`large-memory-files` warning (new in 2.1.281) can't be dismissed or configured
Status Open
Reported on v2.1.281
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 1 comment · opened Sep 23, 2026
What happened
After updating to Claude Code 2.1.281, every session now starts with this warning:
‼ 9 instruction files add up to 192.2k chars, over the 150.0k-char total limit · largest: .claude\rules\08-work-execution.md (59.2k), .claude\rules\09-review-execution.md (46.3k), .claude\rules\03-startup.md (30.1k) · /memory to free up context
This is new in 2.1.281. The same project on 2.1.278 and 2.1.280 showed no warning, and the rules files haven't grown; they were larger in the previous framework release. The public CHANGELOG doesn't mention the change.
Why this is a problem
- It's deliberate. These are rules files that a process framework ships into
.claude/rules/. Their size is on purpose, and they load and work fine: nothing was truncated. The warning tells me about something I chose and can't act on. - It can't be turned off. I found no setting, environment variable, dismissal, or view limit. It appears every session for as long as the total is over the limit.
- The only workaround breaks things.
claudeMdExcludesclears the warning only by not loading the files at all, which defeats the reason they're there. - The limit seems arbitrary. On a 1M-context model, ~192k characters is a small share of the window. The 150k figure isn't documented, and I can't raise it.
Requests
- Make the notice dismissible: per project, per total size, or after N showings.
- Add a setting to raise the threshold or turn the notice off. Something like
instructionFilesWarning: falseor a configurable char limit. - Document the limit and how it's calculated, and add the change to the CHANGELOG.
Environment
- Claude Code 2.1.281 (native install)
- Windows 11 Pro
- Model: Opus 5.5, 1M context
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