[FEATURE] Session titles should be user-locked and never auto-updated
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 a user explicitly names a session topic at the start of a
conversation, Claude Code auto-updates that title as the conversation
evolves, overwriting the user's intent with whatever the AI thinks
the session is currently "about."
This makes past sessions impossible to find by topic. A session
named "WIP Report Rebuild" gets renamed to something like "Email
Formatting" if that sub-topic comes up late in the conversation.
The original topic — the one the user cared about — is lost.
Proposed Solution
If a user explicitly sets or types a session title, that title is
locked and never auto-updated. Auto-titling should only apply to
sessions where the user has never set a title manually.
This should be the default behavior, with opt-in auto-titling
for users who prefer it — not the other way around.
Alternative Solutions
A simple lock icon next to the session title that the user can
click to freeze it. Or a setting in settings.json:
"autoUpdateSessionTitles": false
Priority
High - Significant impact on productivity
Feature Category
CLI commands and flags
Use Case Example
_No response_
Additional Context
A simple workaround would be a settings.json option:
"autoUpdateSessionTitles": false
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