Claude Code v2.1.169 adds `--safe-mode`, `/cd` command, and agent fixes
Claude Code `v2.1.169` ships a `--safe-mode` flag to disable all customizations for troubleshooting, a `/cd` command to change working directories mid-session, and a wave of bug fixes spanning enterprise MCP policy enforcement, background agents, Windows performance, and UI reliability.
Score breakdown
The release closes a security gap in enterprise MCP policy enforcement that left access controls unenforced during reconnects and first-install sessions, while also adding a `--safe-mode` escape hatch and `/cd` command that improve day-to-day troubleshooting and session management.
- 01New `--safe-mode` flag and `CLAUDE_CODE_SAFE_MODE` env var disable all customizations (CLAUDE.md, plugins, skills, hooks, MCP servers) for troubleshooting
- 02New `/cd` command moves a session to a new working directory without breaking the prompt cache mid-session
- 03New `disableBundledSkills` setting and `CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_BUNDLED_SKILLS` env var hide bundled skills, workflows, and built-in slash commands from the model
Claude Code `v2.1.169`, authored by ashwin-ant, delivers three notable additions alongside an extensive list of bug fixes. The new `--safe-mode` flag (also available as the `CLAUDE_CODE_SAFE_MODE` environment variable) starts Claude Code with all customizations disabled — including CLAUDE.md files, plugins, skills, hooks, and MCP servers — providing a clean baseline for troubleshooting. The `/cd` command allows moving a session to a new working directory without invalidating the prompt cache mid-session. A new `disableBundledSkills` setting and `CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_BUNDLED_SKILLS` env var let users hide bundled skills, workflows, and built-in slash commands from the model.
A ~30–50ms UI stall at the start of each turn for macOS users logged in with claude.ai credentials has been eliminated.
The bug fix list is substantial. Enterprise managed MCP policies (`allowedMcpServers`/`deniedMcpServers`) were not being enforced on reconnect, IDE-typed configs, `--mcp-config` servers during the first session after install, or before remote settings loaded — all now corrected. A ~30–50ms UI stall at the start of each turn for macOS users logged in with claude.ai credentials has been eliminated. On Windows, `claude -p` was slow or appeared to hang during slash-command/skill scanning (a regression introduced in `2.1.161`), and the Git Credential Manager's "Connect to GitHub" popup was incorrectly appearing at startup — both are fixed. Background agents received multiple fixes: they now inherit project-level `env` values (e.g. `ANTHROPIC_MODEL`) when dispatched onto pre-warmed workers, preserve flags like `--ide`, `--chrome`, and `--bare` across retire→wake cycles, and are informed that shared-checkout edits are blocked until entering a worktree. The `claude agents --json` command now includes blocked and just-dispatched sessions, and a new `--all` flag surfaces completed sessions along with new `id` and `state` fields. Additional improvements include restored 5-minute idle timeouts on Vertex/Foundry to abort stalled streams, the "CLAUDE.md is too long" warning threshold now scaling with the model's context window, and reduced CPU usage during response streaming and spinner animations.
Key facts
- 01New `--safe-mode` flag and `CLAUDE_CODE_SAFE_MODE` env var disable all customizations (CLAUDE.md, plugins, skills, hooks, MCP servers) for troubleshooting
- 02New `/cd` command moves a session to a new working directory without breaking the prompt cache mid-session
- 03New `disableBundledSkills` setting and `CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_BUNDLED_SKILLS` env var hide bundled skills, workflows, and built-in slash commands from the model
- 04Enterprise MCP policies (`allowedMcpServers`/`deniedMcpServers`) were not enforced on reconnect or during the first session after install — now fixed
- 05A ~30–50ms UI stall per turn for macOS users logged in with claude.ai credentials has been fixed
- 06`claude agents --json` now includes blocked and just-dispatched sessions; new `--all` flag adds completed sessions plus `id` and `state` fields
- 07A default 5-minute idle timeout on Vertex/Foundry has been restored so stalled streams abort instead of hanging indefinitely
Topics
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