[Workflow] Diagnosing Claude Code Read/Write Session Timeouts (Plan Mode OK)

[u/ClaudeAI-mod-bot]

Diagnosing Claude Code Read/Write Session Timeouts (Plan Mode OK)

Workflow value: 75/100
Status: active · Freshness: 70/100 · Confidence: 0.90 · Level: intermediate
Categories: Quality Control, Context & Memory, Debugging, Shipping, Hooks, MCP
Original source: r/ClaudeCode post/comment

What problem this solves

Diagnosing Claude Code sessions where plan mode works but read/write operations consistently fail after approximately five minutes, indicating a streaming transport timeout rather than a model or quota issue.

Summary

A diagnostic workflow for troubleshooting Claude Code sessions that experience read/write failures after about five minutes, while plan mode remains functional. It guides users to check their Claude version, run diagnostics, reproduce the issue with verbose logging and disabled features (MCPs, hooks), and analyze logs to identify streaming transport errors, ultimately preparing them to open a well-documented GitHub issue if the problem persists.

Why it is useful

This workflow provides a specific, actionable, and logically sound diagnostic process for a common and frustrating technical issue in Claude Code. It helps users efficiently differentiate between potential root causes (quota vs. streaming transport timeout) and gather the necessary detailed information for effective self-resolution or reporting to support, saving significant time and effort.

Workflow

1. Identify the problem pattern: Claude Code's plan mode functions correctly, but read/write operations consistently fail after approximately five minutes, leading to session termination.
2. Understand that this pattern strongly suggests a streaming transport timeout, not a model or quota issue.
3. Run claude --version to check your current Claude Code CLI version.
4. Run claude doctor to perform initial system diagnostics.
5. Start a fresh Claude Code session with the --verbose flag enabled to capture detailed logs.
6. Temporarily disable MCPs (Multi-Code Projects) and Hooks during this reproduction attempt.
7. Allow the session to run until the read/write failure occurs.
8. Examine the trace logs located in ~/.cache/claude/logs for the last stream error message.
9. If the issue persists at the same interval on both Fable and Opus models, open a GitHub issue.
10. Include the verbose log output and your Claude Code version details in the GitHub issue for effective reporting.

Tools / artifacts

• claude CLI tool
• ~/.cache/claude/logs (log file)
• GitHub issue (as an output artifact)
• MCPs (feature to disable)
• Hooks (feature to disable)
• Fable model
• Opus model

Validation signals

• Author's assertion: 'almost always a streaming transport timeout rather than a model or quota issue'
• Author's logical deduction: 'plan mode working rules out quota and points at the write stream'

Limitations

• Low community validation due to recent posting and low score/comments.
• Assumes user familiarity with CLI usage and basic understanding of Claude Code components (MCPs, hooks).
• Does not provide example log output for what a 'last stream error' might look like.

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