Claude Code Mods Let Developers Customize the CLI and Desktop App
Anthropic introduced Claude Code mods as a plugin-based way to customize how Claude Code behaves and looks. Small TypeScript modules can add interface elements, change tool calls, or replace built-in features. Mods run with Claude Code's access to your machine, so review their source before installing.
Anthropic has introduced Claude Code mods, TypeScript functions that let developers change how Claude Code behaves and looks. Mods can rewrite prompts, change or block tool calls, add interface elements, or replace built-in features. They ship inside plugins, so developers can install and share them through Claude Code's plugin system. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
The launch turns Claude Code's customization layer into something developers can extend with small TypeScript modules instead of waiting for a built-in setting. Anthropic says you can write a mod yourself or ask Claude Code to create one. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
Key Takeaways
- Customize behavior and interface: Mods can rewrite prompts, block or alter tool calls, respond to permission requests, and add or replace UI elements. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
- Use existing plugins: Mods ship inside plugins, and Anthropic says they are available in the Claude Code CLI and desktop app. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
- Ask Claude to build one: Claude Code can write, install, and hot-reload a mod in the current session. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
- Treat mods like code: They are not sandboxed and run with the same access to your machine as Claude Code. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
What a Mod Can Change
Claude Code emits events as it works, and a mod can run before an event, after it, or instead of its default handling. Anthropic's examples include rewriting a prompt, blocking or retrying a tool call, approving or denying a permission request, and redacting secrets from tool output before Claude reads it. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
Mods can also add or replace parts of the interface, including buttons, inputs, and custom panels. Anthropic says built-in features such as /diff now ship as mods, which means users can disable that mod or replace it with their own version. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
Install and Share Mods Through Plugins
Anthropic says mods are available in the Claude Code CLI and desktop app. You can install a plugin that includes a mod from the Claude directory or by running /plugin in the CLI. To share a mod, package it in a plugin and submit that plugin to the directory. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
The official getting-started guide shows how to build a first mod as a plugin, add a TypeScript module, validate it, and test it in Claude Code. It also explains how plugins can be installed from a marketplace. (Claude Code mods getting-started guide)
Review the Security Boundary
Mods run with the same access to your machine as Claude Code itself; Anthropic says they are not sandboxed. A mod can interact with events and tool calls in the session, so read its source and install only from publishers you trust. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
Plugin controls still matter for managed teams. Anthropic says administrators can allow or block plugin marketplaces. On Team and Enterprise plans, and on any machine with managed settings, the built-in sec-default mod loads first and blocks certain risky actions; administrators who load their own mods first should keep sec-default in the list if they want those restrictions. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
Why the Release Matters
Mods give developers a way to tailor Claude Code's behavior and interface to a project or team workflow, while keeping distribution inside the existing plugin model. Before installing a third-party mod, review both what it changes and the access it inherits from Claude Code. (Anthropic's Claude Code mods announcement)
Sources
- Anthropic, "Customize Claude Code with mods" (October 1, 2026)
- Claude, "Getting started with Claude Code mods" (October 1, 2026)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are Claude Code mods?
Mods are TypeScript functions that change Claude Code's behavior or interface. They ship inside plugins, so you can install or share them through Claude Code's existing plugin workflow.
Where can I use a Claude Code mod?
Anthropic says mods are available in the Claude Code CLI and desktop app. You can install plugins that include mods from the Claude directory or by using /plugin in the CLI.
Can Claude Code mods change tool calls?
Yes. A mod can block, rewrite, or retry a tool call, approve or deny a permission request, change the interface, or replace a built-in feature.
Are Claude Code mods sandboxed?
No. Anthropic says mods run with the same access to your machine as Claude Code itself. Install them only from sources you trust.