OAuth Token Lost Between Sessions
After successfully authenticating with OAuth during a Claude Code session, the token is lost when starting a new session. Users are forced to re-authenticate every time they run Claude Code, defeating the purpose of persistent authentication.
This commonly occurs when the agent doesn't properly serialize session state or when the token storage mechanism isn't configured for persistence across CLI invocations.
Error Messages You Might See
Common Causes
- Session token stored in memory-only structures instead of persistent storage (files or database)
- Token refresh mechanism not triggered before token expiration
- Missing environment variable or config file for token persistence path
- Session directory permissions preventing write/read operations
- Token encryption/decryption logic failing silently on reload
How to Fix It
Implement a token store using a local file (e.g., ~/.claude-code/tokens.json) with proper encryption. Add a token refresh check at CLI startup. Ensure the session directory exists with correct permissions (700). Test token round-trip serialization with unit tests.
Real developers can help you.
Anthony Akpan
Developer with 8 years of experience building softwares fro startups
rayush33
JavaScript (React.js, React Native, Node.js) Developer with demonstrated industry experience of 4+ years, actively looking for opportunities to hone my skills as well as help small-scale business owners with solutions to technical problems
Sage Fulcher
Hey I'm Sage! Im a Boston area software engineer who grew up in South Florida. Ive worked at a ton of cool places like a telehealth kidney care startup that took part in a billion dollar merger (Cricket health/Interwell health), a boutique design agency where I got to work on a ton of exciting startups including a photography education app, a collegiate Esports league and more (Philosophie), a data analytics as a service startup in Cambridge (MA) as well as at Phillips and MIT Lincoln Lab where I designed and developed novel network security visualizations and analytics. I've been writing code and furiously devoted to using computers to make people’s lives easier for about 17 years. My degree is in making computers make pretty lights and sounds. Outside of work I love hip hop, the Celtics, professional wrestling, magic the gathering, photography, drumming, and guitars (both making and playing them)
Daniel Vázquez
Software Engineer with over 10 years of experience on Startups, Government, big tech industry & consulting.
Meïr Ankri
Full-stack developer specializing in React / Next.js / Node.js with 6+ years of experience. I've worked across various sectors including automotive (Reezocar/Société Générale), healthcare (Medical Link SaaS), and e-commerce (Glasman). I build web apps end-to-end, from architecture to production, with a focus on scalability, performance, and code quality. I also mentor junior developers and contribute to technical decisions and code reviews.
ISHANTDEEP SINGH
Senior Software Engineer with 7+ years of experience in React, JavaScript, TypeScript, Next.js, and Node.js. I’ve also worked as a tech lead for startups, owning end-to-end technical execution including architecture, development, scaling, and delivery. I bring a strong mix of hands-on coding, product thinking, and technical leadership, and I’m comfortable building products from scratch as well as improving and scaling existing systems.
Kingsley Omage
Fullstack software engineer passionate about AI Agents, blockchain, LLMs.
Stanislav Prigodich
15+ years building iOS and web apps at startups and enterprise companies. I want to use that experience to help builders ship real products - when something breaks, I'm here to fix it.
Tejas Chokhawala
Full-stack engineer with 5 years experience building production web apps using React, Next.js and TypeScript.
Focused on performance, clean architecture and shipping fast.
Experienced with Supabase/Postgres backends, Stripe billing, and building AI-assisted developer tools.
prajwalfullstack
Hi Im a full stack developer, a vibe coded MVP to Market ready product, I'm here to help
You don't need to be technical. Just describe what's wrong and a verified developer will handle the rest.
Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Where should OAuth tokens be stored?
Store encrypted tokens in a platform-specific config directory (~/.claude-code on Unix, %APPDATA% on Windows). Never commit tokens to version control.
How often should tokens be refreshed?
Check token expiration at CLI startup and refresh if within 10 minutes of expiry. Implement automatic refresh during long-running sessions.
What encryption should be used for stored tokens?
Use AES-256-GCM encryption with a key derived from a system keychain or master password stored securely.