Claude docs changes for January 27th, 2026 [diff]

Executive Summary

  • New version 2.1.20: PR review status indicators in prompt footer, CLAUDE.md loading from additional directories, and task deletion
  • Numerous UI improvements including shimmer animation for thinking status and vim arrow key history navigation
  • New wildcard permission syntax documented and checkpoints became available in CLI

New Claude Code versions

2.1.20

New features

  • Added arrow key history navigation in vim normal mode when cursor cannot move further
  • Added external editor shortcut (Ctrl+G) to the help menu for better discoverability
  • Added PR review status indicator to the prompt footer, showing the current branch's PR state (approved, changes requested, pending, or draft) as a colored dot with a clickable link
  • Added support for loading CLAUDE.md files from additional directories specified via --add-dir flag (requires setting CLAUDE_CODE_ADDITIONAL_DIRECTORIES_CLAUDE_MD=1)
  • Added ability to delete tasks via the TaskUpdate tool

Existing feature improvements

  • Improved /sandbox command UI to show dependency status with installation instructions when dependencies are missing
  • Improved thinking status text with a subtle shimmer animation
  • Improved task list to dynamically adjust visible items based on terminal height
  • Improved fork conversation hint to show how to resume the original session
  • Changed collapsed read/search groups to show present tense ("Reading", "Searching for") while in progress, and past tense ("Read", "Searched for") when complete
  • Changed ToolSearch results to appear as a brief notification instead of inline in the conversation
  • Changed the /commit-push-pr skill to automatically post PR URLs to Slack channels when configured via MCP tools
  • Changed the /copy command to be available to all users
  • Changed background agents to prompt for tool permissions before launching
  • Changed permission rules like Bash(*) to be accepted and treated as equivalent to Bash
  • Changed config backups to be timestamped and rotated (keeping 5 most recent) to prevent data loss

Major bug fixes

  • Fixed session compaction issues that could cause resume to load full history instead of the compact summary
  • Fixed agents sometimes ignoring user messages sent while actively working on a task
  • Fixed wide character (emoji, CJK) rendering artifacts where trailing columns were not cleared when replaced by narrower characters
  • Fixed JSON parsing errors when MCP tool responses contain special Unicode characters
  • Fixed up/down arrow keys in multi-line and wrapped text input to prioritize cursor movement over history navigation
  • Fixed draft prompt being lost when pressing UP arrow to navigate command history
  • Fixed ghost text flickering when typing slash commands mid-input
  • Fixed marketplace source removal not properly deleting settings
  • Fixed duplicate output in some commands like /context
  • Fixed task list sometimes showing outside the main conversation view
  • Fixed syntax highlighting for diffs occurring within multiline constructs like Python docstrings
  • Fixed crashes when cancelling tool use

Claude Code changes

Changed documents

Best practices [Source]

  • Added note about using Ctrl+G to open the plan in your text editor for direct editing before Claude proceeds. [line 75] [Source]

Common workflows [Source]

  • Added note about using Ctrl+G to open the plan in your default text editor for direct editing before Claude proceeds. [line 391] [Source]

IDE integrations [Source]

  • Updated the comparison table to show that checkpoints are now available in CLI (previously "Coming soon"). [line 227] [Source]
  • Added new section "Rewind with checkpoints" explaining how checkpoints work in VS Code extension with three options for rewinding. [lines 231-239] [Source]

Interactive mode [Source]

  • Added note about reverting to the previous TODO list by setting CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_TASKS=false. [line 261] [Source]

MCP [Source]

  • Added Box MCP server for searching, accessing and getting insights on Box content. [lines 213-217] [Source]
  • Added Clay MCP server for finding prospects, researching accounts, and personalizing outreach. [lines 237-241] [Source]
  • Updated Figma description to include "Generate diagrams and better code from Figma context" (previously just "Create better code with Figma context"). [line 285] [Source]
  • Updated Similarweb name from "Similarweb Website Traffic" to just "Similarweb" and description to "Real time web, mobile app, and market data." [lines 399-401] [Source]

Overview [Source]

  • Added new section "Use Claude Code everywhere" with links to different interfaces: Terminal, Web, Desktop app, VS Code, JetBrains, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, Slack, and Chrome. [lines 95-107] [Source]
  • Updated "Next steps" section to link to Desktop app instead of IDE setup, with updated description. [lines 117-119] [Source]

Plugin marketplaces [Source]

  • Updated private repository documentation to explain that manual installation uses git credential helpers, while background auto-updates need environment tokens. [lines 432-433] [Source]
  • Added example showing how to use hostPattern source type to allow all marketplaces from an internal git server using regex pattern matching. [lines 557-571] [Source]
  • Updated "How restrictions work" section to note that hostPattern sources use regex matching while other sources use exact matching. [lines 575-581] [Source]
  • Updated troubleshooting section for private repository authentication to separate manual installation from background auto-updates. [lines 672-687] [Source]

Quickstart [Source]

  • Added note that Claude Code is available through supported cloud providers. [line 11] [Source]
  • Added paragraph explaining Claude Code is available on multiple interfaces beyond terminal CLI. [line 13] [Source]
  • Updated authentication section to mention Amazon Bedrock, Google Vertex AI, and Microsoft Foundry as third-party cloud providers. [line 101] [Source]
  • Removed all > prompts from code examples to match standard command-line format. [multiple lines]
  • Added "Pro tips for beginners" link to best practices and common workflows. [line 350] [Source]
  • Updated "What's next" section with new links to "How Claude Code works", "Best practices", and "Extend Claude Code" instead of CLI reference and configuration. [lines 401-409] [Source]

Settings [Source]

  • Added hostPattern as a new source type for marketplace restrictions using regex pattern matching. [line 599] [Source]
  • Updated strictKnownMarketplaces description to note it uses exact matching except for hostPattern which uses regex. [line 615] [Source]
  • Updated supported source types count from six to seven. [line 624] [Source]
  • Added detailed documentation for host pattern matching source type with examples and host extraction rules. [lines 708-726] [Source]
  • Added configuration example showing how to allow all marketplaces from an internal git server using hostPattern. [lines 771-785] [Source]
  • Added CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_TASKS environment variable documentation for reverting to previous TODO list. [line 913] [Source]

Skills [Source]

  • Added $ARGUMENTS[N] variable for accessing specific arguments by 0-based index. [line 205] [Source]
  • Added $N variable as shorthand for $ARGUMENTS[N]. [line 206] [Source]
  • Added examples showing how to use $ARGUMENTS[N] and $N for positional argument access in skills. [lines 339-368] [Source]
  • Added clarification that skills with allowed-tools grant Claude access to those tools without per-use approval when the skill is active. [line 459] [Source]

VS Code [Source]

  • Updated comparison table to show that checkpoints are now available in CLI (previously "Coming soon"). [line 227] [Source]
  • Added new section "Rewind with checkpoints" explaining how checkpoints work in VS Code extension with three options for rewinding. [lines 231-239] [Source]

API changes

Changed documents

Remote MCP servers [Source]

  • Added Clay remote MCP server for finding prospects, researching accounts, and personalizing outreach. [lines 251-256] [Source]
  • Updated Figma description to include "Generate diagrams and better code from Figma context". [line 331] [Source]
  • Updated Similarweb name from "Similarweb Website Traffic" to just "Similarweb" and description to "Real time web, mobile app, and market data." [lines 549-551] [Source]