Settings
Claude Code uses a settings.json file for user configuration. You can maintain user-level settings globally and override them per-project with project-level settings.
Overview
Claude Code uses settings.json files to customize behavior and preferences. Settings are organized hierarchically, allowing both global defaults and project-specific overrides.
~/.claude/settings.json # User-level (global)
.claude/settings.json # Project-level (per-project override)General
General settings control core Claude Code behavior, including appearance, updates, and telemetry.
| Property | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
claude.theme |
string | "auto" |
Color theme: "light", "dark", or "auto" (follows OS) |
claude.verbose |
boolean | false |
Show detailed output during operations |
claude.telemetry |
boolean | true |
Send anonymous usage data to Anthropic |
claude.autoUpdate |
boolean | true |
Automatically check for and install updates |
Editor
Editor settings customize how Claude Code interacts with your text editor and formats code changes.
| Property | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
editor.defaultCommand |
string | "code" |
Editor command for opening files (e.g., "vim", "nano", "code") |
editor.tabSize |
number | 2 |
Default indentation size in spaces |
editor.formatOnSave |
boolean | true |
Auto-format files when Claude saves changes |
editor.diffView |
string | "unified" |
Diff display style: "unified" or "split" |
AI Behavior
AI behavior settings control how Claude responds, including model selection, response length, and context management.
| Property | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
ai.model |
string | "claude-sonnet-4-20250514" |
Default model for conversations |
ai.maxTokens |
number | 16384 |
Maximum response length in tokens |
ai.temperature |
number | 1.0 |
Response randomness (0.0 = deterministic, 1.0 = creative) |
ai.systemPrompt |
string | "" |
Additional instructions prepended to every conversation |
ai.contextWindow |
string | "auto" |
Context window management: "auto", "compact", or "full" |
Privacy & Security
Privacy and security settings control file access, operation confirmations, and audit logging.
| Property | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
privacy.allowFileAccess |
boolean | true |
Allow Claude to read and write project files |
privacy.excludePatterns |
string[] | [".env", "*.key"] |
File patterns to exclude from Claude's context |
privacy.confirmDestructive |
boolean | true |
Require confirmation before destructive operations (delete, overwrite) |
privacy.auditLog |
boolean | false |
Log all file operations to ~/.claude/audit.log |
Quick Reference
Common settings you might want to customize for your workflow.
Quick Reference: Common Settings
| Setting | Quick Value |
|---|---|
claude.theme |
"dark" |
ai.model |
"claude-sonnet-4-20250514" |
ai.maxTokens |
16384 |
editor.defaultCommand |
"vim" |
privacy.excludePatterns |
[".env", "*.key"] |
Looking to extend Claude Code beyond settings? Explore the Plugin Ecosystem for recommended plugins that complement your workflow.