Settings System

Full settings.json Example

{
  "$schema": "https://json.schemastore.org/claude-code-settings.json",

  "model": "claude-sonnet-4-6",
  "theme": "dark",
  "editorMode": "normal",
  "language": "english",

  "permissions": {
    "allow": [
      "Bash(npm run *)",
      "Bash(git *)",
      "Read",
      "Edit"
    ],
    "deny": [
      "Bash(rm -rf *)",
      "Edit(./secrets/**)"
    ]
  },

  "defaultMode": "default",

  "env": {
    "NODE_ENV": "development",
    "MY_VAR": "value"
  },

  "hooks": [
    {
      "event": "PostToolUse",
      "if": { "tool": "Edit" },
      "run": "sh",
      "args": ["-c", "prettier --write $file_path 2>/dev/null || true"],
      "continueOnError": true
    }
  ],

  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@playwright/mcp@latest"]
    }
  },

  "autoMemoryEnabled": true,
  "autoCompactEnabled": true,
  "fileCheckpointingEnabled": true,
  "autoUpdatesChannel": "latest",
  "minimumVersion": "2.1.100",

  "additionalDirectories": ["/path/to/shared"],
  "cleanupPeriodDays": 30
}

Key Settings Reference

Core Behavior

Key	Values	Default
model	model ID string	claude-sonnet-4-6
theme	dark, light, auto	dark
editorMode	normal, vim	normal
language	language name	english
defaultMode	default, acceptEdits, plan, auto, bypassPermissions	default

Features

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
autoMemoryEnabled	boolean	true	Auto save learnings
autoCompactEnabled	boolean	true	Auto compact context
fileCheckpointingEnabled	boolean	true	Enable /rewind
alwaysThinkingEnabled	boolean	false	Extended thinking always on
disableArtifact	boolean	false	Disable artifact publishing

Updates

Key	Values	Purpose
autoUpdatesChannel	latest, stable	Update channel
minimumVersion	version string	Floor version

Managed/Policy Only (org-level enforcement)

Key	Purpose
allowManagedPermissionRulesOnly	Enforce only managed rules
disableBypassPermissionsMode	Prevent bypass mode
disableAutoMode	Prevent auto mode

Scope-Specific Usage

// .claude/settings.json  — shared team settings
{
  "permissions": {
    "allow": ["Bash(npm run *)", "Bash(git *)"]
  }
}

// .claude/settings.local.json  — personal overrides
{
  "model": "claude-opus-4-8",
  "theme": "light"
}

// ~/.claude/settings.json  — applies to all projects
{
  "autoMemoryEnabled": true,
  "theme": "dark"
}

🧠 Quick Recall

• Trick: MLPU — Managed > Local > Project > User (“My Laptop, Project, User”).
• settings.json = flags made permanent.

👨‍🏫 Teach It

• Show: set the same key in project and user scope — watch who wins.
• They’ll trip on: editing user settings when they meant project (or vice versa).

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Learning path: ⬅ 11-real-world-workflows.md · Index · ➡ 13-model-config-env-vars.md