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Sweep 10 Nov 2026 · 02:18Z Build v2.1.322 539 read Stable v2.1.311 Latest v2.1.322 Next v2.1.322 Feeds RSS JSON llms.txt llms-full.txt Unofficial
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Claude Code v2.1.280 ·

MCP output/description truncation length now overridable via env var

MCP output and description truncation length is now configurable via CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_MCP_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH

Use it now Notable New Features
JSON All of v2.1.280
Use it nowTier: how much it should matter to you
3Useful: my rating, 1 to 5
2Signal: worth watching, 1 to 5
MCPArea: what it touches
New FeaturesKind: in v2.1.280,
What probably matters to youSection of the release
What

The character limit used to truncate MCP (Model Context Protocol) tool output and instructions was previously a fixed, hardcoded number. It can now be set with the environment variable CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_MCP_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH. If the variable isn't set, Claude Code falls back to the same default length as before.

Why

This lets users or teams with MCP tools that produce longer descriptions or output raise the truncation limit instead of being stuck with the built-in default.

Read from
Names in the bundleCLAUDE_CODE_MAX_MCP_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH
Since it was published

The entry above is what we published on the day. These lines were added later, as Anthropic's own pages caught up, and they sit beside the original rather than replacing it.

Added since A small documentation edit on Connect Claude Code to tools via MCP touched a line naming CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_MCP_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH after this was published. Descriptions and instructions from some of the MCP servers that Anthropic hosts at `api.anthropic.com` reach Claude in full. To change the limits for the other MCP servers in your session, set [`CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_MCP_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH`](/do… mcp see the edit
Confirmed since Anthropic's documentation has since written up CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_MCP_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH, on Connect Claude Code to tools via MCP. To change the limits for every MCP server in your session, set [`CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_MCP_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) to a number of characters. The number you set replaces both limits: `8192`, for example, raises the shor… mcp see the edit
How sure we are
Two sources agreeTwo things we can check say the same as this entry.
Anthropic's documentation agreesAnthropic's documentation has since written up CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_MCP_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH, on Connect Claude Code to tools via MCP.
Anthropic's release notes agreeAdded CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_MCP_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH to change the 2,048-character cap on MCP tool descriptions and server instructions for every…
The name it cites is new in this buildNew in this build: CLAUDE_CODE_MAX_MCP_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH

See this entry in the whole of v2.1.280 →

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