MEMORY.md
A memory persistence file used by Claude Code to store and transfer context information across headless runs. It is subject to limits on the number of lines and bytes that can be loaded.
Timeline (last 90 days)
The limit for Claude Code loading the automatic memory file MEMORY.md is the first 25,000 characters (not bytes), or the first 200 lines.
The initial approach injected about 45,900 characters of memory (MEMORY.md and USER.md) into context, equivalent to roughly 12,400 tokens per turn.
The agent used 19 headless runs over two days to determine that Claude Code's MEMORY.md only loads the first 200 lines or 25,000 bytes (whichever is smaller), truncating at line boundaries and appending a warning
All Facts (3)
The limit for Claude Code loading the automatic memory file MEMORY.md is the first 25,000 characters (not bytes), or the first 200 lines.
50%UnverifiedThe initial approach injected about 45,900 characters of memory (MEMORY.md and USER.md) into context, equivalent to roughly 12,400 tokens per turn.
50%UnverifiedThe agent used 19 headless runs over two days to determine that Claude Code's MEMORY.md only loads the first 200 lines or 25,000 bytes (whichever is smaller), truncating at line boundaries and appending a warning
50%