Claude Code Permission Configurator (2026)

Understanding Claude Code Permissions

Claude Code is an AI-powered coding assistant that operates directly in your terminal, reading files, writing code, and executing shell commands on your behalf. Because it has real access to your filesystem and can run arbitrary commands, permissions are the primary mechanism for controlling what Claude Code can and cannot do during a session. Without proper permission configuration, you are relying entirely on Claude Code's judgment about which actions to take, which introduces unnecessary risk to your codebase, your credentials, and your production systems.

The permission system works on three levels. First, there is the interactive prompt: by default, Claude Code asks you for explicit approval before every tool invocation. Second, there is the allowlist, which lets you pre-approve specific tools and command patterns so Claude Code can use them without interrupting your workflow. Third, there is the deny list, which acts as a hard block on specific actions regardless of what is allowed elsewhere. These three levels combine to give you fine-grained control over Claude Code's behavior, from fully locked down to fully autonomous.

Permissions are configured via .claude/settings.json at the project level or ~/.claude/settings.json globally. Project-level settings override global settings, which means you can maintain strict defaults while relaxing permissions for trusted repositories. The configurator above generates valid settings files, CLI commands, and CLAUDE.md documentation so you can get started immediately.

Permission Modes Explained

Claude Code supports three distinct permission modes, each suited to different workflows and risk tolerances. Choosing the right mode depends on your experience level, the sensitivity of your codebase, and whether a human is present to review actions.

• Default mode prompts for confirmation on every tool use. This is the safest option and the best starting point for new users. You see exactly what Claude Code wants to do before it happens, giving you full visibility and control. The downside is frequent interruptions, which can slow down complex tasks that involve many file edits or command executions.
• Allowlist mode lets you pre-approve specific tools and command patterns. For example, you can allow Read, Glob, and Grep (which are read-only and safe) while keeping confirmation prompts for Bash and Write. You can also scope Bash permissions to specific commands: Bash(npm *) allows all npm commands while still prompting for other shell operations. This mode provides the best balance of productivity and safety for daily development.
• YOLO mode (--dangerously-skip-permissions) disables all permission checks entirely. Claude Code can read, write, delete, and execute without any human approval. This mode exists exclusively for CI/CD pipelines and automated environments where the environment is isolated, ephemeral, and sandboxed. Using YOLO mode in local development is dangerous: Claude Code could delete files, push to production, or run destructive commands without warning.

Building a Safe Permission Configuration

A well-designed permission configuration follows the principle of least privilege: grant only the access Claude Code needs for your specific workflow, and deny everything else by default. Here is a step-by-step approach to building a safe configuration:

1. Start with read-only tools. Allow Read, Glob, and Grep first. These tools cannot modify your filesystem and are safe to auto-approve in any context.
2. Add write tools selectively. If you trust Claude Code to edit files, add Edit (which modifies existing files) before Write (which creates new files). Edit is safer because it requires an existing file to target.
3. Scope Bash carefully. Never allow Bash(*) without deny rules. Instead, allow specific command families: Bash(npm *), Bash(git status), Bash(git diff *), Bash(python *). Keep destructive commands like git push, rm, and sudo behind confirmation prompts.
4. Set deny rules for dangerous patterns. Always deny Bash(rm -rf *), Bash(sudo *), and Bash(git push --force *). Deny rules override allow rules, so they act as a safety net even if your allow patterns are too broad.
5. Test before committing. Run a few sessions with your configuration and review what gets auto-approved versus what triggers prompts. Adjust your patterns based on real usage rather than guessing.

{
  "permissions": {
    "allow": [
      "Read", "Glob", "Grep", "Edit",
      "Bash(npm *)", "Bash(git diff *)", "Bash(git status)"
    ],
    "deny": [
      "Bash(rm -rf *)",
      "Bash(sudo *)",
      "Bash(git push --force *)"
    ]
  }
}

CI/CD Permission Patterns

In continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines, Claude Code runs without a human operator. This requires either --dangerously-skip-permissions or a carefully scoped allowlist that covers every tool the pipeline needs. The safer approach is the allowlist: it provides automation without sacrificing all safety checks.

A typical CI/CD configuration allows Bash commands for build tools (npm *, make *, docker *), file operations (Read, Edit, Write, Glob, Grep), and denies destructive operations. If you must use --dangerously-skip-permissions, ensure your CI environment is ephemeral (containers or VMs that are destroyed after each run), has no access to production credentials, and has network restrictions to prevent unauthorized deployments.

# Safe CI/CD command with scoped permissions
claude --allowedTools "Edit,Write,Read,Glob,Grep,Bash(npm *),Bash(make *)" \
       --deniedTools "Bash(rm -rf *),Bash(sudo *),Bash(git push --force *)" \
       --print "Run the test suite and fix any failures"

Common Questions

Related guides: Claude Code Configuration Guide | Best Practices | Commands Reference