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URL: https://claudelog.com/faqs/--add-dir/

⇱ Claude Code --add-dir: Additional Working Directories Guide | ClaudeLog

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Need Claude to access multiple repos or directories? The --add-dir flag extends your workspace beyond the current directory—essential for monorepos, microservices, or any multi-directory workflow.

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What is --add-dir​

Purpose - Extends Claude Code's workspace beyond your current working directory to include additional directories without changing your primary location.

  • CLI argument: --add-dir when starting Claude Code
  • Slash command: /add-dir to expand workspace mid-session

How to Use --add-dir at Startup​

Single Additional Directory - Add one extra directory when launching Claude Code:

claude --add-dir /path/to/other/project

Multiple Directories - Add several directories at once:

claude --add-dir ../backend --add-dir ../shared-utils --add-dir ~/company/configs

Combined with Other Options - Mix with model selection or other flags:

claude --model claude-sonnet-5 --add-dir ../backend-api
claude --add-dir ~/shared/libraries -p "Compare authentication patterns between current and shared directory"

Mid-Session Directory Addition​

Slash Command Usage - Add directories without restarting your session:

/add-dir /path/to/other/project
/add-dir ../backend-api
/add-dir ~/shared/libraries

Dynamic Workflow Expansion - Start focused, expand as needed:

  • Begin working on frontend project
  • Realize you need backend API reference: /add-dir ../backend-api
  • Need shared utilities: /add-dir ~/company/shared-utils
  • Access documentation repo: /add-dir ../project-docs

Common Use Cases​

Multi-Repository Development - Work on interconnected projects:

# Frontend project needs backend API reference
claude --add-dir ../backend-api

# Microservices that share common code
claude --add-dir ../user-service --add-dir ../auth-service --add-dir ../shared-models

Shared Resources Access - Reference common configurations or libraries:

# Access company-wide shared configurations
claude --add-dir ~/company/shared-configs

# Reference template repositories
claude --add-dir ~/templates/react-components --add-dir ~/templates/api-patterns

Legacy Code Integration - Work with mixed old and new codebases:

# Modernizing project while referencing legacy system
claude --add-dir ../legacy-system --add-dir ../migration-scripts

Documentation and Examples - Include reference materials:

# Access documentation and example code
claude --add-dir ../project-docs --add-dir ../code-examples

CLAUDE.md Loading from Additional Directories​

Starting in v2.1.20, Claude Code can load CLAUDE.md files from --add-dir directories. Enable this with:

CLAUDE_CODE_ADDITIONAL_DIRECTORIES_CLAUDE_MD=1 claude --add-dir ../other-project

When enabled, Claude reads CLAUDE.md (and .claude/rules/) from each additional directory, applying project-specific instructions from all workspaces in your session.

--add-dir transforms Claude Code from single-directory tool into multi-repository orchestrator. Expand your workspace dynamically without losing context or restarting sessions.

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See Also: Configuration Guide