# Running the WorkOS API locally

DevFeed: [Running the WorkOS API locally](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/running-the-workos-api-locally-16055.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://workos.com/blog/running-the-workos-api-locally>)

Author: WorkOS

Published: 2026-08-17T20:30:39Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [WorkOS Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/workos-blog.md>)

Topics: [API](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/api.md>), [Testing](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/testing.md>), [Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/development.md>), [servers](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/servers.md>), [SDKs](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/sdks.md>), [OpenAPI Specification](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/openapi.md>), [Authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/authentication.md>), [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>)

Tags: [api](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/api.md>), [authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/authentication.md>), [automated](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/automated.md>), [backend](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/backend.md>), [bun](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bun.md>), [docker](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/docker.md>), [javascript](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/javascript.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [local](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/local.md>), [macos](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/macos.md>), [npm](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/npm.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [openapi](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/openapi.md>), [python](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/python.md>), [tests](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/tests.md>), [windows](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/windows.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial introduces WorkOS Emulate, an open-source local WorkOS API server for development and automated testing. It explains how to run it locally or in CI, connect WorkOS SDKs by overriding the base URL, and use seeded data for repeatable authentication and integration tests without contacting a live WorkOS environment.

## Source excerpt

WorkOS Emulate runs the WorkOS API on your own machine, so your tests can seed real data, drive full login flows, and force failures without touching prod.