CLAUDE_CODE_HOST_CREDS_FILE

Updated October 23, 2026 by Alex Sorokoletov

CLAUDE_CODE_HOST_CREDS_FILE is a Claude Code environment variable. Added between v2.1.143 and v2.1.212 and still present in v2.1.310. It is not in the official reference.

Status	Present in v2.1.310
Added	Added between v2.1.143 and v2.1.212
Category	Other
Official docs	Not listed

How to set it

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

export CLAUDE_CODE_HOST_CREDS_FILE=<value>
claude

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

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

Related variables

CLAUDE_CLIENT_PRESENCE_FILE
CLAUDE_CODE_DIAGNOSTICS_FILE: Path to write diagnostics output.
CLAUDE_CODE_FILE_READ_MAX_PDF_PAGES_PER_MESSAGE: Caps how many PDF pages the Read tool loads within a single message.
CLAUDE_CODE_FILE_READ_MAX_PDF_PAGES_PER_TURN: Caps the running total of PDF pages the Read tool loads across a turn, working with the per-message cap above.
CLAUDE_CODE_HOST_PLATFORM: Override platform detection: win32, darwin, linux.
CLAUDE_CODE_WORKSPACE_HOST_PATHS: Specifies host-side filesystem paths that should be mapped or accessible within a workspace context.
CLAUDE_ENV_FILE: Path to environment file for session variables.
CLAUDE_AI_HOST

Frequently asked questions

Which Claude Code version has CLAUDE_CODE_HOST_CREDS_FILE?

Added between v2.1.143 and v2.1.212 and still present in v2.1.310.

How do I set CLAUDE_CODE_HOST_CREDS_FILE?

Export it before starting Claude Code (export CLAUDE_CODE_HOST_CREDS_FILE=value), or add it to the "env" object in ~/.claude/settings.json to apply it to every session.

All variables, searchable: Claude Code environment variables.