CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_BACKGROUND_PLUGIN_REFRESH

Updated October 23, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_BACKGROUND_PLUGIN_REFRESH is a Claude Code environment variable: Enables automatic background plugin refresh when the runtime detects updates are needed. Without this, refresh is synchronous and delays session startup. Added between v2.1.108 and v2.1.114 and still present in v2.1.310. It is listed in the official reference.

How to set it

For one session, export it in the shell that starts Claude Code:

export CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_BACKGROUND_PLUGIN_REFRESH=<value>
claude

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

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

Release notes that mention it

• Claude Code v2.1.114 — Native Binary Launcher, /fewer-permission-prompts, and 20 New Environment Variables

Related variables

• CLAUDE_CODE_DESKTOP_SKILLS_PLUGIN_DIR: Holds a directory path the desktop app passes for its skills plugin; the client reads it into the desktop-skills plugin directory, then clears it from the environment.
• CLAUDE_CODE_PLUGIN_CACHE_DIR: Local cache directory for downloaded plugins.
• CLAUDE_CODE_PLUGIN_DIR_WATCH
• CLAUDE_CODE_PLUGIN_DIRS
• CLAUDE_CODE_PLUGIN_KEEP_MARKETPLACE_ON_FAILURE: Preserves the local marketplace plugin cache when git pull fails.
• CLAUDE_CODE_PLUGIN_PREFER_HTTPS: Force HTTPS for plugin source resolution.
• CLAUDE_CODE_PLUGIN_SEED_DIR: Seed directory for pre-installed plugins.
• CLAUDE_CODE_PLUGIN_USE_ZIP_CACHE: Use zip-based caching instead of git.

Frequently asked questions

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.