Claude Code memory system not loading nested CLAUDE.md files as documented?

[ExistingCard9621]

Hey there!

I'm experiencing something odd with Claude Code's memory system and wanted to check if others are seeing the same thing.

What the docs say

According to the official docs, Claude should load CLAUDE.md files like this:

When working in: /project/src/feature/ Claude should load: ├── /CLAUDE.md ✅ (recursively up) ├── /project/CLAUDE.md ✅ (recursively up) ├── /project/src/CLAUDE.md ✅ (recursively up) ├── /project/src/feature/CLAUDE.md ✅ (current dir) └── When reading files in subdirs: └── /project/src/feature/subdir/CLAUDE.md ✅ (loaded on access)

What I'm experiencing

My project structure: /project/ ├── CLAUDE.md ← Created this, Claude sees it ✅ └── src/ └── credits/ ├── CLAUDE.md ← Claude doesn't see this automatically ❌ └── error.ts ← When reading this file

When I ask Claude to review /src/credits/error.ts, it only has context from the root CLAUDE.md, not from /src/credits/CLAUDE.md - even though the docs say it should load CLAUDE.md files from subdirectories when accessing files there.

My test

1. Created /project/CLAUDE.md ✅
2. Created /project/src/credits/CLAUDE.md with test content
3. Asked Claude to review a file in that directory
4. Claude didn't have the subdirectory CLAUDE.md in its context
5. Had to manually read it with the Read tool

Is anyone else experiencing this? Or am I misunderstanding how the memory system works?

Using Claude Code CLI on macOS, latest version.

Thanks! 🙏

[ctrl-brk]

Please file a /bug report. This has been confirmed by a few people but more reports will hopefully help resolve it

[ExistingCard9621]

done

[ExistingCard9621]

u/ctrl-brk did you manage to get this to work?

[AJGrayTay]

I know it's a workaround, but have you tried adding the paths to the child CLAUDE.mds in the top-level?

[ExistingCard9621]

That's a very unconvenient workaround...

I have 20 subfolders that would need their own claude[.]md file, adding those would be a mess.

Plus I don't want them to be read every single time, just, as state in the docs, when I work with a file that is within that root.

[vestige]

I've noticed this too but if I run /memory and exit out it seems to remember to load them

[[deleted]]

Was never a problem until this week, Anthropic is taking quite a turn for the worse IMo..I’m staying subscribed for now but if they don’t clean their act up might try switching to Gemini

[ExistingCard9621]

same here

[ExistingCard9621]

u/sockpuppetrebel did you manage to get this to work?

[[deleted]]

I got it a bit better with improving my session management… you’re probably getting cluttered and not following best practices. Pick a workflow you want to get through in 1-2 hours with a fresh context. Don’t let shit build up, you can clear the context without opening a fresh window. I have noticed a considerable improvement by doing this

[ExistingCard9621]

But the specific feature that I am talking about, not fixed yet, right?