[Feature Request] Rename defaultMode "default" option to "manual" for clarity
Status Open
Reported on v2.1.245
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 0 comments · opened Sep 20, 2026
Bug Description
This defaultMode is not providing a good UX - the default value should not be "default" if that is not the default value. A "default" string is not a good name for any option - it should be in this case simply "manual". Also the email you sent was indeed badly phrased.
Environment Info
- Platform: linux
- Terminal: tmux
- Version: 2.1.245
- Feedback ID: 05ac9474-c82d-44f2-ad0c-023ed83a3d3a
Here's the email that I got:
Hello, On September 25, new Claude Code sessions for users in your organization will start in auto mode by default. We're also no longer charging Claude Platform users for auto mode classifier overhead in Claude Code. This is rolling out gradually, and will be effective on all Claude Code surfaces by September 25. Gears How it How auto mode works works In auto mode, a classifier reviews each tool call before it runs — actions identified as safe proceed automatically, while ones flagged as risky are blocked — so Claude can work longer without interruption. If you've already set defaultMode in managed settings, we’ll keep following it and nothing changes for your users. Users can still switch modes in any session with Shift+Tab. Users will need to be on the latest version of the Claude Code CLI, VS Code extension, or Claude desktop app for these changes to take effect; auto mode classifier overhead will still be charged in earlier versions. Why we're making this change In our testing, we found that manual permissions reviews place a significant burden on users to catch risky or destructive actions. We’ve invested in making auto mode a safer way to address permissions fatigue, and after internal red‑teaming, third‑party penetration testing, and analysis of production sessions, auto mode matches or beats manual review on every safety measure we track. Auto mode also makes long-running work more viable. We see measured productivity benefits from this: among Team and Enterprise users, auto mode users ship ~25% more PRs. Read more about why we’re making the change and the supporting data in the blog post. If you’d like to set a different default for your org: In your users’ Claude Code settings, add: “defaultMode”: “default” Or disable auto mode for your org: “disableAutoMode”: “disable”