> ## Documentation Index¶
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://code.claude.com/docs/llms.txt¶
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.¶
¶
# CLI reference¶
¶
> Complete reference for Claude Code command-line interface, including commands and flags.¶
¶
## CLI commands¶
¶
You can start sessions, pipe content, resume conversations, and manage updates with these commands:¶
¶
| Command | Description | Example |¶
| :------------------------------ | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------- |¶
| `claude` | Start interactive session | `claude` |¶
| `claude "query"` | Start interactive session with initial prompt | `claude "explain this project"` |¶
| `claude -p "query"` | Query via SDK, then exit | `claude -p "explain this function"` |¶
| `cat file \| claude -p "query"` | Process piped content | `cat logs.txt \| claude -p "explain"` |¶
| `claude -c` | Continue most recent conversation in current directory | `claude -c` |¶
| `claude -c -p "query"` | Continue via SDK | `claude -c -p "Check for type errors"` |¶
| `claude -r "<session>" "query"` | Resume session by ID or name | `claude -r "auth-refactor" "Finish this PR"` |¶
| `claude update` | Update to latest version | `claude update` |¶
| `claude install [version]` | Install or reinstall the native binary. Accepts a version like `2.1.118`, or `stable` or `latest`. See [Install a specific version](/en/setup#install-a-specific-version) | `claude install stable` |¶
| `claude auth login` | Sign in to your Anthropic account. Use `--email` to pre-fill your email address, `--sso` to force SSO authentication, and `--console` to sign in with Anthropic Console for API usage billing instead of a Claude subscription | `claude auth login --console` |¶
| `claude auth logout` | Log out from your Anthropic account | `claude auth logout` |¶
| `claude auth status` | Show authentication status as JSON. Use `--text` for human-readable output. Exits with code 0 if logged in, 1 if not | `claude auth status` |¶
| `claude agents` | List all configured [subagents](/en/sub-agents), grouped by source | `claude agents` |¶
| `claude auto-mode defaults` | Print the built-in [auto mode](/en/permission-modes#eliminate-prompts-with-auto-mode) classifier rules as JSON. Use `claude auto-mode config` to see your effective config with settings applied | `claude auto-mode defaults > rules.json` |¶
| `claude mcp` | Configure Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers | See the [Claude Code MCP documentation](/en/mcp). |¶
| `claude plugin` | Manage Claude Code [plugins](/en/plugins). Alias: `claude plugins`. See [plugin reference](/en/plugins-reference#cli-commands-reference) for subcommands | `claude plugin install code-review@claude-plugins-official` |¶
| `claude project purge [path]` | Delete all local Claude Code state for a project: transcripts, task lists, debug logs, file-edit history, prompt history lines, and the project's entry in `~/.claude.json`. Omit `[path]` to pick from an interactive list. Flags: `--dry-run` to preview, `-y`/`--yes` to skip confirmation, `-i`/`--interactive` to confirm each item, `--all` for every project. See [Clear local data](/en/claude-directory#clear-local-data) | `claude project purge ~/work/repo --dry-run` |¶
| `claude remote-control` | Start a [Remote Control](/en/remote-control) server to control Claude Code from Claude.ai or the Claude app. Runs in server mode (no local interactive session). See [Server mode flags](/en/remote-control#start-a-remote-control-session) | `claude remote-control --name "My Project"` |¶
| `claude setup-token` | Generate a long-lived OAuth token for CI and scripts. Prints the token to the terminal without saving it. Requires a Claude subscription. See [Generate a long-lived token](/en/authentication#generate-a-long-lived-token) | `claude setup-token` |¶
