{"version":"2.1.302","anchor":"fork-subagent-enablement-gains-a-settings-kill-switch-and-a","canonical_anchor":"fork-subagent-enablement-gains-a-settings-kill-switch-and-a","heading":"Fork subagents are documented in the Agent tool and gain a settings off switch","tier":"use","area":"Subagents","scope":"both","heads_up":false,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.302\/e\/fork-subagent-enablement-gains-a-settings-kill-switch-and-a","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.302","markdown":"### Fork subagents are documented in the Agent tool and gain a settings off switch\n\nThe Agent tool now explains subagent_type \"fork\" and when to fork, and fork mode can be turned off with the forkSubagentDisabled setting\n\n**Unclear.** Which users the server-controlled switch turns fork mode off for is not settled.\n\n**What**\n\nA fork is a subagent, a helper agent, that starts with a copy of the current conversation. Fork mode lets Claude start forks itself. Changes:\n\n- The Agent tool description now explains `subagent_type: \"fork\"` and has a `## When to fork` section. Forks inherit the conversation and run on the same model, and Claude is told not to peek at them or race them. The section is only included when fork mode is available.\n\n- That section has two wordings. One says \"The tool result includes an `output_file` path\". The other says \"A background fork's tool result includes an `output_file` path\" and talks about what to do \"After launching a background fork\". Which one appears depends on how fork mode was turned on and another condition.\n\n- Fork mode is off when `CLAUDE_CODE_FORK_SUBAGENT` is set to false, or when the new `forkSubagentDisabled` setting is set. It is also off on certain accounts when the `tengu_federated_ullman` flag is true and the variable is not set to true. Otherwise it counts as available. Nothing has been read about `tengu_federated_ullman` for this release.\n\n- Separately, a new bundled plugin, `cc-plugin-easel`, is registered when Claude Code is not running as a local agent, and `cc-plugin-responsive-mode` now also loads in remote sessions.\n\n**Why**\n\nClaude may now start forks for research when fork mode is available. If you do not want that, set `forkSubagentDisabled` in your settings or set `CLAUDE_CODE_FORK_SUBAGENT` to `0`.\n\n- Area: Subagents\n- Names: `forkSubagentDisabled`\n- Tier: Use it now\n- Useful: 5\/5\n- Signal: 3\/5\n- Scope: both\n- Heads-up: no"}