--bare
A Claude Code CLI flag, read out of the shipped bundle. It has been in the build since v2.1.138, including the newest one read.
Minimal mode: skip auto-discovery of hooks, skills, custom commands, subagents, installed plugins, MCP servers, auto memory, and CLAUDE.md so scripted calls start faster. Skills in a directory you pass with --add-dir still load. Claude has access to Bash, file read, and file edit tools. Sets CLAUDE_CODE_SIMPLE. See bare mode
Anthropic's own wording. Read off CLI reference, captured 2026-09-26.
In the changelogs
18Releases whose published page names --bare.
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v2.1.304
System prompt snapshots default to off in bare mode
--system-prompt-snapshot still defaults to on, except under --bare outside cloud and background sessions
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.299
The hint for leaving safe mode now depends on how you started it
The hint for leaving safe mode is no longer always "restart without --safe-mode", and the bare mode hint changed the same way
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.292
A tool for publishing plugins to your organization's library
A Publish plugin tool uploads a plugin to your claude.ai uploads and submits it to your organization's library after you confirm
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.290
New --proactivity flag sets how much Claude does on its own at startup
A
--proactivityflag picks the proactivity level when Claude Code starts, andCLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_PROACTIVITYturns the selector offfound in this entry's text
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v2.1.290
Proactive mode choice now survives worker restarts
In headless sessions, Claude Code now keeps your proactivity opt-in when the worker restarts
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.290
No visible change to the
--baremessage for cloud sessionsCloud sessions still refuse
--barewith the same explanation; only the moment the message is worked out changedfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.286
Plugins cannot add tools while they run in
--baresessionsIn
--baresessions, a plugin that tries to register a tool while running is now refused with an errorfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.285
Claude Code explains why a plugin's MCP server did not connect
When a plugin's MCP server does not connect, Claude Code now gives a reason such as --bare, policy or not approved
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.284
subagentStatusLinecommand is skipped when the status line is switched offClaude Code no longer runs your
subagentStatusLinecommand when its restricted-mode check has turned off thestatusLinefeaturefound in this entry's text
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v2.1.284
Clearer error when a managed login policy clashes with your API key or token
When managed settings require a specific sign-in but another credential is set, the error names that credential, where it came from, and how to fix it
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.280
--bare and --safe-mode flag descriptions clarify plugin/hook scope
Help text for --bare and --safe-mode now clarifies they only affect plugins and settings-defined hooks, not built-in features
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.280
Hooks-module skip reasons now surface to the plugin author via a notification channel, not just debug logs
Plugins are now notified directly when their hooks module is skipped, not just via a debug log line
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.259
Plugin hooks as JS modules — gated off by default
Plugins can load hooks from real JS modules with per-action permission checks, but the rollout gate defaults off.
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.246
Clearer reason when an administrator has blocked plugin hooks
When managed settings block plugin hooks, the message now says that explicitly.
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.242
Cloud-hosted sessions now refuse local CLI options instead of quietly dropping them
Running with --cloud now tells you which local CLI options were ignored or refused, and why.
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.242
Administrators and --bare can block plugin hooks from loading
Two managed settings can block plugin hooks entirely or allow only managed plugins.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.212
CLAUDE_CODE_SIMPLE Environment Variable
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.207
Walnut Spire (
plugin evalGeneral Availability) [In Development]found in this entry's text
First cited
5The earliest release whose published evidence quoted --bare was v2.1.212, 16 Jul 2026. That is the oldest release this project wrote about it, so it is a floor on the name's age and not the release that introduced it. It is not a presence reading: which builds carried the name is the table below.
Presence across releases
1Build by build
149One row per release since the first build this name was read out of. Absent means the build was read and the name was not in it, never mined means no bundle for that release was ever archived, and a declared type or a default is only ever what that release's own bundle stated.
Read out of the published npm bundle release by release, and out of Anthropic's own documentation as this site captured it. Nothing on this page is a description anybody here wrote about what the CLI flag does. All CLI flags.