CLAUDE_CODE_RESUME_THRESHOLD_MINUTES

Updated October 13, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

CLAUDE_CODE_RESUME_THRESHOLD_MINUTES is a Claude Code environment variable: Sets the time window (in minutes) during which a session is eligible for automatic resume. Claude Code already supports --resume for continuing sessions, and this release adds deferred tool handling for headless sessions[1]. Removed between v2.1.245 and v2.1.247, so current releases ignore it. 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_RESUME_THRESHOLD_MINUTES=<value>
claude

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

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

Release notes that mention it

• Claude Code v2.1.128 — Disable Flag for the Resume-Time Compact Prompt and Lighter Subagent System Prompt
• Claude Code v2.1.89 — 4 New Environment Variables: Agent Cost Steering, Session Resume Controls, and 50% StructuredOutput Fix

Related variables

• CLAUDE_CODE_RESUME_FROM_SESSION: Instructs Claude Code to bootstrap a new session's context from an existing session ID.
• CLAUDE_CODE_RESUME_INTERRUPTED_TURN: Resume an interrupted agent turn.
• CLAUDE_CODE_RESUME_INTERRUPTED_TURN_MAX_AGE_MS
• CLAUDE_CODE_RESUME_PROMPT: Set the prompt injected when resuming a session.
• CLAUDE_CODE_RESUME_PROMPT00
• CLAUDE_CODE_RESUME_REASON
• CLAUDE_CODE_RESUME_SOURCE_ALIVE
• CLAUDE_AUTO_BACKGROUND_TASKS: Enable automatic background task execution.

Frequently asked questions

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.