[DOCS] New `manual` permission mode value accepted by `--permission-mode` and `defaultMode` is not documented in `permission-modes.md`, `cli-reference.md`, or `settings.md`

Documentation Type

Missing documentation (feature not documented)

Documentation Location

https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes

Section/Topic

The "Available modes" table and the "Switch permission modes" section of permission-modes.md. Also the --permission-mode row in cli-reference.md and the defaultMode row in settings.md.

Current Documentation

permission-modes.md lists exactly six mode values in its "Available modes" table:

| Mode | What runs without asking | Best for | | :------------------------------------------------------------------ | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------- | | default | Reads only | Getting started, sensitive work | | [acceptEdits](#auto-approve-file-edits-with-acceptedits-mode) | Reads, file edits, and common filesystem commands (mkdir, touch, mv, cp, etc.) | Iterating on code you're reviewing | | [plan](#analyze-before-you-edit-with-plan-mode) | Reads only | Exploring a codebase before changing it | | [auto](#eliminate-prompts-with-auto-mode) | Everything, with background safety checks | Long tasks, reducing prompt fatigue | | [dontAsk](#allow-only-pre-approved-tools-with-dontask-mode) | Only pre-approved tools | Locked-down CI and scripts | | [bypassPermissions](#skip-all-checks-with-bypasspermissions-mode) | Everything | Isolated containers and VMs only |

cli-reference.md:100 says --permission-mode accepts only those six values:

Begin in a specified permission mode. Accepts default, acceptEdits, plan, auto, dontAsk, or bypassPermissions. Overrides defaultMode from settings files

settings.md:354 similarly enumerates only those six values for the defaultMode setting:

Default permission mode when opening Claude Code. Valid values: default, acceptEdits, plan, auto, dontAsk, bypassPermissions.

What's Wrong or Missing?

A. v2.1.200 added manual as an accepted value everywhere

The v2.1.200 changelog says:

Changed the "default" permission mode to "Manual" across the CLI, --help, VS Code, and JetBrains; --permission-mode manual and "defaultMode": "manual" are accepted alongside default

manual is now a valid value for --permission-mode, "defaultMode", claudeCode.initialPermissionMode (VS Code), and the JetBrains permission mode. The release explicitly says it is accepted "alongside default", meaning manual is a new distinct mode, not a rename of the existing default value.

B. None of the reference pages list manual in the modes table

The "Available modes" table in permission-modes.md lists only default, acceptEdits, plan, auto, dontAsk, bypassPermissions. There is no row for manual and no explanation that it is the new display name for what users previously called the "default" behavior. The "Switch permission modes" section, the Shift+Tab cycle, and the VS Code UI-label table also omit manual.

C. --permission-mode and defaultMode value lists are out of date

cli-reference.md:100 lists the accepted values for --permission-mode and excludes manual. settings.md:354 lists the valid values for defaultMode and excludes manual. A user who tries claude --permission-mode manual or "defaultMode": "manual" per the changelog will find no documentation telling them those values are valid.

Suggested Improvement

Option A: Add a manual row to the "Available modes" table

Add a new row matching the existing layout:

| manual | Reads only (same prompt behavior as default; new display name in v2.1.200) | Day-to-day coding where you want to review every action |

Then add a sentence under the table noting that manual is the new label shown in the CLI, --help, VS Code, and JetBrains, that --permission-mode manual and "defaultMode": "manual" are accepted everywhere default was accepted before, and that the underlying prompt behavior is unchanged.

Option B: Minimum fix

Update the value lists in cli-reference.md:100 and settings.md:354 to include manual after default, and add a one-paragraph note in permission-modes.md saying that v2.1.200 renames the CLI/UI display of the default mode to Manual and that --permission-mode manual and "defaultMode": "manual" are accepted as aliases.

Impact

Medium - Makes feature difficult to understand

Additional Context

Affected Pages:
| Page | Line(s) | Context |
|------|---------|---------|
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes | 13-19 | "Available modes" table — no manual row |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes | 34-50 | "Switch permission modes" / Shift+Tab cycle — no manual mention |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes | 58-78 | VS Code UI label table — labels default as "Ask before edits", no manual |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/cli-reference | 100 | --permission-mode value list excludes manual |
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/settings | 354 | defaultMode valid values list excludes manual |

Total scope: 2 distinct pages with concrete value-list mismatches; 1 page with the modes table to extend.

The release note for this change appears in v2.1.200 (July 3, 2026).