As you connect more and more connectors — tools that let Claude reach out to outside services to pull in information or take action — to Claude, you can eventually run into a squeeze on the room left for the documents, code, and conversation history you actually care about. Claude's Manage tool access setting exists to prevent exactly that, letting you control when and how your connected tools load into a conversation. Based on the official support article (last updated March 16, 2026), here's how the three modes differ and how to switch between them.
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What is Claude's tool access management?
Claude's tool access management is a setting that controls when and how the connectors attached to a conversation get loaded. It's available across nearly every place you use Claude: Claude, Cowork — Claude's collaborative workspace product; check the current screen for exact labels — Claude Desktop, and Claude Mobile (iOS and Android).
Why does this setting matter?
Because the more connectors you have attached, the heavier every single conversation becomes. Each connector takes up a bit of space inside a conversation. With just a few connected services this overhead is barely noticeable, but as your connector library grows, that overhead accumulates and eats into the room available for documents, code, and conversation history. This becomes especially noticeable once you've connected 10 or more.
What's different about the three modes?
Claude offers three tool access modes — Auto, Always available, and On demand — with Auto set as the default. Each mode differs in when and how it loads your connectors.
| Mode | When connectors load | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Auto (default) | Claude decides dynamically based on what you're working on | The safest starting point for most users |
| Always available | All connectors load at the start of every conversation | Ready to use instantly, but takes up more conversation space upfront |
| On demand | Claude searches for the right connector, then loads only that one | Lighter on space, but may add an extra step while Claude searches |
Which mode should you pick for your situation?
The right mode depends on how many connectors you've attached and how you use them. The official documentation lays out these recommendations.
| Your situation | Recommended mode |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 10 connectors, all used frequently | Always available |
| 10-30 tools with mixed usage | Auto |
| 30+ tools or multiple connectors connected | On demand or Auto |
| A specific connector needs to work every time without fail | Always available |
| Conversations are hitting length limits | On demand |
How do you change the setting?
You can switch tool access modes in just a few steps from the menu inside a chat. Here's the procedure from the official documentation.
- Open a chat with Claude.
- Click the “+” button in the lower-left corner of the chat, or type “/” to open the menu.
- Hover over “Connectors,” then move to “Tool access.”
- Select whichever of the three options — Auto, Always available, or On demand — fits your needs.
One thing to watch for — your selection only applies to that conversation. Starting a new conversation resets it back to the Auto default, so if you rely on a particular mode, get in the habit of checking it each time you start fresh. The change takes effect immediately with no confirmation dialog; if you want to double-check it took, just reopen the same menu and look at which option is currently selected. And since you can always switch again, there's no harm in picking the "wrong" one at first.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Will On demand mode cause Claude to miss a connector I need?
According to the official documentation, Claude searches for the most relevant connectors based on your request, so it works well for most tasks. If you have a connector that needs to be available every time without fail, use Always available instead, or set that specific connector's access individually.
Q. Why does Claude sometimes send an extra message before using a connector?
In On demand mode, Claude runs a search step to find the right tool before it can use one. That search adds one extra interaction to the conversation, but in exchange it keeps conversations with many connectors attached from hitting length limits.
Q. Where can I use this feature?
Per the official documentation, tool access modes are available to all users on Claude, Cowork, Claude Desktop, and Claude Mobile (iOS and Android).
If your connector library keeps growing, it's worth taking a moment to check which mode you're currently on. Picking the mode that fits your situation gives Claude more room to work with — and a better shot at finding the right answer.
Related articles
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- How to Use Claude Projects: Knowledge & Instructions to Cut Repetition
- Claude Artifacts: How to Create, Edit, Publish & Share (2026)
- Summarizing Long Documents with Claude: A 5-Step Workflow