Claude Code v2.1.228 Changelog

This release is mostly about cleaning house. If you use Claude Code to build software, you might have run into weird glitches where the screen froze or background tasks crashed. This update fixes a bunch of those annoying bugs, makes the AI's custom "skills" safer to use, and speeds up how the tool handles logins and long conversations. It matters most to developers who use Claude Code heavily, especially on Windows or automated server setups.

What's new

• Easier file overwrites: Newer AI models can now overwrite an existing file even if they haven't read it yet during your current chat. (Older models still have to read the file first, just to be safe).
• Clearer messages: When you send messages between different Claude Code sessions, the sender's name and the message now show up right away in the text, instead of being hidden in a collapsed line. If you are messaging a remote computer, it now shows your remote session name.
• Safer synced skills: "Skills" are custom sets of instructions you can create on the claude.ai website and sync to your computer. They are now much safer. They will no longer override your local commands, their text is cleaned up to prevent issues, and they can no longer run risky system commands (like ! commands) or automatically open files (using @ files) on your machine.

Improvements

• Faster login failures: If you use Google Cloud (Vertex AI) to log in and your credentials are missing or expired, Claude Code now fails within seconds instead of hanging for minutes trying to reconnect.
• Better progress bars: When Claude Code "compacts" a long conversation (shrinks it down to save memory), you now see a countdown and helpful tips if it gets stuck, instead of just a spinning loading bar.
• Less screen jitter: The little spinning icons used in terminal tabs when Claude is busy were updated so they don't make the tab bar shake or jump around on certain screens.
• Less confusing warnings: Claude Code removed an outdated warning message that used to tell Pro, Max, and Team users that "auto mode" costs extra.

Fixes

• Frozen screens: Fixed a rare bug where the text screen would stop updating entirely, even though the AI was still working in the background.
• Windows Git issues: Fixed an issue on Windows where Claude Code couldn't find Git (the software that tracks code changes) if you opened it from a folder above where Git was installed.
• Model switching glitch: Fixed a bug where using the /tui command accidentally switched the AI back to an older, dumber model if you had changed models earlier.
• Missing message inboxes: Fixed a bug where the messaging system between different sessions sometimes started without an "inbox" right after you updated or installed the app.
• Remote privacy leak: Fixed a bug where using the "resume" feature on a remote control session accidentally leaked the title or history of your previous chat into the new one.
• Self-hosted runner crashes: Fixed two big issues for people running Claude Code on their own automated servers (runners). First, it no longer crashes if it can't access a specific code repository—it just skips it with a warning. Second, it no longer ends sessions in the tiny gap between a background task finishing and the next step starting.
• Deleted memory: Fixed a scary bug where cleaning up a session accidentally deleted files inside a project's "memory" folder (where the AI stores facts about your project).
• Deleted plugin caches: Fixed a bug where a background cleanup task accidentally deleted a plugin's saved data if that plugin was a "symlinked development checkout" (a special shortcut used by developers).
• Messed up settings: Fixed an issue where custom settings (like special web headers) from one settings file accidentally leaked into another file when dealing with marketplace plugins. Now, settings merge together as complete, separate blocks.
• Double reminders: Fixed a bug where the AI sent a reminder about "deferred tools" (tools waiting to be used) twice after running a skill.

Breaking changes

No breaking changes in this release.