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 sharing recipes are in our AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md sharing guide.

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. 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. Hacker News item 49814947 shows people hitting the gap, but trust the memory docs and CHANGELOG over the thread.

Anthropic's docs don't list exactly which env vars or settings count as “telemetry disabled” (as of 2026-09-28). The docs and CHANGELOG just use that phrase. So the answer here stays update to ≥2.1.281 or use an @AGENTS.md import, rather than a list of DISABLE_* / DO_NOT_TRACK flags we can't confirm.

Fix path A — update Claude Code (≥2.1.281)

Upgrade the CLI / IDE extension to 2.1.281 or later. You don't need 2.1.283 specifically: that was simply the latest version when we checked.

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 are in the sharing guide.

Confirm it loaded (wording from the docs; we didn't re-test this in the CLI):

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

• /memory path list (the listing changed after 2.1.280, so exact labels may differ)

• Or ask what project instructions say

Also useful: 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. Handy for diagnosis alongside skill-doctor, though it doesn't fix AGENTS loading itself.

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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 (symlink caveats → sharing guide). If you added SessionStart hooks that print AGENTS as a workaround, remove them once native load or @ import is in place.

What this guide is not

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

• Not a full Claude Code memory / auto-memory setup guide

• Not a permissions tutorial → see 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; details in the sharing guide)

• Trusting HN comments over memory docs + CHANGELOG 2.1.281

• Hunting for the one telemetry env flag that fixes it. The docs don't publish one; update or import instead

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 (sharing guide).

How do I confirm AGENTS loaded?
Docs: the interactive AGENTS loaded line, or the /memory path list (which changed after 2.1.280). We didn't re-test the exact on-screen wording.

Is HN the source of truth?
No. Prefer memory docs + CHANGELOG 2.1.281. HN 49814947 shows the gap in the wild, nothing more.

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

• Community discussion: HN item 49814947

• We haven't run this in the CLI or on Bedrock ourselves; the steps follow the docs and CHANGELOG