Claude Code Settings Model

Claude Code Settings: Model

These keys choose the model that Claude Code uses and how hard it thinks. Administrators also use them to allow or block models. For example, { "model": "opus", "effortLevel": "high" } starts each session on Opus at high effort.

The marks and the scopes are explained on Settings. A - in the Default column means that neither the docs nor the schema state a default.

Mark	Key	Type	Default	What It Is For	Scope	Source
✅	advisorModel	string	-	Pick which model answers when Claude asks the advisor tool.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	alwaysThinkingEnabled	boolean	-	Turn extended thinking off for every session.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	availableModels	array of string	-	Restrict which models people can pick. Accepts family aliases (opus), version prefixes (opus-4-5), and full model IDs. An empty array leaves only the default model.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	availableModelsMatch	enum: prefix, exact	-	Make each availableModels model ID entry permit only the version it names. prefix is the default. exact stops an entry from allowing other versions.	Managed	Settings Reference
✅	deniedModels	array of string	-	Block specific models, even ones availableModels permits. A family alias blocks the family. Claude Code does not start if no allowed model is left for Default.	Managed	Settings Reference
✅	effortLevel	enum: low, medium, high, xhigh	-	Set a default effort level for models without a saved level of their own. Saved for supported models.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	enforceAvailableModels	boolean	-	Keep the /model Default choice inside your availableModels allowlist. Has no effect when availableModels is unset or empty.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	fallbackModel	array of string	-	Name backup models for when the primary is overloaded. Models are tried in order. The --fallback-model flag wins. default expands to the default model.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	fastMode	boolean	-	Turn fast mode on for sessions where it's available.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	fastModePerSessionOptIn	boolean	-	Require people to turn fast mode on each session. Each session starts with fast mode off.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	maxEffortLevel	string	-	Cap the effort level for every model or per model, on every provider. The lowest value across files wins. An effort set through CLAUDE_CODE_EXTRA_BODY is not clamped.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	model	string	-	Change the model Claude Code starts with.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	modelOverrides	object	-	Map model IDs to your provider's IDs, such as Bedrock ARNs. Usually set in managed settings.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	modelPicker	object	-	Choose which models the /model picker lists, in your own order and with your own labels. Read only from managed, --settings, and user settings. The first source that sets it wins whole.	User, managed	Settings Reference
✅	modelPricing	object	-	Report spend at your organization's contracted rates instead of list price. overrides maps a model ID to USD rates per million tokens. The figures stay estimates.	Managed	Settings Reference
✅	modelSettings	-	-	Keep a saved effort level or auto-compact window per model, or cap one model's effort.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	promptCacheTtl	string	-	Choose the prompt cache lifetime for the main conversation. 5m or 1h. Unset is 1 hour on a subscription and 5 minutes on an API key or cloud provider. CLAUDE_CODE_PROMPT_CACHE_TTL wins.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	showThinkingSummaries	boolean	-	See summaries of Claude's thinking instead of a collapsed stub.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	subagentPromptCacheTtl	string	-	Choose the prompt cache lifetime for subagent requests. 5m or 1h. Unset is 5 minutes unless ENABLE_PROMPT_CACHING_1H=1. CLAUDE_CODE_SUBAGENT_PROMPT_CACHE_TTL wins.	Any file	Settings Reference
✅	switchModelsOnFlag	boolean	-	Switch models automatically or pause when a safety classifier flags a request.	Any file	Settings Reference
🔍	totalTokensReminder	enum: off, infinite, fixed, countdown, padded-countdown	padded-countdown	Add a "tokens left" reminder to the system prompt and after each tool result. Modes: off, infinite, fixed, countdown, padded-countdown. CLAUDE_CODE_TOTAL_TOKENS_REMINDER wins.	Settings files	Bundle settings schema
🔍	totalTokensReminderAfterUserTurn	boolean	On	Repeat the "tokens left" reminder after each user prompt. When off, it shows only in the system prompt and after tool results. CLAUDE_CODE_TOTAL_TOKENS_REMINDER_AFTER_USER_TURN wins.	Settings files	Bundle settings schema
🔍	totalTokensReminderBudget	integer	15000000	Set the starting token budget of padded-countdown. CLAUDE_CODE_TOTAL_TOKENS_REMINDER_BUDGET wins.	Settings files	Bundle settings schema

See Also

• Settings explains the marks, the scopes, and the precedence.
• Settings Reference is the docs page for each key.
• Model Configuration explains aliases and effort.
• Models And API lists the models.