| `claude ultrareview [target]` | Run [ultrareview](/en/ultrareview#run-ultrareview-non-interactively) non-interactively. Prints findings to stdout and exits 0 on success or 1 on failure. Use `--json` for the raw payload and `--timeout <minutes>` to override the 30-minute default | `claude ultrareview 1234 --json` |¶
¶
If you mistype a subcommand, Claude Code suggests the closest match and exits without starting a session. For example, `claude udpate` prints `Did you mean claude update?`.¶
¶
## CLI flags¶
¶
Customize Claude Code's behavior with these command-line flags. `claude --help` does not list every flag, so a flag's absence from `--help` does not mean it is unavailable.¶
¶
| Flag | Description | Example |¶
| :---------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |¶
| `--add-dir` | Add additional working directories for Claude to read and edit files. Grants file access; most `.claude/` configuration is [not discovered](/en/permissions#additional-directories-grant-file-access-not-configuration) from these directories. Validates each path exists as a directory. To persist these directories across sessions, set [`permissions.additionalDirectories`](/en/settings#permission-settings) in settings | `claude --add-dir ../apps ../lib` |¶
| `--agent` | Specify an agent for the current session (overrides the `agent` setting) | `claude --agent my-custom-agent` |¶
| `--agents` | Define custom subagents dynamically via JSON. Uses the same field names as subagent [frontmatter](/en/sub-agents#supported-frontmatter-fields), plus a `prompt` field for the agent's instructions | `claude --agents '{"reviewer":{"description":"Reviews code","prompt":"You are a code reviewer"}}'` |¶
| `--allow-dangerously-skip-permissions` | Add `bypassPermissions` to the `Shift+Tab` mode cycle without starting in it. Lets you begin in a different mode like `plan` and switch to `bypassPermissions` later. See [permission modes](/en/permission-modes#skip-all-checks-with-bypasspermissions-mode) | `claude --permission-mode plan --allow-dangerously-skip-permissions` |¶
| `--allowedTools` | Tools that execute without prompting for permission. See [permission rule syntax](/en/settings#permission-rule-syntax) for pattern matching. To restrict which tools are available, use `--tools` instead | `"Bash(git log *)" "Bash(git diff *)" "Read"` |¶
| `--append-system-prompt` | Append custom text to the end of the default system prompt | `claude --append-system-prompt "Always use TypeScript"` |¶
| `--append-system-prompt-file` | Load additional system prompt text from a file and append to the default prompt | `claude --append-system-prompt-file ./extra-rules.txt` |¶
| `--bare` | Minimal mode: skip auto-discovery of hooks, skills, plugins, MCP servers, auto memory, and CLAUDE.md so scripted calls start faster. Claude has access to Bash, file read, and file edit tools. Sets [`CLAUDE_CODE_SIMPLE`](/en/env-vars). See [bare mode](/en/headless#start-faster-with-bare-mode) | `claude --bare -p "query"` |¶
| `--betas` | Beta headers to include in API requests (API key users only) | `claude --betas interleaved-thinking` |¶
| `--channels` | (Research preview) MCP servers whose [channel](/en/channels) notifications Claude should listen for in this session. Space-separated list of `plugin:<name>@<marketplace>` entries. Requires Claude.ai authentication | `claude --channels plugin:my-notifier@my-marketplace` |¶
| `--chrome` | Enable [Chrome browser integration](/en/chrome) for web automation and testing | `claude --chrome` |¶
| `--continue`, `-c` | Load the most recent conversation in the current directory. Includes sessions that added this directory with `/add-dir` | `claude --continue` |¶
| `--dangerously-load-development-channels` | Enable [channels](/en/channels-reference#test-during-the-research-preview) that are not on the approved allowlist, for local development. Accepts `plugin:<name>@<marketplace>` and `server:<name>` entries. Prompts for confirmation | `claude --dangerously-load-development-channels server:webhook` |¶
