October 1, 2026
Make Claude Code your own: Mods change the agent's behavior and interface
As of Oct 1, Mods in Claude Code 2.1.287 change how the app works internally and install as plugins.
ClaudeDevs
@claudedevs
You can now create mods for Claude Code: - Change its behavior - Customize the interface - Replace built-in features with your own Write a mod in a few lines of TypeScript or ask Claude to make it for you. Mods are packaged as plugins, so they install through /plugin in the CLI or desktop app. A few examples:
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In Claude Code, you can ask the AI agent to build a custom feature for the app. The official example adds a tool call counter and a /tally command.
Previously, event handlers were configured through settings hooks. Mods now run inside the app's process: they can change the interface, replace tool calls, and add commands that run without calling the model. The mod interface appears in the CLI and Claude Desktop, but not in the VS Code chat panel.
Installing an existing plugin. Mods are enabled by default in Claude Code 2.1.287+. Add a marketplace with `/plugin marketplace add owner/repo`, then run `/plugin install <plugin>@<marketplace>` and choose the installation scope. The same commands are available in the shell with the `claude plugin` prefix.
In Claude Desktop, open a local or SSH session in the Code tab. To install: click + → Plugins → Add plugin, then choose the plugin and installation scope. Before installation, `claude plugin validate ./some-mod` shows hooks and calls without running code that will have access to files, secrets, and resources provided by your plan or API key.
Describe your own mod. Tell Claude what feature you want or run `/plugin-authoring`. Confirm file creation and select Enable for this session. Claude Code picks up the changes after the turn ends.
A minimal mod consists of three files:
- `.claude-plugin/plugin.json` - `hooks/hooks.json` - `register.js` or `register.ts`
Claude Code loads JavaScript and TypeScript directly, without Node.js or a build step. The old `CLAUDE_CODE_ENABLE_FUNCTION_HOOKS` flag no longer has any effect, even when set to `0`.
A mod created by Claude is tied to its session and deleted when old sessions are cleaned up. To keep it, copy its directory, for example to `~/mods/git-branch`, and launch `claude --plugin-dir ~/mods/git-branch`.
In the same release, Anthropic added the built-in You should know plugin: a separate agent spots things you may have missed while working. Enable it with `/plugin enable cc-plugin-you-should-know@builtin` in a session using Anthropic's service with telemetry enabled.
Mods install through the plugin system in both the terminal and the Claude Desktop app.
