[FEATURE] Setting to disable collapsed read/search groups and show individual file names

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
• [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

Recent versions of Claude Code introduced collapsed read/search groups that display summaries like "Reading 3 files…" or "Read 5 files" instead of showing individual file paths. While this reduces terminal noise, it removes important visibility into Claude's file access behavior.

My primary use case: When Claude is exploring a codebase or gathering context, I need to see which files it's reading in real-time so I can interrupt (Ctrl+C or Escape) if it starts going in the wrong direction. For example:

• Claude might start reading files in a legacy directory I don't want it to reference
• Claude might be pulling context from test fixtures instead of actual implementation
• Claude might be reading vendored/third-party code when I want it to focus on my source code

With the current collapsed view, by the time I see "Read 15 files", Claude has already consumed context I didn't want, and I've wasted tokens and potentially received suggestions based on irrelevant code.

Additional Use Cases

1. Debugging context issues: When Claude gives an unexpected response, seeing exactly which files it read helps diagnose whether it pulled context from the wrong sources.

1. Learning codebase navigation: New team members using Claude Code benefit from seeing how Claude traverses a project structure—it helps them understand the codebase architecture.

1. Token budget awareness: Knowing exactly which files are being read helps users make informed decisions about context consumption, especially on usage-limited plans.

1. Security/compliance auditing: In sensitive projects, developers may need to verify Claude isn't accessing files containing secrets, credentials, or sensitive business logic that shouldn't be in AI context.

1. Verifying .gitignore/permission rules: When setting up permissions.deny rules, seeing individual file names confirms the rules are working as expected.

1. Large monorepo navigation: In monorepos with multiple apps/packages, it's crucial to see if Claude is staying within the intended package or wandering into unrelated code.

Proposed Solution

Add a setting in settings.json to control read/search output verbosity:

{
  "display": {
    "collapsedReadGroups": false
  }
}

Or alternatively, a more granular approach:

{
  "display": {
    "toolOutputStyle": "expanded"  // "collapsed" | "expanded" | "verbose"
  }
}

Where:

• collapsed (default): Current behavior - "Read 5 files"
• expanded: Shows each file path as it's read, one line per file
• verbose: Full Ctrl+O style output with parameters and line counts

Alternatives Considered

1. Using Ctrl+O toggle: This works but requires manual intervention each session and shows retrospective information rather than real-time file access.

1. Using --verbose flag: This outputs too much information (token counts, timing, etc.) when I only need file paths.

1. Hooks: Could potentially use PreToolUse hooks to log Read operations, but this is complex overhead for what should be a simple display preference.

Environment

• Platform: macOS
• Claude CLI version: 2.1.20 (Claude Code)
• Terminal: bash

Priority

High - Significant impact on productivity

Feature Category

Interactive mode (TUI)

Use Case Example

_No response_

Additional Context

This was the default behavior in earlier versions of Claude Code, so this request is essentially asking for a way to opt back into the previous UX for users who preferred it.

The collapsed view is a reasonable default for most users, but power users who need tighter control over Claude's context gathering would benefit from the option to see individual file operations.