Command
claude --continue and --resume
Terminal launch flags (not in-session commands) for reopening a previous conversation instead of starting fresh.
--continue picks up your most recent conversation in the current directory automatically — the fastest path back into whatever you were just doing.
--resume instead shows a list of past sessions to choose from, which is the better option when it's not the most recent one you want, or you're not certain which session had the context you need.
Both are flags passed when launching claude from the terminal, distinct from the in-session /resume-style commands — this is about how you start the process, not something you type once already inside a session.
claude --continue or claude --resumeFrequently asked questions
What does claude --continue and --resume do in Claude Code?
Terminal launch flags (not in-session commands) for reopening a previous conversation instead of starting fresh.
How do I use it?
Try: claude --continue or claude --resume
Any caveats to know about?
Both are flags passed when launching claude from the terminal, distinct from the in-session /resume-style commands — this is about how you start the process, not something you type once already inside a session.
Is this covered in the Claude Code Toolkit?
Yes — claude --continue and --resume and patterns like it are part of the full command, hook, and template pack included with a Claude Code Toolkit subscription.
Want the full command, hook, and template pack?
This is one pattern out of the full Claude Code Toolkit — subscribe for the complete set, plus everything we add going forward.
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