Claude Code intermediate

Choose the Right Permission Mode for Your Task

Claude Code has multiple permission modes, from fully manual approval to YOLO mode. Pick the right one based on trust level and task complexity.

March 16, 2026

Claude Code supports different permission modes that control how much autonomy Claude has:

Permission Modes

claude                              # Default: asks before writes
claude --dangerously-skip-permissions  # YOLO mode: no confirmations
claude --allowedTools "Read,Glob,Grep"  # Only allow specific tools

When to Use Each

Default mode - Most of the time. Claude asks before editing files, running commands, etc.

Restricted tools - When you want Claude to only research, not modify. Great for code exploration:

claude --allowedTools "Read,Glob,Grep,Bash(git log*)"

Skip permissions - Only for disposable environments like CI, Docker containers, or throwaway worktrees where nothing matters if it breaks.

Per-Tool Permissions

You can also allow specific tools with glob patterns:

claude --allowedTools "Edit,Write,Bash(npm test*),Bash(npm run lint*)"

This lets Claude edit files and run tests/lint, but blocks any other bash commands.

Paste into Claude Code

What permission mode am I currently running in? Explain what each mode does and suggest the best one for what we're working on.