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Sweep 09 Oct 2026 · 17:27Z Build v2.1.296 517 read Stable v2.1.287 Latest v2.1.296 Next v2.1.296 Feeds RSS JSON llms.txt llms-full.txt Unofficial
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Claude Code v2.1.296 ·

New CLAUDE_CODE_WORKFLOW_SUBAGENT_MODEL picks the model for workflow subagents

Setting CLAUDE_CODE_WORKFLOW_SUBAGENT_MODEL chooses which model subagents use during a workflow run, separately from other subagents

Use it now Notable New Features
JSON All of v2.1.296
Use it nowTier: how much it should matter to you
5Useful: my rating, 1 to 5
3Signal: worth watching, 1 to 5
WorkflowsArea: what it touches
New FeaturesKind: in v2.1.296,
What probably matters to youSection of the release
What

A subagent is a helper that Claude Code starts to handle part of a task. The new environment variable CLAUDE_CODE_WORKFLOW_SUBAGENT_MODEL sets the model for subagents started inside a workflow run. An environment variable is a named setting passed to a program when it starts.

  • If it is unset, empty or inherit (in any capitalisation), nothing changes.
  • Any other value is used as the model for workflow subagents, and only in workflow runs.
  • A model named for one agent inside the workflow is then ignored, and Claude Code logs a message saying so.
  • If CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_MODEL_FORCE is also set, the workflow value is checked again and may be ignored.

The reference Claude uses when writing workflows also treats this variable like CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_MODEL_FORCE, so its guidance changes when the variable is set.

Why

You can now keep workflow subagents on a different model from ordinary subagents.

Read from
Names in the bundleCLAUDE_CODE_WORKFLOW_SUBAGENT_MODEL
How sure we are
Two sources agreeTwo things we can check say the same as this entry.
Anthropic's release notes agreeAdded CLAUDE_CODE_WORKFLOW_SUBAGENT_MODEL to run every workflow agent on one model while other subagents keep theirs
The name it cites is new in this buildNew in this build: CLAUDE_CODE_WORKFLOW_SUBAGENT_MODEL

See this entry in the whole of v2.1.296 →

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