax.ts

import { authClient } from "@/lib/auth-client"

const session = await authClient.updateSession({
  session: {
    user: {
      nickname: "newnickname",
    },
  },
})

Reference

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
options	`UpdateSessionOptions<DefaultUser>`	Yes	An object containing the session updates and request context.

UpdateSessionOptions

Option	Type	Default	Description
session	`DeepPartial<Session<DefaultUser>>`	undefined	The partial session data to merge into the current session.
redirect	`boolean`	`true`	Whether to redirect via `window.location.assign` (`true`) or return the result as an object (`false`).
redirectTo	`string`	undefined	The URL to redirect to after a successful update.

Returns

Return Type	Description
`Promise<UpdateSessionReturn<Options>>`	Resolves to an object containing the updated session data, `redirect`, and `success`.

Behavior

Cookies are set automatically in the browser context — you don't need to handle them manually.
The CSRF token is automatically loaded and sent with the request — you don't need to handle it manually.
The session token's integrity is verified before applying the update. If the session is invalid or expired, the call resolves with success: false rather than throwing.
The return value depends on the redirect option:
- redirect: true (default) — navigates to redirectTo (or the default post-update URL) via window.location.assign.
- redirect: false — resolves to an object with the updated session, redirect: false, and success, letting you handle navigation yourself.
If the update fails (invalid session, or data that doesn't match identity.schema), success is false.

Usage

Update session data

update-session.ts

import { authClient } from "@/lib/auth-client"

const session = await authClient.updateSession({
  session: {
    user: {
      nickname: "newnickname",
    },
  },
})

manual-navigation.ts

import { authClient } from "@/lib/auth-client"

const output = await authClient.updateSession({
  session: {
    user: {
      nickname: "newnickname",
    },
  },
  redirect: false,
  redirectTo: "/dashboard",
})

if (output.success) {
  window.location.assign(output.redirectURL)
}