| `--dangerously-skip-permissions` | Skip permission prompts. Equivalent to `--permission-mode bypassPermissions`. See [permission modes](/en/permission-modes#skip-all-checks-with-bypasspermissions-mode) for what this does and does not skip | `claude --dangerously-skip-permissions` |¶
| `--debug` | Enable debug mode with optional category filtering (for example, `"api,hooks"` or `"!statsig,!file"`) | `claude --debug "api,mcp"` |¶
| `--debug-file <path>` | Write debug logs to a specific file path. Implicitly enables debug mode. Takes precedence over `CLAUDE_CODE_DEBUG_LOGS_DIR` | `claude --debug-file /tmp/claude-debug.log` |¶
| `--disable-slash-commands` | Disable all skills and commands for this session | `claude --disable-slash-commands` |¶
| `--disallowedTools` | Tools that are removed from the model's context and cannot be used | `"Bash(git log *)" "Bash(git diff *)" "Edit"` |¶
| `--effort` | Set the [effort level](/en/model-config#adjust-effort-level) for the current session. Options: `low`, `medium`, `high`, `xhigh`, `max`; available levels depend on the model. Overrides the [`effortLevel`](/en/settings#available-settings) setting for this session and does not persist | `claude --effort high` |¶
| `--enable-auto-mode` | {/* max-version: 2.1.110 */}Removed in v2.1.111. Auto mode is now in the `Shift+Tab` cycle by default; use `--permission-mode auto` to start in it | `claude --permission-mode auto` |¶
| `--exclude-dynamic-system-prompt-sections` | Move per-machine sections from the system prompt (working directory, environment info, memory paths, git status) into the first user message. Improves prompt-cache reuse across different users and machines running the same task. Only applies with the default system prompt; ignored when `--system-prompt` or `--system-prompt-file` is set. Use with `-p` for scripted, multi-user workloads | `claude -p --exclude-dynamic-system-prompt-sections "query"` |¶
| `--fallback-model` | Enable automatic fallback to specified model when default model is overloaded (print mode only) | `claude -p --fallback-model sonnet "query"` |¶
| `--fork-session` | When resuming, create a new session ID instead of reusing the original (use with `--resume` or `--continue`) | `claude --resume abc123 --fork-session` |¶
| `--from-pr` | Resume sessions linked to a specific pull request. Accepts a PR number, a GitHub or GitHub Enterprise PR URL, a GitLab merge request URL, or a Bitbucket pull request URL. Sessions are linked automatically when Claude creates the pull request | `claude --from-pr 123` |¶
| `--ide` | Automatically connect to IDE on startup if exactly one valid IDE is available | `claude --ide` |¶
| `--init` | Run [Setup hooks](/en/hooks#setup) with the `init` matcher before the session (print mode only) | `claude -p --init "query"` |¶
| `--init-only` | Run [Setup](/en/hooks#setup) and `SessionStart` hooks, then exit without starting a conversation | `claude --init-only` |¶
| `--include-hook-events` | Include all hook lifecycle events in the output stream. Requires `--output-format stream-json` | `claude -p --output-format stream-json --include-hook-events "query"` |¶
| `--include-partial-messages` | Include partial streaming events in output. Requires `--print` and `--output-format stream-json` | `claude -p --output-format stream-json --include-partial-messages "query"` |¶
| `--input-format` | Specify input format for print mode (options: `text`, `stream-json`) | `claude -p --output-format json --input-format stream-json` |¶
| `--json-schema` | Get validated JSON output matching a JSON Schema after agent completes its workflow (print mode only, see [structured outputs](/en/agent-sdk/structured-outputs)) | `claude -p --json-schema '{"type":"object","properties":{...}}' "query"` |¶
| `--maintenance` | Run [Setup hooks](/en/hooks#setup) with the `maintenance` matcher before the session (print mode only) | `claude -p --maintenance "query"` |¶
| `--max-budget-usd` | Maximum dollar amount to spend on API calls before stopping (print mode only) | `claude -p --max-budget-usd 5.00 "query"` |¶
