/model command is global, not per-session
Resolved 💬 2 comments Opened Feb 22, 2026 by invidious9000 Closed Feb 22, 2026
Description
The /model command changes the model for all running sessions, not just the current one. When you run /model in one terminal window, the change propagates to other Claude Code sessions within 1-2 seconds.
Root cause
/model writes to ~/.claude/settings.json, which is a global settings file. All sessions read from this file, so a model change in one session is picked up by all others.
{
"model": "opus",
"skipDangerousModePermissionPrompt": true
}
Expected behavior
/model should be per-session. The global settings file should serve as the default, but changing the model in one session should not affect other running sessions.
Steps to reproduce
- Open two separate terminal windows (not tmux panes — independent processes)
- Run
claudein both - In window A, run
/modeland switch to a different model (e.g., haiku) - Observe window B — within 1-2 seconds, it also switches to haiku
Workaround
Launch with claude --model <model> to override per-session without writing to the settings file.
Environment
- Claude Code (CLI)
- Linux (Manjaro)
- Two independent Konsole windows
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