Linear Lens

Appearance

Authentication ​

Without authentication, Linear Lens still links every issue reference, highlights it, and shows a hover with a clickable URL. Authentication unlocks rich hovers that show live title, workflow status (with a color-coded dot), assignee avatar, labels (with their colors), the suggested git branch name, and quick branch-action links.

Two authentication paths are available. The personal API key path requires no third-party extension and works everywhere — it is the fastest way to get started.

A personal API key is generated directly in your Linear account and is valid for as long as you keep it. It works in VS Code, Cursor, and any remote or restricted workspace.

  1. In Linear, open Settings → Security & access → Personal API keys (direct URL: https://linear.app/settings/api).
  2. Click Create key, give it a label (e.g. VS Code), and copy the generated key.
  3. In the editor, run Linear Lens: Set Personal API Key from the command palette and paste the key. It is stored in VS Code's encrypted SecretStorage and sent only to api.linear.app. It is never written to disk in plaintext.

To remove a stored key, run Linear Lens: Clear Personal API Key.

Tip: after setting the key, run Linear Lens: Refresh Issue Cache once to drop any cached unauthenticated data and immediately see rich hovers.

Option B — Linear Connect (OAuth, no client secret) ​

If you prefer OAuth over a static key, Linear Lens can consume an OAuth token from Linear's official Linear Connect extension (linear.linear-connect). Linear Connect is Linear's own first-party extension; Linear Lens never sees a client secret and hosts no redirect URI.

  1. Run Linear Lens: Sign in to Linear from the command palette.
  2. If Linear Connect is not installed, click Install Linear Connect in the prompt (one time only). You may need to reload the window after installation.
  3. Approve the request in your browser. The token is stored securely by VS Code and Linear Connect. You are now signed in.

To sign out, run Linear Lens: Sign out of Linear. If Linear Connect's logout command is available it is invoked directly; otherwise Linear Lens guides you to the Accounts menu (bottom-left corner → Linear → Sign Out).

Fallback behavior ​

If neither method is configured, Linear Lens degrades gracefully to basic link/hover behavior — it never throws and never blocks your editor.