CLAUDE_CODE_POWERSHELL_RESPECT_EXECUTION_POLICY

Updated October 13, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

CLAUDE_CODE_POWERSHELL_RESPECT_EXECUTION_POLICY is a Claude Code environment variable: Restore PowerShell execution policy checks. v2.1.143 made bypass-policy the default to reduce the most common Windows friction. If your environment uses execution policy as a security control (AppLocker, corp policy), set this to reinstate it. Added between v2.1.138 and v2.1.143 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_POWERSHELL_RESPECT_EXECUTION_POLICY=<value>
claude

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

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

Release notes that mention it

• Claude Code v2.1.143 — 27 New Env Vars, /goal, Agent View, and a Free Model Upgrade

Related variables

• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_POWERSHELL_CMD_RM_DENY
• CLAUDE_CODE_USE_POWERSHELL_TOOL: Enables a PowerShell-specific tool variant for Windows environments.
• CLAUDE_CODE_REMOTE_TOOLS_POLICY
• BASH_MAX_OUTPUT_LENGTH: Max bash output character length.
• CLAUDE_BASH_MAINTAIN_PROJECT_WORKING_DIR: Maintain consistent working directory across commands.
• CLAUDE_BASH_NO_LOGIN: Replaced by CLAUDE_CODE_SHELL_PREFIX.
• CLAUDE_CODE_BASH_EDIT_DIFF
• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_ADVISOR_TOOL: Disables what appears to be an internal advisory tool.

Frequently asked questions

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.