Claude Code asks for approval before running every command
Claude Code requires your permission before it runs any terminal command. Some users find this interrupts their workflow. It is a built-in safety feature, but you can adjust how strict it is.
By default, Claude Code pauses and asks 'May I run this?' before executing commands like installing packages or deleting files. This approval step is there to prevent the AI from accidentally doing something harmful or irreversible without your knowledge.
If the constant prompts slow you down, you can add commonly used safe commands to an allow-list so they run without asking. For riskier actions, keeping the approval step is a good idea — it acts as a last check before something hard to undo happens.
Key points
- Claude Code requests user approval before running any terminal command by default.
- This is a safety guardrail to stop the AI from taking unexpected or destructive actions.
- You can add trusted commands to an allow-list so they run automatically without prompting.
- A --dangerously-skip-permissions flag exists to bypass all approvals, but should be used carefully.
- Tuning the permission level to your workflow balances speed and safety.
Quick term guide
- terminal
- A text-based way to use a computer by typing commands.
- workflow
- A repeatable set of steps for getting a task done.
- packages
- Bundles of outside code that developers add to a project to save time.
- prompts
- Instructions you give to an AI tool.
- prompt
- Text instructions you give to an AI tool.
- allow-list
- A list of commands you pre-approve so Claude can run them without asking each time.
- prompting
- Writing instructions or questions to an AI to get a response.
- Tuning
- Adjusting the parts of an earphone to change how the music sounds.