--resume
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.
Also written -r. Every list on this page counts all of these spellings together.
Resume a specific session by ID or name, or show an interactive picker to choose a session. In place of an ID, you can pass the absolute path to a session's .jsonl transcript file. The picker and name search include sessions that added this directory with /add-dir. When you pass a session ID, Claude Code searches the current project directory and its git worktrees, then every other project on this machine. Before v2.1.223, the ID search covered only the current project directory and its git worktrees. Background sessions appear in the picker marked with bg
Anthropic's own wording. Read off CLI reference, captured 2026-09-26.
In the changelogs
65Releases whose published page names --resume.
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v2.1.305
Groundwork for resuming a cloud session with
--resumeCode that would let
--resumepick up a cloud session alongside--cloudis present but cannot be reached in this buildfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.304
--await-claimcan no longer be combined with--sdk-urlClaude Code now refuses to start when
--await-claimand--sdk-urlare used togetherfound in this entry's text
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v2.1.304
--resumehelp text now mentions resuming by session nameThe help text for
--resumenow says you can pass a session ID or a session name, or open the picker with a search termfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.302
Clearer errors when --continue or --resume fails
Some failures during
--continueor--resumenow exit with their own message instead of one generic failurefound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.302
--resumeshows the real reason when a session will not loadWhen
--resumewith a file or session ID fails in a particular way, Claude Code now shows that error instead of a generic messagefound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.302
/resume refuses while the terminal is attached to a remote session
In a terminal attached to a remote session, /resume now explains how to resume a local conversation instead of opening the picker
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.302
The suggested resume command can include an environment variable
The command Claude Code suggests for resuming a session can now start with an environment variable setting, such as
X=1 claude --resume <id>found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.302
A path length limit drops from 4096 to 1024 characters
A path check now rejects paths longer than 1024 characters instead of 4096, and one sandbox error for plugin folders is now reported differently
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.302
claude -p with --continue or --resume now exits on certain errors
In print mode, some failures while continuing or resuming a conversation now print the error and exit with code 1 instead of starting empty
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.299
The resume command shown on exit now works for worktree sessions
When you exit a session that ran in a worktree, Claude Code now prints a resume command that includes
--worktreefound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.299
Self-hosted runner startup timeout covers more cases, and fetch size check skips some responses
The
--startup-timeout-minhelp now says the timer covers MCP connection and idle sessions, and restarts whenever the child writes outputfound in this entry's text
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v2.1.299
Claude Code drops stuck error output instead of waiting on it
If error output backs up for over 10 seconds and 1 MiB, Claude Code now drops it and leaves a notice saying messages were dropped
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.299
No visible change to the
--await-claimerror messageThe error shown when
--await-claimis combined with--continue,--resumeor--fork-sessionis worded the same as beforefound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.290
Exiting a cloud session now shows how to continue it with --cloud
When you leave a cloud session, the hint now shows
claude --cloud <id>instead of the localclaude --resumecommandfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.290
Resuming with --resume and --print can append an attachment
When a resumed non-interactive session drops its last turn, Claude Code can now add an attachment entry instead of only trimming
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.290
Restarting a background session can now continue as a copy
A restarted background session can now resume as a fresh copy with
--fork-session, and a saved reply starting with / or ! gets a warningfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.285
New
--desktopoption opens a session in the Claude Desktop appclaude --desktopopens the session in the Claude Desktop app instead of the terminal, and works with--continueor--resumefound in this entry's text
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v2.1.285
Open the Claude Desktop app from the terminal with
claude --desktopThe new
claude --desktopflag opens the Claude Desktop app, and can resume a session there with--continueor--resumefound in this entry's text
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v2.1.285
Resuming a running background session now opens it
Picking a still-running background session in
/resumenow tries to open it, and falls back to a screen explaining why when it cannotfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.285
Resuming a running background session now opens it and sends your prompt
--resumeon a session running in the background now attaches to it and hands over your prompt instead of refusingfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.285
/update refusal now names both directories involved
When
/updaterefuses because a session came from another project, the message now names that directory and the current onefound in this entry's text
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v2.1.285
Resuming a session that is still running elsewhere now carries your prompt
If another process is still running a session you resume, Claude Code now passes your prompt to the screen that handles it, and
--resumecan take a titlefound in this entry's text
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v2.1.284
No repeat home-directory trust prompt when Claude Code relaunches itself
If you already accepted the home-directory trust prompt, Claude Code no longer asks again when it relaunches itself during a resume
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.283
Resumed sessions record where they came from
Resuming a session now records the original session ID and transcript path, and forked commands and agents get the session's permission mode
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.282
Clearer error when resuming a session fails on Windows because a file read is blocked
On Windows, a failed
--resumecaused by a blocked file read now explains that security software may be the cause and how to fix itfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.281
New SDK pre-warmed spare process: --await-claim plus claim_session control request
A hidden
--await-claimoption lets an SDK host start a spare Claude Code process early and bind it to a session laterfound in this entry's text
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v2.1.281
Resume: resumeSource recorded; fleet view gets extra working directories
--resumenow records where a session was resumed from, and fleet view opened this way gets extra working directoriesfound in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.281
Resume passes host-answerable tool-use IDs
Resuming in print mode now works out which tool calls the host can answer and passes them to session loading
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.275
Cloud sessions by default: plain
claudeinvocations can be silently routed to the cloudPlain
claudecommands can now be silently routed to a cloud session by default under a new flagfound in this entry's text
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v2.1.275
New env var CLAUDE_CODE_PARKED_PERMISSION_WAIT_MS with 2000ms fallback
New CLAUDE_CODE_PARKED_PERMISSION_WAIT_MS env var sets a 2 second default wait for parked permissions
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.268
Print-mode resume gains cloud-session fork seed adoption and a hydration pass
Print-mode session resume can now pick up where a forked cloud session left off
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.261
--resumecan now adopt/accept custom (non-UUID) session IDs when used with SDK URL sessions--resume can now accept custom, non-UUID session IDs for SDK URL sessions.
