Claude Code — Complete CLI Cheat Sheet

Generated: 2026-06-04 | claude --version to confirm installed version

Global Usage
Global Options
Subcommands
- agents
- auth
- auto-mode
- doctor
- install
- mcp
- plugin / plugins
- project
- setup-token
- ultrareview
- update / upgrade
Quick Reference

Global Usage

claude [options] [command] [prompt]

Starts an interactive session by default.
Add -p / --print for non-interactive (pipe-friendly) output.

Global Options

Flag	Short	Description
`--add-dir <directories...>`		Additional directories to allow tool access to
`--agent <agent>`		Agent for the current session (overrides `agent` setting)
`--agents <json>`		JSON object defining custom agents
`--allow-dangerously-skip-permissions`		Make bypass-permissions mode available without enabling by default
`--allowed-tools <tools...>`	`--allowedTools`	Comma/space-separated list of tools to allow (e.g. `"Bash(git *) Edit"`)
`--append-system-prompt <prompt>`		Append text to the default system prompt
`--bare`		Minimal mode: skip hooks, LSP, plugin sync, auto-memory, etc. Sets `CLAUDE_CODE_SIMPLE=1`
`--betas <betas...>`		Beta headers to include in API requests (API key users only)
`--brief`		Enable `SendUserMessage` tool for agent-to-user communication
`--chrome`		Enable Claude in Chrome integration
`--continue`	`-c`	Continue the most recent conversation in the current directory
`--dangerously-skip-permissions`		Bypass all permission checks (sandboxes only)
`--debug [filter]`	`-d`	Debug mode with optional category filter (e.g. `"api,hooks"` or `"!1p,!file"`)
`--debug-file <path>`		Write debug logs to a file (implicitly enables debug mode)
`--disable-slash-commands`		Disable all skills
`--disallowed-tools <tools...>`	`--disallowedTools`	Comma/space-separated list of tools to deny
`--effort <level>`		Effort level: `low` \| `medium` \| `high` \| `xhigh` \| `max`
`--exclude-dynamic-system-prompt-sections`		Move per-machine sections to first user message (improves cross-user cache reuse)
`--fallback-model <model>`		Comma-separated fallback model(s) when primary is overloaded (only with `--print`)
`--file <specs...>`		File resources at startup — format: `file_id:relative_path`
`--fork-session`		Create a new session ID instead of reusing original (use with `--resume`/`--continue`)
`--from-pr [value]`		Resume a session linked to a PR number/URL, or open interactive picker
`--help`	`-h`	Display help
`--ide`		Auto-connect to IDE on startup if exactly one valid IDE is available
`--include-hook-events`		Include hook lifecycle events in output stream (requires `--output-format=stream-json`)
`--include-partial-messages`		Include partial message chunks as they arrive (requires `--print` + `stream-json`)
`--input-format <format>`		Input format (only with `--print`): `text` (default) \| `stream-json`
`--json-schema <schema>`		JSON Schema for structured output validation
`--max-budget-usd <amount>`		Maximum USD to spend on API calls (only with `--print`)
`--mcp-config <configs...>`		Load MCP servers from JSON files or strings
`--mcp-debug`		(Deprecated — use `--debug`) Show MCP server errors
`--model <model>`		Model alias (`sonnet`, `opus`) or full name (`claude-opus-4-8`)
`--name <name>`	`-n`	Display name for this session
`--no-chrome`		Disable Claude in Chrome integration
`--no-session-persistence`		Don't save session to disk (only with `--print`)
`--output-format <format>`		Output format (only with `--print`): `text` \| `json` \| `stream-json`
`--permission-mode <mode>`		`acceptEdits` \| `auto` \| `bypassPermissions` \| `default` \| `dontAsk` \| `plan`
`--plugin-dir <path>`		Load plugin from directory or `.zip` for this session (repeatable)
`--plugin-url <url>`		Fetch plugin `.zip` from URL for this session (repeatable)
`--print`	`-p`	Print response and exit (non-interactive / pipe mode)
`--prompt-suggestions [value]`		Enable next-turn prompt suggestions (`true`/`false`/`1`/`0`/`yes`/`no`/`on`/`off`)
`--remote-control [name]`		Start interactive session with Remote Control enabled
`--remote-control-session-name-prefix <prefix>`		Prefix for auto-generated Remote Control session names (default: hostname)
`--replay-user-messages`		Re-emit user messages from stdin back on stdout (requires `stream-json` I/O)
`--resume [value]`	`-r`	Resume conversation by session ID, or open interactive picker
`--session-id <uuid>`		Use a specific UUID for the conversation
`--setting-sources <sources>`		Comma-separated setting sources to load: `user`, `project`, `local`
`--settings <file-or-json>`		Path to settings JSON file or inline JSON string
`--strict-mcp-config`		Only use MCP servers from `--mcp-config`, ignore all others
`--system-prompt <prompt>`		Override the system prompt for this session
`--tmux`		Create a tmux session for the worktree (requires `--worktree`). Use `--tmux=classic` for traditional tmux
`--tools <tools...>`		Specify available built-in tools (`""` = none, `"default"` = all, or list names)
`--verbose`		Override verbose mode from config
`--version`	`-v`	Output version number
`--worktree [name]`	`-w`	Create a new git worktree for this session

