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claude-yolo merged 1 commit into from
Sep 5, 2026
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docs: Claude Code v2.1.261 - --append-subagent-system-prompt-file flag #1251

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253 changes: 130 additions & 123 deletions content/.metadata.json
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1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions content/en/docs/claude-code/cli-reference.md
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Expand Up @@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ Customize Claude Code's behavior with these command-line flags. `claude --help`
| `--allow-dangerously-skip-permissions` | Add `bypassPermissions` to the `Shift+Tab` mode cycle without starting in it. Lets you begin in a different mode like `plan` and switch to `bypassPermissions` later. See [permission modes](/docs/en/permission-modes#skip-all-checks-with-bypasspermissions-mode) | `claude --permission-mode plan --allow-dangerously-skip-permissions` |
| `--allowedTools`, `--allowed-tools` | Tools that execute without prompting for permission. See [permission rule syntax](/docs/en/settings-reference#permission-rule-syntax) for pattern matching. To restrict which tools are available, use `--tools` instead. If you name one of the [task-tracking tools](/docs/en/tools-reference#task-tool-availability) here, Claude Code also opts the session in | `"Bash(git log *)" "Bash(git diff *)" "Read"` |
| `--append-subagent-system-prompt` | Append custom text to the end of every [subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents)'s system prompt, nested subagents included, apart from a [forked subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents#fork-the-current-conversation), which reuses the conversation's own prompt. Only applies in non-interactive mode with `-p`. Requires Claude Code v2.1.205 or later | `claude -p --append-subagent-system-prompt "Cite file paths in every answer" "query"` |
| `--append-subagent-system-prompt-file` | Load text from a file and append it to [subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents) system prompts. An alternative to `--append-subagent-system-prompt` for text too long to pass on the command line. The two flags can't be combined. Only applies in non-interactive mode with `-p`. Requires Claude Code v2.1.261 or later | `claude -p --append-subagent-system-prompt-file ./subagent-rules.txt "query"` |
| `--append-system-prompt` | Append custom text to the end of the default system prompt | `claude --append-system-prompt "Always use TypeScript"` |
| `--append-system-prompt-file` | Load additional system prompt text from a file and append to the default prompt | `claude --append-system-prompt-file ./extra-rules.txt` |
| `--autocompact <auto\|tokens>` | Set the [auto-compact window](/docs/en/model-config#set-the-auto-compact-window) for this session without changing your saved settings. Accepts the same values as `/autocompact`; that section covers the value forms and what overrides the flag. Requires Claude Code v2.1.221 or later | `claude --autocompact 500k` |
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2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion content/en/docs/claude-code/env-vars.md
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Expand Up @@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ Numeric variables such as timeouts, token budgets, and retry counts accept scien
| `CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_VIRTUAL_SCROLL` | Set to `1` to disable virtual scrolling in [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen) and render every message in the transcript. Use this if scrolling in fullscreen mode shows blank regions where messages should appear |
| `CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_WORKFLOWS` | Set to `1` to disable [workflows](/docs/en/workflows#turn-workflows-off). Equivalent to the [`disableWorkflows`](/docs/en/settings-reference#disableworkflows) setting |
| `CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL` | Set the effort level for supported models. Values: `low`, `medium`, `high`, `xhigh`, `max`, or `auto` to use the model default. Available levels depend on the model. Takes precedence over `--effort`, `/effort`, and the `modelSettings` and `effortLevel` settings. See [Adjust effort level](/docs/en/model-config#adjust-effort-level) |
| `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_APPEND_SUBAGENT_PROMPT` | Set to `1` to enable appending extra text to the end of the system prompt of every [subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents) other than a [forked subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents#fork-the-current-conversation). The [`--append-subagent-system-prompt`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) flag supplies the appended text and sets this variable automatically, so you don't need to set it yourself. Requires Claude Code v2.1.205 or later |
| `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_APPEND_SUBAGENT_PROMPT` | Set to `1` to enable appending extra text to the end of the system prompt of every [subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents) other than a [forked subagent](/docs/en/sub-agents#fork-the-current-conversation). The [`--append-subagent-system-prompt`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) and [`--append-subagent-system-prompt-file`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) flags supply the appended text and set this variable automatically, so you don't need to set it yourself. Requires Claude Code v2.1.205 or later |
| `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_AUTO_MODE` | Accepted for compatibility with older releases and has no effect. Auto mode is available by default on every provider, including Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud's Agent Platform, Microsoft Foundry, and signed-in [Claude apps gateway](/docs/en/claude-apps-gateway) sessions. In v2.1.158 through v2.1.206, setting this to `1` was required to make [auto mode](/docs/en/permission-modes#eliminate-prompts-with-auto-mode) available on those providers |
| `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_AWAY_SUMMARY` | Override [session recap](/docs/en/interactive-mode#session-recap) availability. Set to `0` to force recaps off regardless of the `/config` toggle. Set to `1` to force recaps on when [`awaySummaryEnabled`](/docs/en/settings-reference#awaysummaryenabled) is `false`. Takes precedence over the setting and `/config` toggle |
| `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_BACKGROUND_PLUGIN_REFRESH` | Set to `1` to refresh plugin state at turn boundaries in [non-interactive mode](/docs/en/headless) after a background install completes. Off by default because the refresh changes the system prompt mid-session, which invalidates [prompt caching](/docs/en/prompt-caching) for that turn |
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2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion content/en/docs/claude-code/sub-agents.md
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Expand Up @@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ specific, actionable feedback on quality, security, and best practices.

The frontmatter defines the subagent's metadata and configuration. The body becomes the system prompt that guides the subagent's behavior. Subagents receive only this system prompt plus basic environment details like the working directory, not the Claude Code system prompt.

In [non-interactive mode](/docs/en/headless), pass [`--append-subagent-system-prompt`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) to append your text to the end of every subagent's system prompt, nested subagents included, apart from a [forked subagent](#fork-the-current-conversation), which reuses the conversation's own prompt. Requires Claude Code v2.1.205 or later.
In [non-interactive mode](/docs/en/headless), pass [`--append-subagent-system-prompt`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) to append your text to the end of every subagent's system prompt, nested subagents included, apart from a [forked subagent](#fork-the-current-conversation), which reuses the conversation's own prompt. Requires Claude Code v2.1.205 or later. If your text is too long to pass on the command line, save it to a file and pass the path with `--append-subagent-system-prompt-file` instead. The file flag requires Claude Code v2.1.261 or later.

A subagent starts in the main conversation's current working directory. Within a subagent, `cd` commands don't persist between Bash or PowerShell tool calls and don't affect the main conversation's working directory. To give the subagent an isolated copy of the repository instead, set [`isolation: worktree`](#supported-frontmatter-fields).

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