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.260
Worktree-session cleanup on resume consolidated into a shared helper
Worktree cleanup logic on resume was consolidated into a shared helper.
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.259
Early hydrate prefetch for SDK/remote-control resume sessions
Starting with --sdk-url and --resume now warms session and history state in parallel with the rest of startup.
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.257
--background/--bg can now resume a session in placeCombining --bg with --resume now continues that session in the background under the same ID.
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
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v2.1.246
Copyable resume command no longer carries a broken session id
The suggested resume command no longer pastes a broken or undefined session id after the flag.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.242
Artifact comment replies can move to another session of the same conversation
Automatic replies to Artifact comments can move between sessions of the same conversation.
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.239
Resume hints no longer point at directories that are gone
You no longer get a resume command suggesting a project directory that no longer exists.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.236
--continueand--resumefailures now say what went wrongA failed --continue or --resume now tells you the error and exits instead of quietly carrying on.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.234
Resuming a session can retire unanswered permission prompts instead of re-running them
Resuming could drop unanswered permission prompts instead of re-running the interrupted turn, but only with an env var set.
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.232
Rate-limit checkpoint can commit in-progress work to a hidden git ref
Before a usage limit cuts you off, your work can be committed to a hidden git ref with resume notes.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.232
--session-id now works with --continue/--resume under an SDK URL
--session-id now works with --continue or --resume when an SDK URL is supplied.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.232
Bridge worker processes are launched with a resume argument
Remote bridge worker processes now start with a resume argument derived from the session URL.
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.232
Resuming with an unrecognisable session id now forks instead of resuming
An unparseable --resume session id now forks and replays instead of quietly resuming.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.223
New hidden CLI flag --resume-drops-turn
A hidden flag lets you declare which turn a truncating resume is meant to discard.
named in this entry
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v2.1.223
--resume-session-at help text clarified to chain entries
The --resume-session-at help now explains it takes a chain-entry id, not an assistant message id.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.221
Teammate respawn records transcript restoration and first-paint marks
Resumed teammate sessions now replay first-paint marks to clients that attach, so reattaching looks right.
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.221
Memory recall index is prewarmed at startup
Claude warms the memory recall index at startup so your first recall is faster.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
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v2.1.218
Backgrounded Session Messages Improved
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.217
Transcript Persistence Warnings
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.212
Resume Session at Flag
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.200
Remote Control Session Resume Improvements [In Development]
found in this entry's text
- v2.1.193
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v2.1.191
Contextual Tips System [Gradual Rollout]
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.191
History Picker: Previous Session Entry
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.101
Resume Sessions by Title
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.31
Session Resume Hint on Exit
found in this entry's text
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v2.1.27
--from-prFlag for PR-Linked Session Resumefound in this entry's text
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v2.0.50
Cross-Project Conversation Resume
found in this entry's text
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v1.0.125
Resume Session at Specific Message
found in this entry's text
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v1.0.120
File History Persistence Across Sessions
found in this entry's text
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v1.0.62
🆕 Session Start Hooks
found in this entry's text
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v1.0.31
Documentation Updates
found in this entry's text
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v1.0.26
Resume Conversation Command
found in this entry's text
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v0.2.117
Enhanced Print Mode (
--print) 📄found in this entry's text
First cited
11The earliest release whose published evidence quoted --resume was v2.1.223, 5 Aug 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.
5 further spans in the ledger name it. The list above is the earliest first and stops at 6.
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.