Subcommands

`agents`

Manage background agents (opens an interactive agent view).

claude agents [options]

Option	Description
`--add-dir <directory>`	Additional directory for dispatched sessions (repeatable)
`--agent <agent>`	Default agent for dispatched sessions
`--allow-dangerously-skip-permissions`	Make bypass-permissions available to dispatched sessions
`--cwd <path>`	Show only background sessions started under `<path>`
`--dangerously-skip-permissions`	Alias for `--permission-mode bypassPermissions`
`--effort <level>`	Default effort level for dispatched sessions
`--json`	Print live sessions as JSON array and exit
`--mcp-config <config>`	MCP config for dispatched sessions (repeatable)
`--model <model>`	Default model for dispatched sessions
`--permission-mode <mode>`	Default permission mode for dispatched sessions
`--plugin-dir <path>`	Load plugins for the agent view and dispatched sessions (repeatable)
`--setting-sources <sources>`	Setting sources: `user`, `project`, `local`
`--settings <file-or-json>`	Settings for the agent view and dispatched sessions
`--strict-mcp-config`	Only use `--mcp-config` servers in dispatched sessions

`auth`

Manage authentication.

claude auth <command>

`auth login`

claude auth login [options]

Option	Description
`--claudeai`	Use Claude subscription (default)
`--console`	Use Anthropic Console (API billing)
`--email <email>`	Pre-populate email on the login page
`--sso`	Force SSO login flow

`auth logout`

claude auth logout

No options. Logs out from your Anthropic account.

`auth status`

claude auth status [options]

Option	Description
`--json`	Output as JSON (default)
`--text`	Output as human-readable text

`auto-mode`

Inspect auto mode classifier configuration.

claude auto-mode <command>

Subcommand	Description
`config`	Print effective auto mode config as JSON
`defaults`	Print default `allow`/`soft_deny`/`hard_deny` rules as JSON
`critique [--model <model>]`	Get AI feedback on your custom auto mode rules

`doctor`

Check the health of the Claude Code auto-updater.

claude doctor

No options. Note: workspace trust dialog is skipped; .mcp.json stdio servers are spawned for health checks — only run in trusted directories.

`install`

Install Claude Code native build.

claude install [options] [target]

[target]: stable | latest | specific version string

Option	Description
`--force`	Force installation even if already installed

`mcp`

Configure and manage MCP servers.

claude mcp <command>

`mcp add`

claude mcp add [options] <name> <commandOrUrl> [args...]

Option	Short	Description
`--callback-port <port>`		Fixed port for OAuth callback
`--client-id <clientId>`		OAuth client ID for HTTP/SSE servers
`--client-secret`		Prompt for OAuth client secret (or use `MCP_CLIENT_SECRET` env var)
`--env <env...>`	`-e`	Set environment variables (e.g. `-e KEY=value`)
`--header <header...>`	`-H`	Set WebSocket headers (e.g. `-H "X-Api-Key: abc"`)
`--scope <scope>`	`-s`	`local` (default) \| `user` \| `project`
`--transport <transport>`	`-t`	`stdio` (default) \| `sse` \| `http`

Examples:

# HTTP server
claude mcp add --transport http sentry https://mcp.sentry.dev/mcp

# HTTP server with auth header
claude mcp add --transport http myserver https://example.com/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer TOKEN"

# stdio server with env vars
claude mcp add my-server -e API_KEY=xxx -- npx my-mcp-server

# stdio server with subprocess flags
claude mcp add my-server -- my-command --some-flag arg1

`mcp add-json`

claude mcp add-json [options] <name> <json>

Option	Short	Description
`--client-secret`		Prompt for OAuth client secret
`--scope <scope>`	`-s`	`local` (default) \| `user` \| `project`

`mcp add-from-claude-desktop`

claude mcp add-from-claude-desktop [options]

Mac and WSL only.

Option	Short	Description
`--scope <scope>`	`-s`	`local` (default) \| `user` \| `project`

`mcp remove`

claude mcp remove [options] <name>

Option	Short	Description
`--scope <scope>`	`-s`	Scope to remove from; omit to remove from whichever scope it exists in

`mcp get`

claude mcp get <name>

Show details about an MCP server. Unapproved .mcp.json servers shown as ⏸ Pending.

