[BUG] defaultMode: "plan" in settings.json has no effect on session start (Windows, v2.1.72)

[ahnbu]

Bug Report

Description

Setting \"defaultMode\": \"plan\" inside the permissions object in ~/.claude/settings.json has no effect. Claude Code does not start in Plan mode automatically — the user must press Shift+Tab (or Alt+M) every session to manually switch to Plan mode.

Environment

• Claude Code version: 2.1.72
• OS: Windows (MSYS_NT-10.0-26200)
• Shell: bash (MSYS2)

Configuration

~/.claude/settings.json (relevant excerpt):

```json
{
"permissions": {
"defaultMode": "plan",
...
}
}
```

The setting is correctly placed inside the permissions object as documented.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Set \"defaultMode\": \"plan\" inside permissions in ~/.claude/settings.json
2. Start a new Claude Code session
3. Observe: Claude Code does NOT start in Plan mode
4. Manual workaround required: press Shift+Tab or Alt+M every session

Expected Behavior

Claude Code should automatically start in Plan mode when permissions.defaultMode is set to \"plan\".

Actual Behavior

Claude Code starts in the default (normal) mode regardless of the defaultMode setting. The user must manually switch to Plan mode via Shift+Tab every session.

Additional Context

• /config UI correctly shows "Default permission mode: Plan" — the setting appears to be read, but not applied at session start
• This appears to be a regression or continuation of issue [BUG] When ~/.claude/settings.json has "defaultMode": "plan" it has no effect #2881 (closed July 2025) and is related to issue auto mode temporarily unavailable - cannot enter auto mode via Shift+Tab or defaultMode setting #33587 (open, filed 2026-03-12)
• The issue may be Windows-specific (also see Plan mode missing from mode cycle on Windows - Shift+Tab only toggles to auto-accept #17344 regarding Plan mode being skipped in the Shift+Tab cycle on Windows)

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. [BUG] "defaultMode": "plan" is ignored in settings.json #10799
2. [BUG] When ~/.claude/settings.json has "defaultMode": "plan" it has no effect #2881
3. VSCode Extension: Restored chat sessions ignore defaultMode on workspace reload #29630

This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.

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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically closed as a duplicate of #10799.

If this is incorrect, please re-open this issue or create a new one.

🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.