[BUG] Setting Model to claude-opus-4-8[1m] in VS Code Plugin Doesn't Save to Settings
What's Wrong?
When using /model claude-opus-4-8[1m] in the VS Code Claude Code extension and pressing enter afterwards, it explicitly says its only saving for that session (and does so). However, per the docs it's supposed to save as a default to user settings.json . But I ran this command many times and my user settings.json remains with the default opus[1m] as its model. Screenshot here shows the UI even telling me it saves for this session only, contrary to documented behavior:
<img width="586" height="249" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/602cf03f-3a2a-4e3b-95b2-b79476d60b9c" />
What Should Happen?
Per the documentation, when running /model with a full model ID that is valid such as claude-opus-4-8[1m] followed by pressing enter, it should should apply it for that session and also apply it as a default going forward to the user's settings.json.
Note this only seems to be an issue in the VS Code plugin; regular Claude Code CLI does indeed apply it as a default like it should.
Steps to Reproduce
- Have user settings.json "model" set to something like "opus[1m]".
- Open VS Code, open Claude Code extension, run
/model claude-opus-4-8[1m] - See that the output says its only saving for the current session. Additionally, open settings.json and verify the "model" setting has not been modified.
Claude Model
Opus
Is this a regression?
I don't know
Claude Code Version
2.1.239 (VS Code plugin)
Platform
Anthropic API
Operating System
Windows
Terminal/Shell
Other (VS Code extension)