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How Claude Code permission modes differ
In the documented modes, the main trade-off is between review and autonomy: default keeps approval prompts, acceptEdits automatically accepts file-edit permissions, plan prevents changes and command execution, and bypassPermissions skips permission prompts. These descriptions come from Anthropic documentation; exact behavior can change by release.
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| Mode | Documented behavior | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
default |
Requests permission the first time each tool is used, according to Anthropic’s indexed permissions table. | Use when you want to review proposed actions and retain approval prompts. |
acceptEdits |
Automatically accepts file-edit permissions during the session. | Use when reducing edit approvals is useful. This description does not mean shell commands are automatically approved. |
plan |
Allows analysis but not file modification or command execution. | Use to explore a problem or develop a plan without letting Claude Code make changes or run commands. |
bypassPermissions |
Skips all permission prompts; Anthropic warns to use it only in a safe environment. | Use only where the environment is appropriately isolated and you accept the reduced opportunity to review actions. |
auto |
Current behavior not established in the Anthropic documentation cited here. | Check current official documentation before choosing it; do not infer its behavior from its name. |
dontAsk |
Current behavior not established in the Anthropic documentation cited here. | Check current official documentation before choosing it; do not infer its behavior from its name. |
Anthropic’s permissions documentation also describes tool-specific allow and deny rules. A mode is not the only factor governing whether a particular tool can be used.
What each documented mode means in practice
default: keep approval requests
Anthropic describes the standard mode as asking for permission on a tool’s first use. Its indexed table characterizes read-only operations such as reading files as not requiring approval under the documented standard behavior, while Bash commands and file modifications require approval. The security documentation likewise describes read-only defaults and approval for additional actions such as editing files or running tests and commands.
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This is the clearest choice when you want to inspect proposed changes or commands before approving them. Anthropic says users are responsible for reviewing proposed code and commands before approval.
acceptEdits: accept file edits, not every action
This mode automatically accepts file-edit permissions for the session. The documented description is specific to edits; it does not establish automatic approval for every command or tool. Choose it only if the reduction in edit prompts is worth giving up that review point.
plan: analyze without modifying or executing
In the cited permissions table, plan mode lets Claude analyze but prevents file modifications and command execution. It fits investigation and planning where you want no changes or commands run through Claude Code.
bypassPermissions: skip permission prompts
This mode skips all permission prompts. Anthropic’s CLI reference documents the related --dangerously-skip-permissions option and says to use it with caution; the permissions table warns that bypass mode requires a safe environment. It removes the prompt-based review opportunity, so it is not the conservative choice for an ordinary working environment.
What is known about auto and dontAsk?
The Anthropic sources cited here do not define the current semantics of auto or dontAsk. In particular, they do not establish which tools these modes permit, whether they prompt, or how they interact with allow and deny rules. Their names are not a reliable substitute for a current definition.
Before using either, consult the current Claude Code documentation for the release you have installed. Anthropic’s CLI reference is the relevant place to verify command-line permission-mode options; its descriptions can change over time.
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How to choose a mode
- Choose
defaultwhen you want approval requests and an opportunity to review proposed actions. - Choose
acceptEditsonly when automatic acceptance of file-edit permissions is what you need; do not assume it also approves shell commands. - Choose
planwhen the task should be analysis only, with no file changes or command execution. - Treat
bypassPermissionsas a high-risk setting because it skips permission prompts; Anthropic cautions that it requires a safe environment. - Do not select
autoordontAskuntil you have verified their behavior in documentation for your installed release.
Permission mode is only part of access control
Anthropic’s permissions documentation describes rules that allow or deny specified tools, alongside the mode that controls permission behavior for new requests. Check both the selected mode and the relevant tool rules when evaluating whether Claude Code can take an action. For installation and authentication context, see Anthropic’s Claude Code setup guide.
The mode descriptions above reflect the cited Anthropic CLI, permissions and security documentation as available on October 4, 2026. The pages surfaced in that documentation set were not confirmed as the latest release-specific definitions, so verify volatile behavior in the live official docs before relying on it.
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