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Claude Code File Writes: How to Keep a Session Read-Only

Use Claude Code’s Plan mode for read-only exploration, deny editing tools when needed, and use a read-only filesystem mount when writes must be blocked outright.
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Start Claude Code in Plan mode with claude --permission-mode plan to let it inspect files and run read-only shell commands without editing source files. For a stronger safeguard, deny the file-editing tools too. If writes must be impossible even through shell commands, use an operating-system or container-level read-only mount; Claude Code permissions alone do not make the project directory read-only.

Use Plan mode for a read-only session

In a new interactive session, run:

claude --permission-mode plan

Anthropic describes Plan mode as allowing Claude to explore by reading files and running read-only shell commands without editing source files. The CLI reference documents --permission-mode and the plan value; see Anthropic’s CLI reference and Configure permissions.

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Permission defaults can vary by interface and configuration. Anthropic’s Security documentation says, “Manual mode: Claude Code starts with read-only permissions,” while describing Auto mode as the built-in starting mode for interactive terminal and VS Code sessions. Explicitly selecting Plan mode avoids relying on an assumed default. See Anthropic’s Security documentation.

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Make Plan mode the default

To start future sessions in Plan mode, set permissions.defaultMode to plan in the applicable Claude Code settings file. A settings pattern that also denies common editing tools is:

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{
  "permissions": {
    "defaultMode": "plan",
    "deny": ["Edit", "Write"]
  }
}

Settings can be configured at different scopes; use the settings file that applies to your sessions. The permissions guide explains permission configuration.

Deny file-editing tools explicitly

If you want Claude Code not to have its normal file-editing tools available, add deny rules for the relevant tools, commonly Edit and Write. For a single CLI session, the CLI reference documents:

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claude --disallowedTools "Edit" "Write"

Tool names and availability can differ by installed version or environment, so verify the tools present before depending on a deny list. Deny rules take priority over ask and allow rules. In an active session, run /permissions to inspect or manage the effective rules and see which settings file each rule came from. These behaviors are covered in Configure permissions and the CLI reference.

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Choose the right level of protection

Approach What it does Important limit
Plan mode Built-in choice for read-only analysis and exploration. Does not make the project directory intrinsically read-only.
Deny editing tools Prevents Claude Code from using the tools matched by the deny rules. Does not automatically block every route to a filesystem change.
Read-only OS or container mount Enforces a filesystem-level write barrier for the mounted files. Requires configuring the operating system or container boundary.

Claude Code’s permissions govern its tools, not the underlying filesystem. Anthropic warns that an approved Bash command can still write beyond the file-tool working-directory boundary. If writes must be prevented regardless of the command Claude runs, mount the protected files read-only at the OS or container level, and combine that boundary with Plan mode or deny rules as appropriate. This distinction follows from Anthropic’s Security documentation and permissions guide.

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Quick setup checklist

  1. For a one-off read-only analysis session, launch with claude --permission-mode plan.
  2. For the same starting behavior in later sessions, set permissions.defaultMode to plan in the applicable settings file.
  3. If editing tools should be unavailable, add deny rules for the relevant tool names and verify the active rules with /permissions.
  4. If no write can be allowed through Bash or another command path, protect the files with a read-only OS or container mount.

For setup context, Anthropic’s Set up Claude Code documentation covers access and installation. The permission settings described here are configuration choices, not a requirement to buy a particular plan.

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