Manage Multiple Claude Code Accounts.md

Manage Multiple Claude Code Accounts

Run two Claude Code accounts simultaneously on macOS without re-authenticating by using separate configuration directories.

Steps

1. Create Separate Config Directories

   mkdir ~/.claude-account1
   mkdir ~/.claude-account2

2. Add Aliases to Shell Config

   • Open ~/.zshrc (or ~/.bashrc for Bash) in an editor:

     nano ~/.zshrc

   • Add:

     alias claude-account1="CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR=~/.claude-account1 claude"
     alias claude-account2="CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR=~/.claude-account2 claude"

   • Save and reload:

     source ~/.zshrc

3. Authenticate Each Account

   • For account 1:

     claude-account1

     Log in; credentials save to ~/.claude-account1.
   • For account 2:

     claude-account2

     Log in; credentials save to ~/.claude-account2.

4. Switch or Run Simultaneously

   • Run claude-account1 or claude-account2 in separate terminal tabs (Cmd + T).
   • Each uses its own config and usage limits.

Notes

• Requires separate Anthropic accounts (different emails).
• Check Anthropic’s terms to ensure compliance.
• Update Claude Code: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code.
• If re-authentication occurs, verify CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR with echo $CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR.

You can do something similiar with tku:

tku account list
Accounts (claude):
  * default              org: 652311d5  Claude Max (5x)
    business             org: cc4e31d9  team (5x)

* = currently active

Typical workflow for two accounts:

# already logged into account A via Claude Code
tku account add work

# log into account B (Claude Code drives this, not tku)
claude /logout
claude /login

tku account add personal

# from now on:
tku account use work
tku account use personal

All other properties like memory, skills, agents ... are shared between accounts.

https://github.com/yogasw/wick

Built a proper repo on top of this mac-approach: github.com/dody87/ccam — auto-detects ~/.claude-* dirs, no config needed. Adds claude-status (usage bars + plan + reset time for all accounts) and claude-switch (symlink-based account switching with interactive menu).

Same idea, packaged into a CLI — with the one thing I did not see elsewhere in this thread: auto-switching by directory. Link an account to a folder once, and every cd into it (or any subfolder) sets CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR automatically — no manual switch, no per-command launcher.

github.com/Nemo-Illusionist/claude-code-account-switcher

• Cross-platform Rust binary (macOS/Linux/Windows; zsh/bash/PowerShell), plus a zsh shell-script edition sharing the same on-disk format.
• doctor audits the real Anthropic identity behind each config dir (so a wrong-account login does not silently leak limits/history); usage shows 5h + 7d usage bars + reset times across all accounts (similar to ccam's claude-status).
• Shared skills/agents/memory via clone-settings / seeding; credentials stay isolated.