Salesforce CLI uses the `target-org` configuration value when a command doesn't receive an explicit target. Give each org a recognizable alias, and prefer an explicit `--target-org` in automation.
## Authorize and select the org
Authorize the org only if it isn't already available locally:
```bash
sf org login web --instance-url https://test.salesforce.com --alias my-scratch
```
Setting an alias during login does not guarantee that the org becomes this project's default. Set that choice explicitly from the project directory:
2. Update your project's configuration file to use the new Scratch Org by running the following command:
```bash
sf config set target-org=my-scratch
sf org display --target-org my-scratch
```
Verify that VS Code shows the same alias in its status bar. If it doesn't, use the Salesforce extension's org-selection command and check `sf config get target-org`. In CI or before a destructive operation, pass `--target-org my-scratch` rather than relying on ambient configuration.
Reviewed against the [Salesforce CLI org reference](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/salesforce-cli-reference/guide/cli_reference_org.html) on 2026-08-01.
Salesforce CLI uses the target-org configuration value when a command doesn’t receive an explicit target. Give each org a recognizable alias, and prefer an explicit --target-org in automation.
Authorize and select the org
Authorize the org only if it isn’t already available locally:
1
sf org login web --instance-url https://test.salesforce.com --alias my-scratch
Setting an alias during login does not guarantee that the org becomes this project’s default. Set that choice explicitly from the project directory:
Update your project’s configuration file to use the new Scratch Org by running the following command:
1
2
sf config set target-org=my-scratch
sf org display --target-org my-scratch
Verify that VS Code shows the same alias in its status bar. If it doesn’t, use the Salesforce extension’s org-selection command and check sf config get target-org. In CI or before a destructive operation, pass --target-org my-scratch rather than relying on ambient configuration.