Fix: Claude Code Context Window Exceeded Error

You’ve been working in Claude Code for a while, and suddenly you see:

Error: Context window limit exceeded

Or Claude’s responses start getting cut off, it forgets what you just discussed, or it references files that no longer exist.

Why This Happens

Claude has a finite context window (the amount of text it can “remember” in a single session). As your conversation grows:

1. Older messages get summarized or dropped
2. The model struggles to maintain coherence
3. Eventually, you hit the hard limit

This is more likely when:

• Sessions run for hours
• You’re reading many large files
• You’re working on a complex multi-file refactor

Solution 1: Start a Fresh Session

The simplest fix. Close your current session and start new:

# Exit current session
Ctrl+C

# Start fresh
claude

Fresh sessions read the actual current state of your files, not stale cached versions.

Solution 2: Use /compact

If you want to continue but need to free up space:

/compact

This summarizes your conversation history, preserving key context while reducing token usage. Use it:

• Before starting a complex new task
• When responses start slowing down
• Every hour or so in long sessions

Solution 3: Be Selective About File Reading

Don’t let Claude read entire large files when you only need a section:

# Instead of this
Read the entire utils.ts file

# Do this
Read lines 50-100 of utils.ts

Or ask Claude to read only specific functions:

Read the handleSubmit function in Form.tsx

Solution 4: Split Large Tasks

Instead of one massive session for a feature:

Session 1: Design the database schema
Session 2: Implement the API endpoints
Session 3: Build the frontend components
Session 4: Write tests

Each session starts clean with only the relevant context.

Prevention Strategies

Monitor Your Usage

Claude Code shows context usage in the status line. Watch for it approaching limits.

Name Sessions Descriptively

claude --session "auth-refactor-jan17"

This helps you track what each session was for and resume if needed.

Use Subagents for Exploration

When exploring a codebase, use subagents instead of reading everything yourself:

Use an explore agent to find all authentication-related files

Subagents have their own context, so their exploration doesn’t bloat your main session.

Clear Context Strategically

After completing a subtask, you can tell Claude:

We're done with the database migration. You can forget the migration file details.
Now let's work on the API endpoints.

This hints that older context is less relevant.

Signs Your Context Is Getting Stale

• Claude suggests code for functions you already deleted
• It uses old variable names you’ve since renamed
• Responses reference outdated project structure
• The same questions get asked repeatedly

When you notice these, it’s time for /compact or a fresh session.

Advanced: Token Budgeting

If you’re doing a complex task that needs a long session:

1. Start with /compact to baseline
2. Read only essential files
3. Use targeted searches instead of broad exploration
4. Periodically check context usage
5. /compact again when approaching 70% usage

Quick Reference

Symptom	Fix
Hard error (limit exceeded)	Start fresh session
Slow responses	/compact
Stale suggestions	Start fresh session
Forgotten context	/compact or re-read key files
Cut-off responses	/compact then retry