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Show HN: Claude-account – switch Claude Code accounts without logging in again

37 points by hamza_rehman ago | 22 comments

I use separate Claude Code accounts for work and personal projects. Having to log out and go through the login flow every time I switched accounts became annoying, so I built a small CLI to solve it.

The commands are intentionally simple:

claude account add myworkaccount claude account add mypersonalaccount claude account use myworkaccount claude account current

After switching, Claude Code works normally:

claude claude "fix this bug in main.py" Repository: https://github.com/hamzarehmandeveloper/claude-account

Give it a try

carloslfu |next [-]

appreciate you building this! I have two Claude max accounts. The way I do it is that I have two app launchers (claude desktop). I use the desktop app and a different data directory for each launcher like `open -n -a /Applications/Claude.app --args --user-data-dir="<its profile directory>"`. I got my first Claude to make me two different launchers for the two apps, and it's been working perfectly. wdyt?

The only problem I've noticed is with Claude in Chrome. It seems to not work well in the second account. And this makes sense because it was designed just for one app. Do you find yourself having the same problem with this setup? have you tried the second one with the Claude in Chrome ext?

pandoro |next |previous [-]

I use this: https://gist.github.com/KMJ-007/0979814968722051620461ab2aa0...

Simple and works great but requires one alias per account

cowlby |root |parent |next [-]

This is great. My enhancement was to create a .claude-profile file which specifies the account alias. "claude" can be aliased to read the file, set the correct env var, and launch claude.

Another benefit was if no .claude-profile file exists, claude refuses to launch.

orliesaurus |root |parent |previous [-]

simple and easy - thank you

dotancohen |next |previous [-]

Does it share the global ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md file? For some use case I'd like that, for others it could be problematic.

cute_boi |root |parent [-]

Do you expect vibe-coded slop to care about such things? Also, there's already another app, https://github.com/realiti4/claude-swap, which is also vibe-coded, but it's maintained and tested.

dotancohen |root |parent |next [-]

  > Do you expect vibe-coded slop to care about such things?

I'm divorced - I no longer have any expectations. I ask.

carloslfu |root |parent |previous [-]

thanks for sharing this one!

hmokiguess |next |previous [-]

I built the same thing for myself, but I like your implementation so much better.

bdemirkir |next |previous [-]

Or use https://omp.sh and add multiple accounts. omp tracks usage and when limit is reached it uses the next account.

AlexErrant |root |parent [-]

Sadly incompatible with Claude subs.

bdemirkir |root |parent [-]

Subs are supported

AlexErrant |root |parent [-]

Doesn't this require pi, which CC famously bans you for using?

pwython |next |previous [-]

I use the Claude Code desktop app for work, and the CLI for personal, so I'm always logged into both accounts!

baron3dl |next |previous [-]

don't people get banned for doing this kind of thing?

rew0rk |root |parent |next [-]

The threat of account bans and a less than friendly appeal system does make me wary of trying it, even though this would be incredibly useful.

ttoinou |root |parent |next |previous [-]

A lot of them also don’t get banned, right ? There are vibecoders youtubers switching accounts all the time

So what’s the differenve ?

dpoloncsak |root |parent |previous [-]

If it's honestly 'One account is paid for by my employer and used as a tool for my job' and 'One account is for personal use, where I work on passion-projects and the likes' I think it's fine....? Not a lawyer but I'd assume as long as you're not using it to bypass usage limits Anthropic wouldn't even really notice or care.

baron3dl |root |parent [-]

not sure law matters, anthropic is draconian about bans/appeals.

brentmitchell25 |next |previous [-]

Another way for those who use mise. You can auto-switch accounts by directory:

~/development/account1/mise.toml:

[env]

CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR = "{{ env.HOME }}/.claude-account1"

acuteaura |next |previous [-]

revolutionary. you can do this with 2 lines of shell code.

i do this: https://github.com/acuteaura/universe/blob/main/overlays/cla...

swyx |next |previous [-]

does this also extend to codex?

noobmax |previous [-]

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