`mcp list`

claude mcp list

List configured MCP servers. Health-checks approved servers.

`mcp reset-project-choices`

claude mcp reset-project-choices

Reset all approved/rejected project-scoped (.mcp.json) servers within this project.

`mcp serve`

claude mcp serve [options]

Start the Claude Code MCP server.

Option	Short	Description
`--debug`	`-d`	Enable debug mode
`--verbose`		Override verbose mode from config

`plugin` / `plugins`

Manage Claude Code plugins.

claude plugin <command>

`plugin install` (alias: `i`)

claude plugin install [options] <plugin>

Use plugin@marketplace to specify a marketplace.

Option	Description
`--config <key=value>`	Set a `userConfig` option declared in the plugin manifest (repeatable)
`--scope <scope>`	`user` (default) \| `project` \| `local`

`plugin uninstall` (alias: `remove`)

claude plugin uninstall [options] <plugin>

Option	Description
`--keep-data`	Preserve the plugin's persistent data directory
`--prune`	Also remove auto-installed dependencies no longer needed
`--scope <scope>`	`user` (default) \| `project` \| `local`
`--yes` / `-y`	Skip `--prune` confirmation prompt

`plugin update`

claude plugin update [options] <plugin>

Restart required to apply.

Option	Description
`--scope <scope>`	`user` (default) \| `project` \| `local` \| `managed`

`plugin enable`

claude plugin enable [options] <plugin>

Option	Description
`--scope <scope>`	`user` \| `project` \| `local` (default: auto-detect)

`plugin disable`

claude plugin disable [options] [plugin]

Option	Description
`--all` / `-a`	Disable all enabled plugins
`--scope <scope>`	`user` \| `project` \| `local` (default: auto-detect)

`plugin list`

claude plugin list [options]

Option	Description
`--available`	Include available plugins from marketplaces (requires `--json`)
`--json`	Output as JSON

`plugin details`

claude plugin details <name>

Show a plugin's component inventory and projected token cost.

`plugin init` (alias: `new`)

claude plugin init [options] <name>

Scaffolds to ~/.claude/skills/<name>/.

Option	Description
`--author <name>`	Author name (default: git config `user.name`)
`--author-email <email>`	Author email (default: git config `user.email`)
`--description <text>`	Manifest description
`--force` / `-f`	Overwrite existing `.claude-plugin/` at target
`--with <components...>`	Also scaffold: `skills`, `agents`, `hooks`, `mcp`, `lsp`, `output-style`, `channel`

`plugin validate`

claude plugin validate [options] <path>

Option	Description
`--strict`	Treat warnings as errors (exit 1) — use in CI

`plugin tag`

claude plugin tag [options] [path]

Create a {name}--v{version} git tag for a plugin release.

Option	Description
`--dry-run`	Print what would be tagged without creating it
`--force` / `-f`	Skip dirty-working-tree and tag-already-exists checks
`--message <msg>` / `-m`	Tag annotation message (use `%s` for the version)
`--push`	Push the tag to `--remote` after creating
`--remote <name>`	Remote to push to (default: `origin`)

`plugin prune` (alias: `autoremove`)

claude plugin prune [options]

Remove auto-installed dependencies no longer needed.

Option	Description
`--dry-run`	List what would be removed without removing
`--scope <scope>`	`user` (default) \| `project` \| `local`
`--yes` / `-y`	Skip confirmation prompt

`plugin marketplace`

claude plugin marketplace <command>

Subcommand	Description
`add [options] <source>`	Add marketplace from URL, path, or GitHub repo
`list [--json]`	List all configured marketplaces
`remove\|rm [options] <name>`	Remove a configured marketplace
`update [options] [name]`	Update marketplace(s) from source (all if no name given)

marketplace add options:

Option	Description
`--scope <scope>`	`user` (default) \| `project` \| `local`
`--sparse <paths...>`	Limit git checkout to specific dirs (for monorepos)

marketplace remove options:

Option	Description
`--scope <scope>`	Remove declaration from specific scope; omit to remove from every scope

`project`

Manage Claude Code project state.

claude project <command>

`project purge`

claude project purge [options] [path]

Delete all Claude Code state for a project (transcripts, tasks, file history, config entry).

Option	Description
`--all`	Purge state for every project (mutually exclusive with `[path]`)
`--dry-run`	List what would be deleted without deleting
`--interactive` / `-i`	Prompt for each item before deleting
`--yes` / `-y`	Skip confirmation prompt

`setup-token`

Set up a long-lived authentication token (requires Claude subscription).

claude setup-token

No options.

`ultrareview`

Run a cloud-hosted multi-agent code review of the current branch (or a PR).

claude ultrareview [options] [target]

[target]: PR number or base branch name.

