# Define controllers in dfx.json

**URL:** <https://forum.dfinity.org/t/define-controllers-in-dfx-json/21681>\
**Category:** Developers\
**Created:** [July 25, 2023, 7:42am UTC](https://forum.dfinity.org/t/define-controllers-in-dfx-json/21681 "2023-07-25T07:42:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![valroxs](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex023/user_avatar/forum.dfinity.org/valroxs/32/11014_2.png) [@valroxs](https://forum.dfinity.org/u/valroxs)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 7:42am UTC](https://forum.dfinity.org/t/define-controllers-in-dfx-json/21681/1 "2023-07-25T07:42:26Z")

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Is there a way to set the controllers of a canister without using the dfx commands? Perhaps defining any additional controllers in the dfx.json file.

I’d like to start up the project with fixed-defined controllers for my canister.

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**Author:** ![h1teshtr1path1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex023/user_avatar/forum.dfinity.org/h1teshtr1path1/32/24662_2.png) [@h1teshtr1path1](https://forum.dfinity.org/u/h1teshtr1path1)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 8:37am UTC](https://forum.dfinity.org/t/define-controllers-in-dfx-json/21681/2 "2023-07-25T08:37:07Z")

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I dont think there is a way to define controllers in dfx.json.  
But there can be multiple different ways, like :

1. Use NNS dapp to add controllers to canisters (but your nns principal must be the controller of that canister).
2. Using IC Management canister’s update-settings method, to add controller to a canister, only condition is whoever run this method of IC Management canister, has to be the controller of canister.  
[Internet Computer Loading](https://internetcomputer.org/docs/current/references/ic-interface-spec#ic-update_settings)