Managed settings
Organization-wide settings that users cannot override. See what it is, how it works, how it is used and what to watch for, with pictures and examples.
What it is
Managed settings are rules an organization puts on every it runs. An IT or team writes them once, in the same shape as settings.json, and delivers them to every machine. They sit at the very top of the settings order, so a user's own files, a project file or the --settings flag cannot change a managed key. Companies use them to block risky actions, such as reading .env files, or to turn off bypass mode for everyone at once.
How it works
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Admin writes the policy as JSON
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Deliver it from console or file
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Claude Code applies it everywhere
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Check the source with /status
How to use it
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managed-settings.jsona file placed in a system folder, such as
/etc/claude-code/on or/Library/Application Support/ClaudeCode/on . -
Organization settings > Claude Code > Managed settingsthe claude.ai admin page where an Owner of a Team or Enterprise plan pastes the JSON. Claude Code fetches it from 's at startup and refreshes it every hour.
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allowManagedPermissionRulesOnlya key from managed settings. With it, Claude Code ignores rules from user, project and files.
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/statusthe
Setting sourcesline shows which managed source applies, for example(remote)for the console or(file)for the system file.
Watch out
Managed settings are a control inside the Claude Code , not a hard wall. On a device without MDM, a user can get around them, for example by running a modified or very old Claude Code. A managed model is only a starting default, so use availableModels when you want to limit which people can pick.
Related terms
Original and official docs
This page explains the term in plain words. The original is the authority: if they differ, follow the original.
- See this term in the originalClaude Code Docs — Glossary Anthropic · checked 2026-10-19
- Anthropic — Claude Code docs: Configure server-managed settings(opens in a new window)
- Anthropic — Claude Code docs: Deploy managed settings — Deploy a managed settings file(opens in a new window)
- Anthropic — Claude Code docs: Settings files and precedence — Settings precedence(opens in a new window)
- Anthropic — Claude Code docs: Configure server-managed settings — Security considerations(opens in a new window)