How To Manage User Secrets In Asp.net Core May 2026

In ASP.NET Core, WebApplication.CreateBuilder automatically includes the user secrets configuration source when the environment is set to . You can access these secrets using the standard Configuration API or the Options Pattern . Using IConfiguration:

Right-click the project in Solution Explorer and select Manage User Secrets . How to manage user secrets in ASP.NET Core

public class MyController : ControllerBase { private readonly IConfiguration _config; public MyController(IConfiguration config) => _config = config; public IActionResult Get() { var apiKey = _config["ServiceApiKey"]; // Retrieves the secret return Ok(); } } ``` ### Key Best Practices * **Development Only:** User secrets are **not encrypted** and are only intended for local development. * **Production Security:** Never use Secret Manager for production. Instead, use more secure providers like [Azure Key Vault](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/security/key-vault-configuration) or [environment variables](https://microsoft.com). * **Source Control:** Ensure your `secrets.json` file path is never added to `.gitignore`, though it should already be safe since it lives outside the project folder. Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard How to manage user secrets in ASP.NET Core - InfoWorld In ASP