How do I make Claude Code load AGENTS.md when telemetry is off?

Before Claude Code 2.1.281, sessions with telemetry disabled (and Amazon Bedrock / Google Vertex AI / Microsoft Foundry / LLM gateways) often read CLAUDE.md only — native AGENTS.md did not load. Update to 2.1.281 or later, or keep a project CLAUDE.md that @AGENTS.md-imports your shared file. Confirm with the session’s AGENTS loaded line / /memory. Everyday share recipes live on the AGENTS share Spec — not this page’s core job.

TL;DR: Pre-2.1.281 gap → CLAUDE-only on telemetry-off / some providers. Fix A: upgrade ≥2.1.281. Fix B: @AGENTS.md in a sibling CLAUDE.md. Labs seed claude code telemetry 170 / KD 12 (navigational — not an OTEL how-to). Checked memory docs (dateModified 2026-09-28T00:42:00.271Z) + CHANGELOG 2.1.281 (HEAD 2.1.283) on 2026-09-28.

Why AGENTS.md vanished with telemetry off

Official memory docs (dateModified **2026-09-28T00:42:00.271Z) state: **before v2.1.281**, some sessions — for example **Amazon Bedrock** or **telemetry disabled** — read **CLAUDE.mdfiles only** and could not loadAGENTS.md` natively.

CHANGELOG 2.1.281 (raw fetched 2026-09-28; HEAD still ## 2.1.283):

Changed AGENTS.md support to also work on Amazon Bedrock, Google Vertex AI, Microsoft Foundry, LLM gateways, and sessions with telemetry disabled

Floor context: direct AGENTS read needs Claude Code v2.1.277+. The telemetry / provider gap closed in 2.1.281. Labs seed claude code telemetry is 170 / KD 12 (navigational) — cite only; AGENTS.md long-tails have no Labs item. HN item 49814947 is community awareness of the gap — not product truth (prefer memory docs + CHANGELOG).

[GAP] Exact env/settings that equal “telemetry disabled” are not product-verified as a matrix here. Docs and CHANGELOG use that phrase; this Spec’s answer stays update ≥2.1.281 or @AGENTS.md import — not an invented DISABLE_* / DO_NOT_TRACK cookbook.

Fix path A — update Claude Code (≥2.1.281)

Upgrade the CLI / IDE extension to 2.1.281 or later. You do not need HEAD 2.1.283 specifically — that was the CHANGELOG tip on scan day.

After upgrade, default or behavior still applies: with no counting project CLAUDE.md / .claude/CLAUDE.md / CLAUDE.local.md on the path, Claude can read AGENTS.md. Precedence tables and /config Project instructions live on the share Spec.

Confirm load (docs wording; [UNVERIFIED] CLI not run same-day):

• Interactive line like no CLAUDE.md found; AGENTS.md loaded: …

• /memory path list (post-2.1.280 listing nuance — cite docs, don’t invent UI chrome)

• Or ask what project instructions say

Optional awareness only: CHANGELOG 2.1.282 adds a startup notice and /status + claude doctor entries for telemetry variables in project settings that were ignored or that turned telemetry off. Useful for diagnosis via skill-doctor adjacency — not the core AGENTS fix.

Fix path B — import from CLAUDE.md

Portable fallback for any session that still can’t load AGENTS natively (older clients, first session after upgrade, disabled agents-md plugin, or leftover dual-file setups):

@AGENTS.md

## Claude Code
…Claude-specific notes…

Put that in a sibling project CLAUDE.md. Claude expands the @ import at launch. Works when Project instructions stay on claude-md, and when you already keep both files. Prefer the @ import over a symlink on Windows / clone-safe teams (deep symlink caveats → share Spec). Do not invent SessionStart hooks that print AGENTS — remove those old workarounds once native load or @ import is in place.

What this Spec is not

• Not the full AGENTS vs CLAUDE share / precedence guide → how should I share AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md

• Not full Claude Code memory / auto-memory setup → ship-ready memory Spec exists in the queue (prose fence only; no href while live 404) [GAP]

• Not a permissions tutorial → bridge lightly to configure permissions if ask/deny is the real job

• Not an OTEL / telemetry-architecture encyclopedia

Pitfalls

• Staying on below 2.1.281 and expecting native AGENTS on telemetry-off / Bedrock / Vertex / Foundry / gateway sessions

• Adding CLAUDE.local.md then wondering why default AGENTS stopped (that file counts as CLAUDE — share Spec detail)

• Trusting HN comments over memory docs + CHANGELOG 2.1.281

• Dead-linking airlocked memory / growth / skill-creator pages

• Inventing telemetry env flag matrices as “the” answer — [GAP] matrix not verified here; answer stays update + import

FAQ

Does turning telemetry off still block AGENTS.md?
On ≥2.1.281, CHANGELOG says sessions with telemetry disabled can load AGENTS.md. On older builds, update or use @AGENTS.md import (memory docs).

I’m on Bedrock / Vertex / Foundry — same fix?
Yes. 2.1.281 extended AGENTS support to those providers (and LLM gateways). Import remains the portable fallback.

I already have CLAUDE.md — will AGENTS load after upgrade?
Default still prefers CLAUDE when a counting CLAUDE exists. Use @AGENTS.md import or Project instructions claude-md-and-agents-md (share Spec).

How do I confirm AGENTS loaded?
Docs: interactive AGENTS loaded line; /memory path list (post-2.1.280 nuance). Mark [UNVERIFIED] if inventing exact UI chrome beyond those strings.

Is HN the source of truth?
No. Prefer memory docs + CHANGELOG 2.1.281. HN 49814947 is awareness only.

Sources (checked 2026-09-28)

• How Claude remembers your project — dateModified 2026-09-28T00:42:00.271Z; pre-2.1.281 unavailable sessions; update or @AGENTS.md import; load confirmation wording

• Claude Code CHANGELOG.md — ## 2.1.281 AGENTS.md telemetry/provider bullet; 2.1.277 first AGENTS support; 2.1.282 telemetry-variables notice; HEAD 2.1.283

• Labs: claude code telemetry 170 / KD 12 (labs-kw-2026-09-28.md) — AGENTS.md long-tails no Labs item

• Discourse awareness only: HN item 49814947

• [GAP] CLI untested same-day — no live claude --version / Bedrock fixture / load-line capture beyond docs