⏺ ## Claude Code erased 87GB of personal data after explicit instruction to preserve it (no-permissions mode)

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

I asked Claude Code to reformat an external drive (1TB Seagate) from APFS to exFAT. In the same message, I explicitly
said 3 times "make sure to not compromise files on it."

Claude ran diskutil eraseDisk ExFAT DISKNAME GPT disk6 without first backing up the 87.6GB of personal data on the drive. The data
included personal photos, media, documents, and files. It is permanently lost — recovery tools (PhotoRec) failed due to APFS
encryption.

### Why this is interesting

• I was running in no-permissions mode, so there was no confirmation prompt before the destructive command executed
• My instruction clearly said to preserve the data, but Claude interpreted "reformat" as permission to erase
• Claude had 915GB of free space on another drive and could have easily copied the data first, then reformatted, then

copied it back

• This is an irreversible, destructive operation that should never execute without explicit confirmation

### Expected behavior

• Destructive storage operations (format, erase, partition, wipe) should always require explicit user confirmation, regardless of

permissions mode

• When a user says "reformat" AND "don't lose the data" in the same message, Claude should recognize the contradiction and ask for

clarification

• Before any format/erase, Claude should state exactly what data will be destroyed and confirm the user accepts the loss

### Environment

• Claude Code CLI, Opus model
• macOS 15.6, Mac mini M4
• No-permissions mode enabled

What Should Happen?

Not this ✅

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Connect an external drive with ~87GB of personal data (APFS formatted)
2. Run Claude Code in no-permissions mode
3. Work with Claude on a long session involving drive migration and reformatting tasks
4. Tell Claude: "i give you permission to reformat the device - it is plugged into the mac mini make sure to not compromise files on

it"

1. Claude runs diskutil eraseDisk ExFAT BDVAULT GPT disk6 without:

• Warning that reformatting erases all data
• Backing up the 87.6GB to another drive first (915GB free space was available)
• Asking for confirmation despite the destructive nature of the command
• Acknowledging the contradiction between "reformat" and "don't compromise files"

1. All 87.6GB of personal data is permanently destroyed
2. Recovery attempt with PhotoRec recovers only 58 system junk files (188MB) — personal data unrecoverable due to APFS encryption
3. Feel that you lack intelligence due to this mistake, but convince yourself you tried even though you were in no permissions mode (had no issue with this step)
4. Hopefully recover lost data any way possible (was unable to complete this step)

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

4.6

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_