Claude Account Switcher

Switch between multiple Claude Code accounts — seamlessly.

What is this?

Claude Code Account Switcher lets you manage up to 5 separate Claude Code accounts on the same machine — each with its own auth, history, settings, and project data — all through the claude command you already know.

claude work        # → switch to work account and launch Claude
claude personal    # → switch to personal account and launch Claude
claude             # → launch with the currently active account

No config files to edit. No environment variables to juggle. Just type and go.

How It Works

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  You type: claude work                                       │
│                                                             │
│  1. Shell function intercepts the command                   │
│  2. Reads active account from ~/.claude-active-account      │
│  3. Sets CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR to that account's directory      │
│  4. Launches the real Claude binary                         │
│                                                             │
│  Result: Claude opens fully isolated to your work account   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Each account lives in its own directory. Switching is instant.

Install

npm install -g claud-code-account-switcher

Requirements: Node.js 18+, Claude Code CLI, zsh or bash

Quick Start

Step 1 — Run setup

claude-switcher setup

The wizard handles everything:

=== Claude Code Account Switcher — Setup ===

Claude found: /Users/you/.local/bin/claude ✓

Detected existing config directories:
  ~/.claude-work      →  suggested name: work
  ~/.claude-personal  →  suggested name: personal
? Use these detected accounts? Yes

? Copy ~/.claude settings into each new account? Yes
  ✓ Cloned settings, plugins, commands (auth tokens removed)

? Which account should be active by default? work

Shell integration added to ~/.zshrc ✓

Done! Run: source ~/.zshrc
Then try: claude work

Step 2 — Apply shell changes

source ~/.zshrc

Step 3 — Start switching

claude work
# → [work]
# Claude launches with your work account

claude personal
# → [personal]
# Claude launches with your personal account

Commands

Launching Claude

| Command | Description | |---|---| | claude | Launch with the currently active account | | claude <name> | Switch to <name> and launch (e.g. claude work) | | claude<name> | Shorthand alias — e.g. claudework, claudepersonal |

Account Management

| Command | Description | |---|---| | claude who / claude /who | Show the active account and its config dir | | claude list | List all accounts — active one marked with * | | claude use <name> | Switch the active account (shows confirmation) | | claude-switcher add <name> | Add a new account without re-running setup | | claude-switcher clear-history [name] | Delete sessions and history for an account (interactive if no name given) | | claude-switcher setup | Re-run the full setup wizard |

Features

• Auto-detection — Setup scans your home directory and pre-fills any existing ~/.claude-* directories as account suggestions
• Config cloning — Optionally copy your current ~/.claude settings (plugins, commands, skills) into each new account. Auth tokens are always stripped — each account authenticates independently
• Dynamic aliases — claudework, claudepersonal, etc. are generated at shell startup from your accounts config. Add a new account and the alias is ready after source ~/.zshrc — no manual edits needed
• Zero shell pollution — CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR is passed only to the Claude subprocess, never exported into your shell environment
• Idempotent setup — Running claude-switcher setup again detects the existing shell block and won't duplicate it
• First-run auto-setup — Type claude on a fresh install with no accounts configured and setup launches automatically

Under the Hood

~/.claude-accounts.conf      # name=dir registry (one account per line)
~/.claude-active-account     # currently active account name
~/.claude-real-bin           # path to real claude binary (set at setup)

The shell function injected into your profile looks up the active account, sets CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR, and execs the real binary — no wrappers, no subshells, no side effects.

Example: Three Accounts

claude-switcher setup        # configure work + personal
claude-switcher add client   # add a third account later

source ~/.zshrc

claude list
#     work             ->  ~/.claude-work
#   * personal         ->  ~/.claude-personal
#     client           ->  ~/.claude-client

claudeclient                 # switch to client and launch
claude who                   # Active account: client
claude use work              # switch with confirmation prompt

Troubleshooting

claude: real binary not found Run claude-switcher setup — it will locate and store the Claude binary path.

No active account Run claude-switcher setup or claude use <name> to set an active account.

Aliases not available (claudework not found) Run source ~/.zshrc to reload the shell function and regenerate aliases.

Wrong account is active Run claude who to check, then claude use <name> or just claude <name> to switch.

Changelog

v2.1.0 — Current

• Works on Windows and WSL now. The setup wizard, account switcher, and shell integration all work natively on Windows (PowerShell) and Windows Subsystem for Linux — not just macOS and Linux.
• PowerShell users get full support. On Windows, setup injects the claude() function into your PowerShell profile automatically — the same seamless experience bash and zsh users already had.
• Reload hints are always right. After setup or adding an account, the command shown to reload your shell matches your actual shell — source ~/.zshrc, source ~/.bashrc, or . $PROFILE depending on what you're running.

v2.0.0

• Every account now starts with a clean slate. When you create a new account, your conversation history and sessions stay where they belong — in the account they came from. No more cross-account bleed.
• Want a fresh start on an existing account? Run claude-switcher clear-history and pick the account. Everything is wiped cleanly with a confirmation step so you never do it by accident.
• Carrying history over is still possible. If you want to bring your history into a new account when setting it up, the setup wizard will ask — just say yes.

v1.2.3

• Switch accounts in one word. Type claude work or claude personal and you're in — no config files, no env vars, no friction.
• Setup finds your accounts automatically. If you already had multiple Claude config folders, the wizard detects them and offers to use them right away.
• Your settings travel with you. When creating a new account, you can copy your existing settings, plugins, and commands so you don't have to set everything up from scratch.
• Shortcuts out of the box. After setup, claudework and claudepersonal (and any other account name) work as standalone commands — no extra config needed.

License

MIT — see LICENSE

Built for developers who live in multiple Claude contexts.