| `--max-turns` | Limit the number of agentic turns (print mode only). Exits with an error when the limit is reached. No limit by default | `claude -p --max-turns 3 "query"` |¶
| `--mcp-config` | Load MCP servers from JSON files or strings (space-separated) | `claude --mcp-config ./mcp.json` |¶
| `--model` | Sets the model for the current session with an alias for the latest model (`sonnet` or `opus`) or a model's full name. Overrides the [`model`](/en/settings#available-settings) setting and [`ANTHROPIC_MODEL`](/en/model-config#environment-variables) | `claude --model claude-sonnet-4-6` |¶
| `--name`, `-n` | Set a display name for the session, shown in `/resume` and the terminal title. You can resume a named session with `claude --resume <name>`. <br /><br />[`/rename`](/en/commands) changes the name mid-session and also shows it on the prompt bar | `claude -n "my-feature-work"` |¶
| `--no-chrome` | Disable [Chrome browser integration](/en/chrome) for this session | `claude --no-chrome` |¶
| `--no-session-persistence` | Disable session persistence so sessions are not saved to disk and cannot be resumed. Print mode only. The [`CLAUDE_CODE_SKIP_PROMPT_HISTORY`](/en/env-vars) environment variable does the same in any mode | `claude -p --no-session-persistence "query"` |¶
| `--output-format` | Specify output format for print mode (options: `text`, `json`, `stream-json`) | `claude -p "query" --output-format json` |¶
| `--permission-mode` | Begin in a specified [permission mode](/en/permission-modes). Accepts `default`, `acceptEdits`, `plan`, `auto`, `dontAsk`, or `bypassPermissions`. Overrides `defaultMode` from settings files | `claude --permission-mode plan` |¶
| `--permission-prompt-tool` | Specify an MCP tool to handle permission prompts in non-interactive mode | `claude -p --permission-prompt-tool mcp_auth_tool "query"` |¶
| `--plugin-dir` | Load a plugin from a directory or `.zip` archive for this session only. Each flag takes one path. Repeat the flag for multiple plugins: `--plugin-dir A --plugin-dir B.zip` | `claude --plugin-dir ./my-plugin` |¶
| `--plugin-url` | Fetch a plugin `.zip` archive from a URL for this session only. Each flag takes one URL. Repeat the flag for multiple plugins , or pass space-separated URLs in a single quoted value | `claude --plugin-url https://example.com/plugin.zip` |¶
| `--print`, `-p` | Print response without interactive mode (see [Agent SDK documentation](/en/agent-sdk/overview) for programmatic usage details) | `claude -p "query"` |¶
| `--remote` | Create a new [web session](/en/claude-code-on-the-web) on claude.ai with the provided task description | `claude --remote "Fix the login bug"` |¶
| `--remote-control`, `--rc` | Start an interactive session with [Remote Control](/en/remote-control#start-a-remote-control-session) enabled so you can also control it from claude.ai or the Claude app. Optionally pass a name for the session | `claude --remote-control "My Project"` |¶
| `--remote-control-session-name-prefix <prefix>` | Prefix for auto-generated [Remote Control](/en/remote-control) session names when no explicit name is set. Defaults to your machine's hostname, producing names like `myhost-graceful-unicorn`. Set `CLAUDE_REMOTE_CONTROL_SESSION_NAME_PREFIX` for the same effect | `claude remote-control --remote-control-session-name-prefix dev-box` |¶
| `--replay-user-messages` | Re-emit user messages from stdin back on stdout for acknowledgment. Requires `--input-format stream-json` and `--output-format stream-json` | `claude -p --input-format stream-json --output-format stream-json --replay-user-messages` |¶
| `--resume`, `-r` | Resume a specific session by ID or name, or show an interactive picker to choose a session. Includes sessions that added this directory with `/add-dir` | `claude --resume auth-refactor` |¶
| `--session-id` | Use a specific session ID for the conversation (must be a valid UUID) | `claude --session-id "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000"` |¶
