From 6218839e468abe83ca36451a59e5f3e0bfb6ed1b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: jbranchaud <jbranchaud@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2026 15:45:05 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] Add Use Claude Code From Multiple Accounts as a Claude Code
 TIL

---
 README.md                                     |  3 +-
 .../use-claude-code-from-multiple-accounts.md | 52 +++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 54 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 create mode 100644 claude-code/use-claude-code-from-multiple-accounts.md

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e509839..614e8c4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ working across different projects via [VisualMode](https://www.visualmode.dev/).
 
 For a steady stream of TILs, [sign up for my newsletter](https://visualmode.kit.com/newsletter).
 
-_1878 TILs and counting..._
+_1879 TILs and counting..._
 
 See some of the other learning resources I work on:
 
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ If you've learned something here, support my efforts writing daily TILs by
 - [Resume Specific Session](claude-code/resume-specific-session.md)
 - [Set Permission Mode When Starting Session](claude-code/set-permission-mode-when-starting-session.md)
 - [Stash The Current Prompt To Send Another First](claude-code/stash-the-current-prompt-to-send-another-first.md)
+- [Use Claude Code From Multiple Accounts](claude-code/use-claude-code-from-multiple-accounts.md)
 
 ### Clojure
 
diff --git a/claude-code/use-claude-code-from-multiple-accounts.md b/claude-code/use-claude-code-from-multiple-accounts.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eae8049
--- /dev/null
+++ b/claude-code/use-claude-code-from-multiple-accounts.md
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# Use Claude Code From Multiple Accounts
+
+When I first start using Claude Code (`claude`) from the CLI, it will by default
+use the `~/.claude` directory for settings, authentication, memory, sessions,
+etc. This works fine as long as I'm working from a single, personal Claude
+subscription. If I am juggling multiple subscriptions, there is not an obvious
+way to switch between them.
+
+A client I work with recently invited me to their Claude Team subscription via a
+company email. I needed a way to access `claude` both from my existing
+subscription, for other projects and work, while also doing stuff specific to
+this client from the team account. Constantly logging in and out sure doesn't
+feel like a sustainable solution.
+
+The solution was to make use of the `CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR` environment variable.
+
+I first make a new config directory for Claude that is specific to this client.
+
+```bash
+❯ mkdir -p ~/.claude-client-x
+```
+
+Then, from the project directory for this client (e.g.
+`~/dev/clients/client-x/codebase`), I start a `claude` session pointing at this
+new, empty directory.
+
+```bash
+❯ CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR="~/.claude-client-x" claude
+```
+
+I'm prompted with a couple settings and config questions since this is a blank
+slate `claude` session. Then I need to do a fresh authentication with `/login`.
+For me, this involved authenticating in a separate Chrome profile where this
+secondary Claude Team subscription was already active.
+
+Lastly, I need to make sure that I use the correct "credentials"
+whenever I'm starting a `claude` session. That means pointing `claude` to the
+correct _config dir_. I tend to use `mise` or `direnv` across all my projects.
+For any projects that pertain to _Client X_, I add the following to my
+environment (i.e. `mise.local.toml`):
+
+```
+[env]
+CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR = "~/.claude-client-x"
+```
+
+Now, whenever I run `claude` from that project, it will use that specific config
+in `~/.claude-client-x`.
+
+Pretty much everywhere else on my machine that I'm using `claude`, I want to use
+the account that is already signed in at the default config dir, so no other
+change is needed there.