CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_AWAY_SUMMARY

Updated October 13, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_AWAY_SUMMARY is a Claude Code environment variable: Enables generation of a summary when the user returns after being away from an active session. Added between v2.1.104 and v2.1.107 and still present in v2.1.294. It is listed in the official reference.

How to set it

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

export CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_AWAY_SUMMARY=<value>
claude

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

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

Release notes that mention it

• Claude Code v2.1.108 — 4 New Environment Variables: REPL Variants, Skill Discovery, and the Limits Reckoning
• Claude Code v2.1.107 — 6 New Environment Variables: Worktrees, Away Mode, and Stream Resilience
• Claude Code Version Tracker: Undocumented Env Vars, Feature Gates & Models

Related variables

• CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_CFC: Enable Claude for Chrome browser automation.
• CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_PROMPT_SUGGESTION: Enables a prompt suggestion feature in the Claude Code UI.
• CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_SDK_FILE_CHECKPOINTING: Enable file checkpointing in SDK mode.
• CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_TASKS: Enable the task system.
• CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_XAA: Enables an internal feature flagged as "XAA." The acronym is opaque, but the ENABLE_ prefix and proximity to other experimental flags suggest this is an opt-in capability still under development.
• ENABLE_BETA_TRACING_DETAILED: Enable detailed beta tracing.
• ENABLE_BTW: Enable "by the way" suggestions.
• ENABLE_PROMPT_CACHING_1H

Frequently asked questions

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.