runtime config in .env is not loaded in production

[kingyue737]

Environment

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• Operating System: Linux
• Node Version: v18.20.3
• Nuxt Version: 3.13.0
• CLI Version: 3.13.0
• Nitro Version: 2.9.7
• Package Manager: npm@10.2.3
• Builder: -
• User Config: compatibilityDate, devtools, runtimeConfig
• Runtime Modules: -
• Build Modules: -

---

Reproduction

https://stackblitz.com/edit/github-p9jzzh

Describe the bug

I added NUXT_TEST=reproduction in .env file. It works well in dev and the string reproduction is rendered in page.

But if I build it and preview with node .output/server/index.mjs, the config in .env does not take effect.

Additional context

No response

Logs

No response

[stackblitz]

Start a new pull request in StackBlitz Codeflow.

• github-p9jzzh (Open reproduction)

[danielroe]

This is documented behaviour: https://nuxt.com/docs/guide/directory-structure/env#production

[kingyue737]

Sorry for missing that part in the documentation. For those who want to load .env in production, we can use the built-in functionality since Node v20.6: https://nodejs.org/en/learn/command-line/how-to-read-environment-variables-from-nodejs

node --env-file=.env .output/server/index.mjs