Claude Code Plan Mode Guide
Use Claude Code Plan Mode to inspect a task, compare approaches, review risks, and approve implementation before code is edited.
Plan Mode is the safest way to use Claude Code for non-trivial changes. It lets you ask Claude to inspect the project, propose an implementation plan, and identify risks before any file is edited.
Quick Answer
Use Plan Mode whenever the task touches auth, payments, databases, deployment, shared architecture, or more than a small local file. Regular mode is fine for small copy edits, simple UI tweaks, and low-risk one-file changes.
| Task type | Start in Plan Mode? |
|---|---|
| Fix a typo or copy string | Usually no |
| Adjust a small component style | Usually no |
| Add a new API route | Yes |
| Change auth, billing, or permissions | Yes |
| Refactor multiple modules | Yes |
| Run a migration or deployment change | Yes |
How To Enter Plan Mode
The most explicit option is the CLI permission mode:
claude --permission-mode planIn an interactive session, your environment may also support:
/plan/permissionsShift+Tabto cycle permission modes
If a shortcut is missing, check your Claude Code version and the official permission mode docs rather than assuming the shortcut is universal.
Plan Mode Workflow
1. Ask Claude To Inspect First
Find the files involved in subscription upgrades. Explain the current flow and do not edit files yet.2. Request A Reviewable Plan
Propose the smallest safe plan to add annual billing. Include affected files, data model changes, provider calls, tests, and rollback steps.3. Challenge The Plan
What are the risky assumptions in this plan? Which existing services or permissions could it accidentally bypass?4. Approve One Step At A Time
Implement step 1 only. Keep the diff small and run the relevant test command after editing.This keeps planning and implementation separated, which makes the final code easier to review.
What A Good Plan Includes
| Section | What it should contain |
|---|---|
| Current state | Files inspected, current flow, and relevant constraints. |
| Proposed change | Small steps in implementation order. |
| Risks | Auth, data, billing, migration, performance, or compatibility concerns. |
| Tests | Exact commands or manual checks to run. |
| Rollback | How to back out if the change fails. |
| Open questions | Anything Claude Code could not verify from the repo. |
If a plan skips tests, ignores existing services, or proposes a broad rewrite without explaining why, ask for a narrower version.
Example Prompt
/plan Analyze the current onboarding flow and propose the smallest safe way to add a required company-name step. Include affected files, validation changes, UI states, tests, and rollback steps. Do not edit files.After reviewing the plan:
Implement only the validation and type changes from step 1. Do not touch the UI yet.Common Mistakes
- Treating Plan Mode as a formality and approving a plan you have not read.
- Asking for a full rebuild when a small change would solve the problem.
- Letting Claude Code edit files before it has mapped the current implementation.
- Accepting a plan that ignores auth, payment, or deployment boundaries.
- Running implementation and architecture discovery in the same first prompt.
Related Pages
Official Sources
Next: Explore-Plan-Code - Use planning as part of a repeatable implementation loop.