CLAUDE_MEMORY_STORES

Updated October 13, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

CLAUDE_MEMORY_STORES is a Claude Code environment variable: Configure which memory backends are active. With the memory system now supporting typed files, project-scoped MEMORY.md indexes, and persistent cross-session state, this is the env-level toggle for backend selection. Added between v2.1.138 and v2.1.143 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_MEMORY_STORES=<value>
claude

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

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

Release notes that mention it

• Claude Code v2.1.143 — 27 New Env Vars, /goal, Agent View, and a Free Model Upgrade
• claude-code-env-vars-v2-1-210

Related variables

• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_AUTO_MEMORY: Disable automatic memory (MEMORY.md).
• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_ORG_MEMORY: Kill switch for a new organization-scoped memory subsystem.
• CLAUDE_CODE_MEMORY_PUSH_DELETE_MODE: Controls how deletions propagate when memory is pushed upstream — a delete-mode knob for the memory subsystem that gained account- and organization-scoped sync in v2.1.210 (CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_ORG_MEMORY, gate tengu_haze_glass).
• CLAUDE_CODE_REMOTE_MEMORY_DIR: Memory directory for remote sessions.
• CLAUDE_COWORK_MEMORY_INDEX_CONTENT: Content of the CoWork memory index.
• CLAUDE_BG_AUTO_MEMORY_OFF
• CLAUDE_BG_MEMORY_TOGGLED_OFF
• CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_MEMORY_BULK_INFLATE

Frequently asked questions

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.