# Symptom
No traces in the LangSmith project despite expecting them.
## Confirm
1. Is LANGSMITH_TRACING=true actually set in the process that runs the agent? Check from inside the process, not the shell you think launched it. Containers, schedulers, and notebooks routinely drop env vars.
2. Is LANGSMITH_PROJECT pointing where you are looking? The default project is literally named `default`. Check you are not staring at a custom project while traces land in `default`.
3. Is LANGSMITH_API_KEY valid (see the 401 diagnostic)?
## Cause
The usual order: variable set after the process started, variable set in the wrong shell, or looking at the wrong project. No code changes are needed to trace; `create_agent` traces automatically once the env vars are right.
## Fix
Export the variables before running:
- LANGSMITH_TRACING=true
- LANGSMITH_API_KEY holding your key
- LANGSMITH_PROJECT set to the project you want (optional)
## Verify
Run the smallest possible agent invoke and watch the project. A trace appearing within a minute confirms the setup. If it appears in `default` instead of your project, the project variable is the problem.