Feature Request: Add defaultSessionColor setting to auto-apply color on startup
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
When starting Claude Code sessions, I need to manually run /color green each time to apply my preferred session color. This is a repetitive friction point in my workflow. There's no way to set a persistent default session color across all sessions, so I have to remember to run the command at the start of every session or accept the default color. This is especially frustrating in projects where I use session color as a visual indicator (e.g., green for production work, red for experimental work).
Proposed Solution
Add a defaultSessionColor setting to Claude Code's configuration files (.claude/settings.json, .claude/settings.local.json, or ~/.claude/settings.json) that automatically applies a color when a session starts.
Example:
{
"defaultSessionColor": "green"
}
The session color would apply automatically without requiring a manual /color command. The user should still be able to override it with /color during the session if needed.
Alternative Solutions
_No response_
Priority
Medium - Would be very helpful
Feature Category
Configuration and settings
Use Case Example
I'm working on the calendar-simple library project. I want all my sessions in this project to start with a green color to visually distinguish them from other projects (which might use different colors).
Current workflow:
- Start Claude Code session
- Type /color green manually
- Begin work
Desired workflow:
- Start Claude Code session (automatically green)
- Begin work
This saves a small repetitive step and reduces mental overhead, especially useful when switching between multiple projects with different color schemes.
Additional Context
- The /color command already exists and works perfectly; this would simply automate it on session start
- Similar to how other settings like model, theme, and language have defaults that apply automatically
- This aligns with Claude Code's philosophy of reducing friction through configuration
- Could support: "defaultSessionColor": "green" or potentially null/undefined to disable auto-coloring
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