Claude Code v2.1.216 Changelog

This update is all about making the AI assistant more stable and less frustrating to use, especially during long coding sessions. It matters most to developers who use this tool daily, as it fixes several bugs that caused slowdowns, ignored user inputs, or messed up background tasks.

What's new

• Added a new security setting (sandbox.filesystem.disabled). A "sandbox" is a safe, isolated space where the AI runs so it can't accidentally mess up your computer. This new setting lets you turn off the file-access limits while keeping the limits on internet access, giving you a different balance of speed and security.

Improvements

• The /fork command (which copies a conversation) now gives a much simpler, one-line confirmation showing the new session's name and ID.
• When checking code, if a "diff" (the view showing what lines were added or removed) is too large to show, the error message now tells you exactly what the size limit is, how big your code is, and which files are causing the problem.
• If an empty code review happens, the AI now tells you the exact starting point it was looking at and suggests how to fix it.
• If you try to change your spending limit and the server says no, the system now shows you the exact reason why it was rejected.
• The /context command now gives you a clear warning if your conversation gets too long for the AI's memory, and it clearly shows an error if a tool used to shrink the conversation fails.
• The /rewind tool (used to undo changes) no longer accidentally messes with your files through "symlinks" (shortcuts to other folders). Instead, it tells you exactly how many shortcuts it safely skipped.
• For background tasks running without you watching them, if the AI needs you to answer a question or install something, it will safely pause that request until you check back in.
• Updated a built-in helper for making charts, giving it a better default color palette and fixing bad advice on how to label four-line charts.
• Better security checks for "git" and "gh" commands when running inside Windows PowerShell.

Fixes

• Long chat slowdowns: Fixed a major issue where long conversations would randomly freeze for several seconds. The AI's memory processing was getting bogged down the longer you talked, causing multi-second stalls.
• Web session glitches: Fixed a bug where the web version would drop your message and ask the same question over and over if you left the tab idle for a few minutes. Also fixed an issue where cloud sessions would freeze if the server restarted while the AI was thinking—it now just re-does the interrupted thought.
• Ignoring user answers: Fixed the AI jumping straight back to work when you asked it to wait or explain first. It now properly understands your text answers.
• Login errors: Fixed "auto mode" blocking commands with a login error if your security token expired while you were working. Also fixed a bug where trying to re-authenticate would accidentally delete your working login before the new one finished.
• Background agents: Fixed background tasks getting canceled if a high-priority message arrived right as they were starting up. Also fixed resumed background tasks forgetting their specific instructions and tool limits, reverting to the default settings.
• File and folder issues: Fixed several bugs where the AI's isolated workspaces (worktrees) would accidentally point to the wrong project folder, get stuck in another project's leftover files, or become impossible to delete if they weren't properly linked to git.
• Terminal messiness: Fixed weird visual glitches (like random mouse symbols) showing up in the terminal when you opened a text editor from a menu. Also fixed menus stretching off the edge of the screen in fullscreen mode.
• Command bugs: Fixed permission checks for complex Bash commands (like commands chained together with && or using redirects). Also fixed how the system reads non-English characters so it matches how real computer shells read them.
• Session management: Fixed pressing Ctrl+X twice failing to delete a session, and fixed deleted sessions popping back up if their background worker had crashed. Also fixed the Esc-Esc shortcut not opening the rewind menu during long sessions.
• Security and tracking fixes: Fixed a bug where a command meant to stop background processes (claude daemon stop --any) might accidentally close an unrelated program. Fixed a security hole where shortcuts in the .claude folder could trick the AI into saving files outside your project. Fixed read-only commands on Windows accessing network files without asking permission first.
• Menu and autocomplete: Fixed new skills or commands added during a chat not showing up in the menu until you restarted. Fixed plugin commands losing their names in the autocomplete search.
• Data tracking: Fixed the system's internal tracking (telemetry) from counting failed permission prompts as "user rejections," and fixed a metrics endpoint from sending broken data.
• VSCode text fix: Fixed right-to-left languages (like Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian) from displaying backwards when mixed with English or code in the VSCode extension.

Breaking changes

No breaking changes in this release.