Claude Code Now Lets You Change Settings Inline With /config

Claude Code v2.1.181 shipped on June 17. The thing that stands out in this release is the /config key=value syntax. Instead of opening a separate settings menu, you can now type a single line into the prompt to change a setting on the spot.

Change It From the Prompt, No Menu Needed

Until now, changing a setting meant typing /config, dropping into the menu screen, finding the item, and toggling it. Now you just write the key and the value directly.

/config thinking=false

Per the official changelog, typing this turns thinking off without going through the menu. Any setting can be specified the same way, in key=value form.

Works in Interactive, Pipe, and Remote

This syntax works not just in the regular chat (interactive) view, but also in -p pipe mode and in Remote Control. That means when you call Claude Code from a shell script or an automation pipeline, you can give each call a different setting.

It's handy for things like turning thinking off only for a specific task, or flipping another option just for that run. When you had to go through the menu, changing a setting in a non-interactive environment was a pain — and that's the part this fixes.

Other Changes in the Same Release

v2.1.181 also bundles a few improvements you'll actually feel day to day. Here's what's listed in the official changelog.

• Streaming was improved so long paragraphs print line by line right away instead of waiting for the first newline.
• Pointing the CLAUDE_CLIENT_PRESENCE_FILE environment variable at a marker file lets you suppress mobile push notifications while you're at your computer.
• If the API connection drops mid-thinking, it now retries automatically instead of showing "Connection closed while thinking."
• The bundled Bun runtime moved up to 1.4, and on macOS you can opt in to sending Apple Events via sandbox.allowAppleEvents.

The rest are smaller bug fixes — prompt caching, writing files to network drives, subagent panel behavior, and so on. How much of a difference you actually feel is something to judge by updating and using it yourself.

Just Update the Usual Way

If you're already using Claude Code, grab v2.1.181 through your usual update path and it applies right away. You can check the full list of changes in the official changelog below.

Source: Claude Code Changelog

This post is a summary of an official announcement. It was not sponsored by Anthropic in any form.

Original with full infographics and visual structure: https://jessinvestment.com/claude-code-now-lets-you-change-settings-inline-with-config/