CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_PROACTIVITY

Updated October 13, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_PROACTIVITY is a Claude Code environment variable: Turns off the proactivity selector, a behavior gated by tengu_proactivity_selector and on by default. When set, the value is carried into relaunched and background sessions so they start with it off too. Added in v2.1.290. Added in v2.1.290 and still present in v2.1.294. It is not in the official reference.

How to set it

For one session, export it in the shell that starts Claude Code:

export CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_PROACTIVITY=<value>
claude

To apply it to every session, add it to the env object of a settings file:

// ~/.claude/settings.json
{
  "env": {
    "CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_PROACTIVITY": "<value>"
  }
}

Release notes that mention it

• Claude Code Version Tracker: Undocumented Env Vars, Feature Gates & Models
• claude-code-env-vars-v2-1-290

Related variables

• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_ADMIN_ENV_UNION
• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_ARTIFACT
• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_ATTACHMENTS: File/image attachments.
• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_CFC_PROMPT
• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_COMMAND_INJECTION_CHECK: Previously allowed disabling command injection detection.
• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_CRON: Disable cron/scheduled task functionality.
• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_EXPERIMENTAL_BETAS: Experimental beta API features.
• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_EXPLORE_INHERIT_CAP: Lets the built-in Explore search agent run at the parent model instead of a cheaper capped default.

Frequently asked questions

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.