Claude Memory

Overview

Persistent context = markdown loaded into every new context. Two sources: you (CLAUDE.md, rules) and Claude (auto memory).

Scope	Path
Managed policy	macOS `/Library/Application Support/ClaudeCode/CLAUDE.md`; Linux/WSL `/etc/claude-code/CLAUDE.md`; Windows `C:\Program Files\ClaudeCode\CLAUDE.md`
Project (shared)	`./CLAUDE.md` or `./.claude/CLAUDE.md` (the `.claude/` one is expected)
User	`~/.claude/CLAUDE.md`
Local (not in git)	`./CLAUDE.local.md`

CLAUDE.md / CLAUDE.local.md in the working directory and every directory above load at launch, concatenated root-down. Subdirectory ones load on demand when Claude touches files there.
AGENTS.md is read instead when there's no CLAUDE.md/CLAUDE.local.md (v2.1.277+). Change via /config → Project instructions (claude-md-or-agents-md default, claude-md-and-agents-md, claude-md, managed-only).
~/.claude/rules/ holds personal rules for all projects. Managed CLAUDE.md can also be set via the claudeMd key in managed settings.
/init scans the project and writes one for you.
/memory shows what's loaded and opens files.

Under 200 lines. Longer = less adherence.
Be concrete: "Use 2-space indentation", "Run npm test before committing", "API handlers live in src/api/handlers/".
Contradictions → Claude picks arbitrarily. Review periodically.
It's context, not enforced config.

Tool	Use	Strength
`@path/to/file.md` imports	Docs and context ("developer handbook")	Guidance, not hard rules. Relative to the importing file, max 5 hops
`.claude/rules/*.md`	Rules to always follow, one topic per file	Same priority as `.claude/CLAUDE.md`; symlinks allowed
Auto memory	Claude's own learned preferences	Best guesses

Scoped rule:

---
paths:
  - "src/api/**/*.ts"
---
# API rules
- All endpoints validate input

Skip files in monorepos: "claudeMdExcludes": ["**/monorepo/CLAUDE.md"] in .claude/settings.local.json.

On by default; machine-local; one dir per git repo (worktrees share it).
Path: ~/.claude/projects/<project>/memory/ with MEMORY.md (index, first 200 lines or 25KB loaded each session) plus topic files loaded on demand.
Disable: {"autoMemoryEnabled": false} or CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_AUTO_MEMORY=1.
Custom location: autoMemoryDirectory (user/policy settings only).
Plain markdown, so read/edit/delete freely via /memory.

Problem	Fix
Not following CLAUDE.md	`/memory` to confirm it's loaded; make rules specific; look for conflicts
Don't know what was saved	`/memory` → open auto-memory folder
File too large	Move to imports/rules
"Lost after /compact"	It isn't compact: CLAUDE.md is re-read from disk, so it probably wasn't saved