Auto Memory - Claude Code

Auto memory records the small facts Claude picks up during a session - how to run tests, which commands failed, what you corrected - and surfaces them on the next session.

What it does

Claude writes short notes to a per-project memory file when something seems worth remembering: "tests run with pnpm test --filter web", "the deploy script needs DATABASE_URL exported", "user prefers short commit messages". On the next session, Claude reads those notes into context automatically.

When to use it

• Projects where build or deploy steps are non-obvious.
• Long-running work that spans many sessions.
• Capturing user preferences without manually writing them into CLAUDE.md.
• Reducing the "what's the test command?" dance.

Gotchas

• The file grows over time. Review and prune periodically or you'll carry stale notes.
• Auto memory is local by default. Don't rely on it for team-wide context - use CLAUDE.md for that.
• Secrets may slip in if you're not careful. Scan the file before committing it anywhere.

Official docs: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/memory.md#auto-memory