claude-code-root-bypass-permissions-fix

Claude Code won’t start as root with bypassPermissions

Problem

Claude Code refuses to start as root with error: --dangerously-skip-permissions cannot be used with root/sudo privileges for security reasons

This happens even if you never passed the flag manually.

Cause

~/.claude/settings.json has defaultMode set to bypassPermissions:

{"permissions":{"defaultMode":"bypassPermissions"}}

Claude Code auto-adds --dangerously-skip-permissions, which is blocked for root.

Fix

Reset defaultMode to default:

echo '{"feedbackSurveyRate":0,"permissions":{"defaultMode":"default"}}' > ~/.claude/settings.json