Amplify cannot access the environment variables in Next.js app

Amy, I understand you're having trouble with environment variables in your Next.js app deployed on AWS Amplify. This is a common issue, and there are a few things we can check to resolve it:

1. Verify variable naming: Ensure that your environment variable names in Amplify match exactly with how you're referencing them in your Next.js app. Next.js typically requires environment variables to be prefixed with NEXT_PUBLIC_ for client-side access.

2. Build settings: Check your build settings in Amplify. You may need to explicitly export the environment variables during the build process. Add commands like this to your build settings:

   export NEXT_PUBLIC_MY_VAR=$(aws ssm get-parameter --name "/amplify/[YOUR_APP_ID]/[YOUR_BRANCH]/NEXT_PUBLIC_MY_VAR" --with-decryption --query "Parameter.Value" --output text)

   Replace [YOUR_APP_ID], [YOUR_BRANCH], and NEXT_PUBLIC_MY_VAR with your actual values.

3. SSM Parameter Store: If you're using secret variables, ensure they're correctly set up in the AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and that your Amplify app has the necessary permissions to access them.

4. Rebuild and redeploy: After making these changes, try rebuilding and redeploying your app in Amplify.

5. Check for size limits: AWS Amplify has limits on environment variables. Ensure you're not exceeding these limits (up to 28 variables, each name and value up to 512 characters).

6. Verify in build logs: During the build process, check the logs to see if the environment variables are being correctly set and exported.

If these steps don't resolve the issue, you may need to reach out to AWS Support for more specific assistance, especially if you're encountering any unexpected errors during the build or deploy process.

Remember, when working with sensitive information, always use appropriate security measures and avoid exposing secrets in your code or public repositories.
Sources
Issue with Amplify Environment Variables Limit | AWS re:Post
How to correctly include and reference secret environment variables (AWS Amplify, process.env.secrets) | AWS re:Post