| `--setting-sources` | Comma-separated list of setting sources to load (`user`, `project`, `local`) | `claude --setting-sources user,project` |¶
| `--settings` | Path to a settings JSON file or an inline JSON string. Values you set here override the same keys in your `settings.json` files for this session. Keys you omit keep their file-based values. See [settings precedence](/en/settings#settings-precedence) | `claude --settings ./settings.json` |¶
| `--strict-mcp-config` | Only use MCP servers from `--mcp-config`, ignoring all other MCP configurations | `claude --strict-mcp-config --mcp-config ./mcp.json` |¶
| `--system-prompt` | Replace the entire system prompt with custom text | `claude --system-prompt "You are a Python expert"` |¶
| `--system-prompt-file` | Load system prompt from a file, replacing the default prompt | `claude --system-prompt-file ./custom-prompt.txt` |¶
| `--teleport` | Resume a [web session](/en/claude-code-on-the-web) in your local terminal | `claude --teleport` |¶
| `--teammate-mode` | Set how [agent team](/en/agent-teams) teammates display: `auto` (default), `in-process`, or `tmux`. Overrides the [`teammateMode`](/en/settings#available-settings) setting for this session. See [Choose a display mode](/en/agent-teams#choose-a-display-mode) | `claude --teammate-mode in-process` |¶
| `--tmux` | Create a tmux session for the worktree. Requires `--worktree`. Uses iTerm2 native panes when available; pass `--tmux=classic` for traditional tmux | `claude -w feature-auth --tmux` |¶
| `--tools` | Restrict which built-in tools Claude can use. Use `""` to disable all, `"default"` for all, or tool names like `"Bash,Edit,Read"` | `claude --tools "Bash,Edit,Read"` |¶
| `--verbose` | Enable verbose logging, shows full turn-by-turn output. Overrides the [`viewMode`](/en/settings#available-settings) setting for this session | `claude --verbose` |¶
| `--version`, `-v` | Output the version number | `claude -v` |¶
| `--worktree`, `-w` | Start Claude in an isolated [git worktree](/en/worktrees) at `<repo>/.claude/worktrees/<name>`. If no name is given, one is auto-generated . Pass `#<number>` or a GitHub pull request URL to fetch that PR from `origin` and branch the worktree from it | `claude -w feature-auth` |¶
¶
### System prompt flags¶
¶
Claude Code provides four flags for customizing the system prompt. All four work in both interactive and non-interactive modes.¶
¶
| Flag | Behavior | Example |¶
| :---------------------------- | :------------------------------------------ | :------------------------------------------------------ |¶
| `--system-prompt` | Replaces the entire default prompt | `claude --system-prompt "You are a Python expert"` |¶
| `--system-prompt-file` | Replaces with file contents | `claude --system-prompt-file ./prompts/review.txt` |¶
| `--append-system-prompt` | Appends to the default prompt | `claude --append-system-prompt "Always use TypeScript"` |¶
| `--append-system-prompt-file` | Appends file contents to the default prompt | `claude --append-system-prompt-file ./style-rules.txt` |¶
¶
`--system-prompt` and `--system-prompt-file` are mutually exclusive. The append flags can be combined with either replacement flag.¶
¶
For most use cases, use an append flag. Appending preserves Claude Code's built-in capabilities while adding your requirements. Use a replacement flag only when you need complete control over the system prompt.¶
¶
## See also¶
¶
* [Chrome extension](/en/chrome) - Browser automation and web testing¶
* [Interactive mode](/en/interactive-mode) - Shortcuts, input modes, and interactive features¶
* [Quickstart guide](/en/quickstart) - Getting started with Claude Code¶
* [Common workflows](/en/common-workflows) - Advanced workflows and patterns¶
* [Settings](/en/settings) - Configuration options¶
* [Agent SDK documentation](/en/agent-sdk/overview) - Programmatic usage and integrations¶