CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC
A Claude Code environment variable, read out of the shipped bundle. It has been in the build since v2.1.138, including the newest one read.
Set to any non-empty value, such as 1, to disable nonessential network traffic: auto-updates, telemetry, error reporting, the /feedback command, Claude-drafted feedback, release notes, the PR and MR status badge checks, and availability checks such as the fast mode check. It also stops the background runs of plugin command sources, which are local commands rather than network traffic, because they can trigger dependency installs. Setting it to 0 or false still disables this traffic, unlike most on/off variables; unset the variable to allow it again. Also disables feature-flag fetching, which makes Remote Control and the other features that need feature-flag fetching unavailable. Official plugin marketplace auto-install isn't covered; disable it with CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_OFFICIAL_MARKETPLACE_AUTOINSTALL. Doesn't affect gateway model discovery, which has its own opt-in
Anthropic's own wording. Read off Environment variables, captured 2026-09-28.
In the changelogs
17Releases whose published page names CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC.
-
v2.1.307
SDK programs can list and read cloud sessions
Programs using the SDK can list cloud sessions, fetch one and read its transcript, with a clear reason when this is refused
found in this entry's text
-
v2.1.304
The file-upload check under the nonessential-traffic setting is now a yes-or-no check
A check tied to the message about uploads being off under CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC now gives a yes-or-no answer from a saved reply
found in this entry's text, named in this entry
-
v2.1.295
claude mcp servegains an HTTP mode, limited to remote cloud sessionsIn remote cloud sessions only,
claude mcp servecan now listen over HTTP with--transport,--portand--session-tunnelfound in this entry's text
-
v2.1.287
Sessions without the GitHub CLI get a built-in
gh apireplacementWhen the GitHub CLI is missing, Claude Code can supply its own limited
ghthat runsgh apiREST calls through the session's GitHub proxyfound in this entry's text
-
v2.1.287
Telemetry and feature-flag environment variables are gathered in a new list
Claude Code now keeps a list of the environment variables that affect telemetry and feature flags
found in this entry's text
-
v2.1.283
Remote Control works for paid subscribers who turned telemetry off
Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise users signed in with their Claude account can use Remote Control even with telemetry turned off
found in this entry's text
-
v2.1.251
Feedback and bug command availability checked in one place
The switches hiding /feedback and /bug now behave the same in menus and commands.
named in this entry, found in this entry's text
-
v2.1.248
Telemetry opt-out variables grouped in one set
Telemetry opt-out environment variables are now collected in one set alongside a forwarded allowlist.
found in this entry's text
-
v2.1.218
Env Var Allowlist Greatly Expanded
found in this entry's text
-
v2.1.174
Projects Tool — Read and Write claude.ai Project Docs
found in this entry's text
-
v2.1.169
/design-syncSkill — Sync React Design Systems to Claude Designfound in this entry's text
-
v2.1.101
Version Check in Essential-Traffic-Only Mode
found in this entry's text
-
v2.1.91
/feedbackCommand Provider-Aware Disablingfound in this entry's text
-
v2.1.23
In-App Auto-Update Configuration
found in this entry's text
-
v2.0.17
Enhanced Changelog Fetch Respects Traffic Control
found in this entry's text
-
v0.2.116
New Features
found in this entry's text
-
v0.2.116
Notes for Users
found in this entry's text
First cited
3The earliest release whose published evidence quoted CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC was v2.1.248, 27 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.
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 environment variable does. All environment variables.