Claude Code stores configuration in ~/.claude/ and supports both interactive configuration via /config and direct file editing.
Interactive configuration
The /config command opens an interactive settings panel where you can browse and change all settings:
The panel lets you navigate settings with arrow keys and toggle or edit values interactively. It is also aliased as /settings.
Configuration options
Model selection
Switch models with /model:
This opens a model picker showing available Claude models. Available models depend on your Anthropic subscription.
You can also specify a model at startup:
claude --model claude-sonnet-4-6 # full model ID
claude --model sonnet # alias for the latest Sonnet
claude --model opus # alias for the latest Opus
Permission mode
Controls how Claude handles tool permission prompts:
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|
default | Prompts for approval on each new tool/pattern |
plan | Plans actions but requires explicit approval to execute |
auto | Auto-approves based on learned patterns |
bypassPermissions | Skips all permission checks (use with caution) |
--permission-mode CLI flag at startup, or changed interactively from the /config panel.
Theme
Change the terminal color theme:
Themes affect syntax highlighting and UI element colors throughout the REPL.
Vim mode
Enable vim keybindings for the input prompt:
Toggle off by running /vim again.
Effort level
Adjust how much reasoning Claude applies:
Higher effort enables extended thinking for complex architectural decisions. Lower effort gives faster responses for simple tasks.
Output style
Change how Claude formats responses:
CLI flags
Pass flags when launching Claude Code:
# Skip permission prompts (use carefully)
claude --dangerously-skip-permissions
# Start with a specific model
claude --model claude-sonnet-4-6
# Non-interactive: print response and exit
claude -p "Summarize the main.ts file"
# Continue the most recent conversation
claude --continue
Environment variables
| Variable | Description |
|---|
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY | API key (overrides keychain) |
ANTHROPIC_MODEL | Default model to use (e.g. claude-sonnet-4-6) |
HTTP_PROXY / HTTPS_PROXY | Proxy server for all requests |
NO_PROXY | Hosts to bypass proxy |
On macOS, Claude Code uses the system Keychain to store credentials securely. The ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable overrides the Keychain value if set.
Project-level configuration
Place a CLAUDE.md file in your project root to give Claude persistent context about your project:
# My Project
## Tech stack
- Node.js 20, TypeScript, PostgreSQL
- Testing: Vitest
## Conventions
- Use named exports, not default exports
- All async functions must handle errors explicitly
- Database queries go through the repository layer only
CLAUDE.md automatically at the start of every session in that directory.