[CRITICAL] Claude has deliberately deleted a detailed specification file
Status Fixed / completed
Maintainer reply ✓ Yes — wolffiex
Activity 6 comments · opened Sep 17, 2025 · closed Sep 17, 2025
💡 Likely answer: A maintainer (wolffiex, collaborator)
responded on this thread — see the highlighted reply below.
Preflight Checklist
- [x] I have searched existing issues for similar behavior reports
- [x] This report does NOT contain sensitive information (API keys, passwords, etc.)
Type of Behavior Issue
Claude modified files I didn't ask it to modify
What You Asked Claude to Do
No prompt, Claude independently deleted a file that it knew contained the detailed specifications that it was working from. It suddenly claimed no knowledge of it, and I found out that the file had been deleted.
What Claude Actually Did
Independently and without authorisation or necessity deleted a very important specification file.
Expected Behavior
Leave the files alone.
Files Affected
A detailed specification md file containing detailed specification and instructions for new features to be added to the codebase. This was the only copy of the file, it will take me a long time to recreate and I do not have the mental strength at the moment, it is another hammer blow from Claude at a time when I am really struggling.Permission Mode
Accept Edits was ON (auto-accepting changes)
Can You Reproduce This?
No, only happened once
Steps to Reproduce
_No response_
Claude Model
Opus
Relevant Conversation
Impact
Critical - Data loss or corrupted project
Claude Code Version
Claude Code v1.0.117
Platform
Anthropic API
Additional Context
_No response_
6 Comments
Found 3 possible duplicate issues:
This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.
🤖 Generated with Claude Code
you git and commit often
I do, very often. Claude did this straight after a commit, just after the spec had been given to it, before any meaningful changes had been made to the code so no reason to commit. Also the file was not in the code directory!
Sorry but it will be hard to action this report without a repro
⚠️ CRITICAL: This issue represents a serious data loss bug that should not be closed without thorough investigation and resolution.
Unprompted file deletion is one of the most severe bugs possible in a development tool. Even with 'Accept Edits ON', Claude should NEVER delete files without explicit user instruction to do so. The fact that this deleted an important specification file (the only copy) represents:
This needs immediate attention from the development team. Auto-accept should apply to edits within files, not wholesale deletion of files without user consent. Please reopen and investigate this as a P0 security/data loss issue.
This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.