Feature request: /cd command to change working directory mid-session

Resolved 💬 3 comments Opened Jan 29, 2026 by lucidash Closed Feb 1, 2026

Problem

Currently, Claude Code sessions are tied to the directory where they were started. When working with git worktrees or multiple related projects, users need to:

  1. Exit the current Claude Code session (Ctrl+C)
  2. Change directory to the new location
  3. Start a new Claude Code session

This workflow interrupts the conversation context and requires manual re-orientation in the new directory.

Proposed Solution

Add a /cd (or /chdir) slash command that changes the working directory mid-session:

/cd ../my-project-feature-branch
/cd /absolute/path/to/directory

Use Case: Git Worktrees

This is especially useful for git worktree workflows:

~/projects/my-app/                    # main worktree (master)
~/projects/my-app-feature-xyz/        # feature worktree
~/projects/my-app-bugfix-123/         # bugfix worktree

Users often need to:

  • Review a PR in one worktree
  • Switch to another worktree to continue different work
  • Compare implementations across worktrees

Currently, each switch requires restarting Claude Code entirely.

Expected Behavior

user: /cd ../my-app-feature-xyz

Claude: Working directory changed to /Users/me/projects/my-app-feature-xyz
        
        This directory contains:
        - Branch: feature/xyz
        - 3 uncommitted changes
        - PR #123 (open)

Alternatives Considered

  • --add-dir flag: Allows access to multiple directories but doesn't change the primary working directory
  • Session resume: Doesn't help when switching between unrelated directories/worktrees

Additional Context

  • Sessions could optionally persist history when changing directories
  • The command could show a brief summary of the new directory (git status, branch info)
  • Could integrate with existing worktree tooling

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