How It Works

Shell commands invoke the local runtime, which passes the selected profile path to Claude as CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR.

~/.claude-profiles/
├── meta.json                 Active profile and sharing choice
├── _runtime/                 bin, src, package.json
├── .shell-integration.sh     Shell connection
├── _shared/
│   ├── settings.json
│   └── commands/
└── work/
    ├── .claude.json          User configuration and state
    ├── .credentials.json     Only where file credentials exist
    ├── settings.local.json
    ├── settings.json         Links to _shared when enabled
    ├── commands/             Links to _shared when enabled
    ├── CLAUDE.md
    ├── skills/
    ├── agents/
    ├── rules/
    ├── hooks/
    ├── plugins/
    ├── projects/
    └── plans/

Sharing scope

Only settings.json and legacy commands/ are shared. Skills, agents, rules, hooks and CLAUDE.md are imported into the chosen profile, not automatically distributed to other accounts. This tool does not install skills.

macOS/Linux use symlinks; Windows directories use junctions. If Windows cannot create a file symlink, the file is copied with a notice. Subsequent file changes are not automatically synchronized in that case.

Authentication

.claude.json stores user configuration and state; it is not proof of an OAuth login. macOS Keychain credentials are not moved automatically. Existing file credentials go into only the selected profile. Claude determines login status on launch.

The official authentication guide uses separate directories for claude.ai logins and API keys. Keyless Claude Console sign-ins are not separated by configuration directories alone. Inherited authentication environment variables also continue to apply.

Preservation and runtime

Default import combines ~/.claude and ~/.claude.json. Existing symlinks retain their original targets; sources are not edited. Conflicts and invalid JSON stop the operation with a reason.

meta.json records active selection. Shell installation and refresh happen during explicit first setup, install-shell or shell refresh. Daily use then needs neither the npx cache nor a global switch command.

Claude-created caches, sessions and temporary history are not imported wholesale. They remain in the source.