Claude Settings

Scopes (Highest Wins)

Scope	File	Shared?
Managed	system `managed-settings.json` / plist / registry / server	Org-wide, IT
User	`~/.claude/settings.json`	Just you, all projects
Project	`<repo>/.claude/settings.json`	Team (git)
Local	`<repo>/.claude/settings.local.json`	Just you; Claude keeps it out of git (adds to global excludes)

Precedence, highest first: Managed → command line (--settings) → project local → shared project → user. Lists (like permissions.allow) merge across files instead of overriding. A few restrictive keys honor the stricter value from any scope. ~/.claude.json holds MCP servers and per-project state (written by Claude, don't edit).
Verify with /status (shows "Setting sources") and claude doctor. Edits to most keys reload live. Full key list: code.claude.com/docs/en/settings-reference.

Key Reference

Area	Keys
Auth	`apiKeyHelper`, `awsAuthRefresh`, `awsCredentialExport`, `forceLoginMethod` (`claudeai`/`console`), `forceLoginOrgUUID`
Storage	`cleanupPeriodDays` (default 30, min 1, 0 is rejected), `autoMemoryDirectory`, `autoMemoryEnabled`, `plansDirectory` (default `~/.claude/plans`)
Env	`"env": { "NODE_ENV": "development" }` applied every session
Model	`model`, `availableModels` (doesn't affect "Default"), `deniedModels`, `fallbackModel`, `modelOverrides` (e.g. Bedrock ARNs), `effortLevel`, `maxEffortLevel`, `alwaysThinkingEnabled`, `fastMode`, `fastModePerSessionOptIn`
Output	`outputStyle`, `language`, `includeGitInstructions` (env `CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_GIT_INSTRUCTIONS` wins)
Git	`attribution.commit` / `.pr` / `.sessionUrl` (or `false` to hide all); `includeCoAuthoredBy` deprecated
Updates	`autoUpdatesChannel`: `stable` (~1 week old) or `latest`; `companyAnnouncements`
UI	`showTurnDuration`, `spinnerVerbs` (`append`/`replace`), `spinnerTipsEnabled`, `spinnerTipsOverride`, `terminalProgressBarEnabled`, `prefersReducedMotion`
Teams	`teammateMode`: `in-process` (default) / `auto` / `tmux` / `iterm2`
Permissions	see Claude Permissions
MCP	`enableAllProjectMcpServers`, `enabledMcpjsonServers`, `disabledMcpjsonServers`; managed only: `allowedMcpServers`, `deniedMcpServers`
Plugins (managed only)	`strictKnownMarketplaces`, `blockedMarketplaces`, `pluginTrustMessage`
Lockdown (managed only)	`allowManagedPermissionRulesOnly`, `allowManagedMcpServersOnly`, `allowManagedHooksOnly`
Hooks	`hooks`, `disableAllHooks`, `allowedHttpHookUrls`, `httpHookAllowedEnvVars` (see Claude Hooks and Automation)
Misc	`otelHeadersHelper`, `statusLine`, `fileSuggestion`, `respectGitignore`, `editorMode` (`normal`/`vim`), `fastMode`, `sandbox.*` (see Claude Permissions)
Removed/deprecated	`teammateDefaultModel` (removed v2.1.234), `taskOutputMaxChars` (v2.1.277), `permissionExplainerEnabled` (v2.1.257), `disableArtifact` → `enableArtifact`, `includeCoAuthoredBy` → `attribution`
CLAUDE.md	`claudeMdExcludes` (see Claude Memory)

Snippets

{
  "model": "opus",
  "outputStyle": "Explanatory",
  "attribution": { "commit": "", "pr": "" },
  "autoUpdatesChannel": "stable",
  "cleanupPeriodDays": 14,
  "env": { "LOG_LEVEL": "info" },
  "spinnerVerbs": { "mode": "append", "verbs": ["Pondering", "Brewing"] }
}

Status line

Bottom bar driven by a script; receives session JSON on stdin.

{ "statusLine": { "type": "command", "command": "~/.claude/statusline.sh", "padding": 2, "refreshInterval": 10, "hideVimModeIndicator": false } }

/statusline <natural language> generates the script (/statusline clear removes it). refreshInterval re-runs it every N seconds (min 1); subagentStatusLine styles subagent rows.
stdin fields: model.id|display_name, workspace.current_dir|project_dir|repo.*, cost.total_cost_usd|total_duration_ms|total_lines_*, context_window.used_percentage|remaining_percentage|context_window_size|current_usage, rate_limits.five_hour|seven_day.used_percentage|resets_at, effort.level, fast_mode, thinking.enabled, session_id|session_name, version, output_style.name, vim.mode, agent.name, pr.number|url|review_state, worktree.*, prompt_cache.*.
Typical script: read stdin → jq fields → printf progress bar → git branch/staged/modified.
A status line replaces most footer hints; disableAllHooks also disables it.

Output Styles

Style	Behavior
Default	Standard software-engineering instructions
Proactive	Starts work immediately, assumes on routine decisions, no plan mode unless asked
Concise	Leads with the result, no preamble/recap (v2.1.237+)
Explanatory	Adds `Insight` blocks explaining choices
Learning	Insights plus `TODO(human)` bits for you to write

Switch with /output-style <name> (case-insensitive), /config → Output style, or "outputStyle": "Explanatory" (case-sensitive; a wrong case gives Default). The command saves to .claude/settings.local.json; applies from your next message.
Custom styles: Markdown files in ~/.claude/output-styles/, .claude/output-styles/ or the managed dir. Frontmatter: name, description, keep-coding-instructions (default false: a custom style drops Claude Code's built-in software-engineering instructions), force-for-plugin (plugin styles). Styles are instructions, not guarantees; use hooks for must-happen behavior. They affect the main conversation and forks, not other subagents.