[BUG] Option to hide or minimize the built-in "status footer" (multi-line debug/cost panel) [re-raise of #31475]

Note: This re-raises #31475, which was auto-closed as "not planned" (stale) on 2026-04-04 without resolution. The underlying request still stands, so I'm re-opening it as a fresh issue. Original report follows.

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been resolved 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?

There's a persistent – but not very useful – notice at the bottom of the TUI. Could you add a setting/flag to suppress or minimize the built-in status footer?

Right now it occupies five terminal lines and shows what looks like debug/telemetry-style fields (e.g., total cost, durations, lines added/removed). This reduces usable vertical space and is distracting during normal use, demos, and screen recordings.

I’m also using a custom statusLine command via ~/.claude/settings.json, but this footer remains visible and appears not user-configurable.

What I’m referring to

The bottom panel that renders something like:

• model indicator (e.g. [Sonnet])
• JSON-ish fields like total_cost_usd, total_duration_ms, total_lines_added/removed
• additional status (e.g. “accept edits on …”)

Additional problems when a custom statusLine is configured

• Forced multi-line layout. When a custom statusLine command is set via ~/.claude/settings.json, the layout is forced into (at least) two lines: my custom status line plus the built-in footer rendered below it. There is no way to collapse this to a single line, even though my custom status line already contains everything I want to see. Hiding/minimizing the built-in footer would let a single-line custom statusLine actually render as one line.
• Layout shift on Ctrl+C. When I press Ctrl+C to clear the current prompt input, both the status line and the footer disappear and are replaced by a Press Ctrl+C again to exit message. Because that bottom area changes height, the input text box jumps to a different position (a content layout shift / CLS), which is jarring during normal editing. A footer that can be disabled (or kept at a stable height) would avoid this jump.

Expected

A way to disable the footer entirely, or switch it to a minimal mode (e.g., single-line), via:

• ~/.claude/settings.json (preferred), and/or
• CLI flag (e.g. --no-status-footer), and/or
• env var (e.g. CLAUDE_CODE_STATUS_FOOTER=0)

Actual

Footer is always displayed and (as far as I can tell) cannot be suppressed via settings.json or the custom statusLine feature.

Why this matters

• Consumes 4–6 lines of vertical space in smaller terminals
• Adds cognitive noise (“esoteric” stats) during normal development
• Can reveal cost/usage metrics in streams/screen shares unintentionally
• Users who already configure a custom status line likely want full control over terminal chrome

Suggested implementation (one option)

Add a setting like:

{
  "ui": {
    "statusFooter": "off" // or: "minimal" | "debug"
  }
}

Or similar (statusFooter: false, etc.). Even “minimal vs debug” would be a big improvement.

Clarification: not the “Show PR status footer” setting

This request is not about the Config menu option “Show PR status footer”. Toggling “Show PR status footer” does not remove the multi-line status/debug footer shown in the screenshot.

In other words:

“Show PR status footer” appears to control PR-related UI only.

The always-on multi-line footer (cost/duration/lines-changed style metrics) seems to be a separate built-in UI element and currently has no user-facing toggle.

Thanks for considering—happy to test a preview build or provide more details if helpful.

What Should Happen?

• Users can turn off the built-in multi-line status footer entirely, so the terminal uses the full screen for the conversation/output.
• Alternatively (or additionally), users can switch the footer to a minimal/single-line mode that only shows high-signal info (e.g., model + brief state), without the JSON-like cost/duration/LOC counters.
• The setting should be configurable via ~/.claude/settings.json and/or a CLI flag/env var, and it should work even when statusLine is customized.
• A custom statusLine should be able to render as a single line, without the built-in footer forcing an extra line below it.
• The bottom area should not change height when clearing the prompt with Ctrl+C, so the input box doesn't shift position (no content layout shift).
• The JSON payload passed to the custom statusLine command should include the current mode (e.g. normal / acceptEdits / plan). Today the mode (e.g. “accept edits on”) is only surfaced in the built-in footer, so anyone who hides the footer loses that signal. Exposing the mode to statusLine would let users render it themselves and fully replace the footer with a custom single-line status.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open a terminal with a modest height (e.g., ~30–40 rows) to make the impact obvious.
2. Run Claude Code (e.g., claude).
3. Start or continue any session and let it produce output (ask any question or run any command).
4. Observe the bottom of the UI: a multi-line “status footer” appears and stays visible, showing cost/duration/lines-changed style fields.
5. (Optional) Configure a custom status line in ~/.claude/settings.json, restart Claude Code, and observe that the built-in footer still appears and cannot be suppressed.

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Ubuntu/Debian Linux

Terminal/Shell

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Additional Information

Re-raising #31475 (closed as not planned / stale). Original author: @powyncify.