[FEATURE] Support multiple authenticated accounts / per-project account switching for subscription users
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
Problem:
Claude Code only supports a single authenticated account via OAuth. Developers working across multiple organisations (e.g. personal + work accounts) must constantly log out and log back in when switching projects.
Unlike API key users who can set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY per project, subscription users have no equivalent workflow.
Example
I maintain two projects:
- Personal project (personal subscription)
- Work project (Team subscription)
Switching between them requires re-authentication. Worse, OAuth silently uses the active browser session, making it easy to bill the wrong account without noticing.
Why this matters
This isn’t just inconvenient. it creates real risk:
- Incorrect billing between personal/work accounts
- Potential breaches of employment or client agreements
- Confidential data tied to the wrong organisation
- No visibility when OAuth silently selects the wrong account
Proposed Solution
I'd like to be able to do one of the following:
- Named account profiles:
run claude auth add --profile personal , claude auth add --profile work, then a per-project setting
(.claude/settings.json) that specifies which profile to use. Zero friction once set up.
- Per-project auth override — allow
.claude/settings.jsonor.claude/settings.local.jsonto specify an account/org, prompting login if that account isn't already cached.
- Allow
claude auth switchat minimum, a fast account-switcher that doesn't require a full browser OAuth round-trip each time.
Anyhow - the used account should be accessible to the user with request like claude auth --current_user
Alternative Solutions
_No response_
Priority
High - Significant impact on productivity
Feature Category
CLI commands and flags
Use Case Example
I maintain two projects:
- Personal-project (personal subscription)
- Work-project (Team subscription)
I'm logging in the Personal account and working in that personal-project.
I switch the work-project on a different window/terminal and logging in to my claude Work account.
When switching back to the Personal-account terminal, the account silently switches to the work-account
Critical issue is the silent switch
The current possible solution is a logout/login in the personal account, and another login/logout when switching back to work on the Work project. That's a lot of friction.
Additional Context
_No response_
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