Option	Description
`--json`	Print raw `bugs.json` payload instead of formatted findings
`--timeout <minutes>`	Max minutes to wait for review (default: `30`)

`update` / `upgrade`

Check for updates and install if available.

claude update

No options.

Quick Reference

Non-interactive / scripting

# Simple one-shot query
claude -p "What is 2+2?"

# JSON output
claude -p "List 3 fruits" --output-format json

# Streaming JSON
claude -p "Explain recursion" --output-format stream-json

# Pipe input
echo "Fix this code: $(cat bug.py)" | claude -p

# Structured output with schema
claude -p "Extract name and age" --json-schema '{"type":"object","properties":{"name":{"type":"string"},"age":{"type":"integer"}}}'

# Cap spending
claude -p "Summarize this" --max-budget-usd 0.10

# Fallback model
claude -p "Hello" --fallback-model sonnet

Sessions

# Continue last session
claude -c

# Resume by ID
claude -r abc-123-def

# Resume and fork (new session ID)
claude -r abc-123-def --fork-session

# Named session
claude -n "Feature X" 

# Resume PR-linked session
claude --from-pr 42

Models & effort

claude --model opus
claude --model claude-sonnet-4-6
claude --effort max
claude --effort low -p "quick question"

Permissions & tools

# Allow specific tools
claude --allowed-tools "Bash(git *) Edit Read"

# Deny tools
claude --disallowed-tools "Bash"

# Limit to specific tools
claude --tools "Bash,Edit,Read"

# Disable all tools
claude --tools ""

# Permission modes
claude --permission-mode acceptEdits   # auto-accept file edits
claude --permission-mode plan          # plan mode only
claude --permission-mode bypassPermissions  # skip all prompts (sandboxes only)

System prompts

# Override system prompt
claude --system-prompt "You are a strict code reviewer."

# Append to default system prompt
claude --append-system-prompt "Always respond in Spanish."

MCP quick setup

# Add stdio server
claude mcp add my-tool -e TOKEN=xxx -- npx @acme/mcp-server

# Add HTTP server
claude mcp add --transport http sentry https://mcp.sentry.dev/mcp

# List servers
claude mcp list

# Remove server
claude mcp remove my-tool

# Scope: project-level
claude mcp add my-tool -s project -- ./my-mcp

Plugin quick usage

# Install from marketplace
claude plugin install my-plugin

# Install at project scope
claude plugin install my-plugin -s project

# List installed plugins
claude plugin list

# List with marketplace availability
claude plugin list --json --available

# Update a plugin
claude plugin update my-plugin

# Disable all plugins
claude plugin disable --all

# Scaffold new plugin
claude plugin init my-plugin --with skills,hooks,mcp

# Validate before publishing
claude plugin validate ./my-plugin --strict

# Tag a release
claude plugin tag --push

Worktrees

# New git worktree for this session
claude -w

# Named worktree
claude -w feature-x

# With tmux pane
claude -w feature-x --tmux

# Classic tmux
claude -w feature-x --tmux=classic

Auth

claude auth login               # Claude subscription (default)
claude auth login --console     # API billing
claude auth login --sso         # Force SSO
claude auth status              # JSON status
claude auth status --text       # Human-readable
claude auth logout

Bare / minimal mode

# Bare mode (no hooks, LSP, plugins, auto-memory, etc.)
claude --bare -p "quick task" \
  --system-prompt "You are a helper" \
  --add-dir /my/project \
  --mcp-config ./mcp.json

Configuration Scopes

Scope	Description
`user`	`~/.claude/settings.json` — applies everywhere
`project`	`.claude/settings.json` in the repo — shared with team
`local`	`.claude/settings.local.json` — machine-local, not committed

Key Environment Variables

Variable	Description
`ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`	API key for authentication (required in `--bare` mode)
`MCP_CLIENT_SECRET`	OAuth client secret for MCP servers
`CLAUDE_CODE_SIMPLE`	Set to `1` by `--bare` mode

nire0510/CLAUDE.md

Claude Code — Complete CLI Cheat Sheet

Table of Contents

Global Usage

Global Options

Subcommands

agents

auth

auth login

auth logout

auth status

auto-mode

doctor

install

mcp

mcp add

mcp add-json

mcp add-from-claude-desktop

mcp remove

mcp get

mcp list

mcp reset-project-choices

mcp serve

plugin / plugins

plugin install (alias: i)

plugin uninstall (alias: remove)

plugin update

plugin enable

plugin disable

plugin list

plugin details

plugin init (alias: new)

plugin validate

plugin tag

plugin prune (alias: autoremove)

plugin marketplace

project

project purge

setup-token

ultrareview

update / upgrade