Claude Code reads AGENTS.md only when telemetry is on
Claude Code loads AGENTS.md only when a telemetry feature flag resolves, so privacy settings silently skip it.
Claude Code 2.1.277 added AGENTS.md support through a built-in agents-md plugin that defaults off and depends on the remote flag tengu_agents_md_mod. If that flag cannot be fetched, or if CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC or DISABLE_TELEMETRY is set, the local file is never read and the session gives no warning. The same failure affects Bedrock, Vertex, and third-party gateways. A one-line CLAUDE.md that imports @AGENTS.md loads the instructions even with telemetry disabled.
- The agents-md plugin is off by default and gated on tengu_agents_md_mod.
- Disabling telemetry blocks AGENTS.md and prints no warning.
- Bedrock, Vertex, and third-party gateways cannot resolve the flag.
- A CLAUDE.md line '@AGENTS.md' loads the file with telemetry off.
- Vendors
- Anthropic
- Products
- Claude Code
- Organizations
- Anthropic
From the original article
4 min read at blog.szypowi.czClaude Code 2. 1. 277 announced support for AGENTS.
By pszypowicz · blog.szypowi.cz
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