Claude Code Reset Handbook: What /clear /compact /resume Actually Reset
There is no single reset command in Claude Code - clear history with /clear, save tokens with /compact, restore sessions with /resume or claude -c, and fix auth via /login. Pick your scenario.
First, identify which reset you need
"Reset" spans four intents: clearing context, compressing history, restoring a session, and fixing auth. Mixing them up is the top cause of "reset not working".
Scenario 1 - clear the conversation
- /clear resets conversation history and context but keeps CLAUDE.md; community handbooks note /reset and /new aliases
- Use when switching tasks or when early instructions keep steering answers
Scenario 2 - long session without losing the point
- /compact summarizes the conversation so far; accepts focus instructions like /compact keep test conclusions
- Auto-compact kicks in near the context limit
- /context visualizes current context usage to help you choose
Scenario 3 - restore a previous session
- /resume (alias /continue) picks from history; claude -c continues the last session directly
Scenario 4 - login/auth issues
- /login re-authenticates; subscription users go through browser flow, API users check ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
- Run claude doctor before reinstalling on startup failures
FAQ
claude code reset not working?
Match the command: /clear for context, /compact for tokens, /resume for sessions, /login for auth. Mixing them is the usual culprit.
Does /clear delete CLAUDE.md?
No. /clear only resets conversation history; CLAUDE.md stays in effect.
/clear vs /compact?
/clear starts clean; /compact keeps a summary. Mid-task use /compact, new task use /clear.
How do I resume the last session?
/resume in-session, or run claude -c in the terminal to continue the most recent one.
401 or auth failures?
/login to re-authorize; API users verify ANTHROPIC_API_KEY; otherwise claude doctor diagnoses.