By default, Claude pauses to ask before every file edit and every . That’s the safe mode — and the slow one. You can change how often Claude asks, per session, by cycling the permission mode.
Press Shift+Tab in the to cycle through three modes:
- Default — confirms before every file edit and every shell command. Safest, slowest.
- Auto-accept edits — file edits go through without confirmation; commands still pause. The middle ground: you’ve reviewed the plan, now let it execute while you watch.
- Plan mode — read-only. Claude can look at files and talk through what it would do, but can’t change anything. Best for exploring an unfamiliar codebase or getting a proposal before any work begins.
The current mode shows at the bottom of the . Shift+Tab again to cycle forward; the three modes loop.
Common rhythm: start in plan mode, get a proposal, agree on direction, then Shift+Tab into auto-accept edits and let Claude work while you scan the diffs. Saves twenty individual y confirmations on a multi-file change — and you stay in control because shell commands still need approval.
The mode is per-session and resets when you start a new conversation. If you want a per-machine default, that lives in your global CLAUDE.md or settings — but the per-session toggle is the one you’ll actually reach for.