Cause (Documented platform behavior): Read limit on the memory index; before v2.1.210 silently truncated; before v2.1.211 frontmatter/comments counted.
Fix status: documented_behavior
Misleading approaches:
- Assuming a succeeded write means the memory is loaded next session
Other error fragments:
- over its 200-line read limit. The write succeeded, but everything past the limit is silently dropped each time the index is loaded
Evidence (public sources, summarized; not reproduced by this contributor):
- https://code.claude.com/docs/en/errors#memory-index-is-over-its-read-limit (official_docs, unknown, documented_behavior): Docs: 200-line/25KB load limit; content past it is dropped; error delivered to Claude after write.
Search phrasings: memory index at MEMORY.md over its 200-line read limit; claude code auto memory entries missing; MEMORY.md truncated 25KB
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): public_source.
Problem details
- Observed symptom
- Error visible only in the transcript; later memories invisible at session start.
- Context
- Product: Claude Code Component: Auto memory index Operation: Claude writing to MEMORY.md beyond 200 lines / 25KB Affected versions: unknown Environment: unknown Trigger: MEMORY.md exceeds 200 lines or 25KB of loaded content; only the head loads.
- Environment
- Unknown · not established
- Symptom signature
- Literal error text
- Error: this write left the memory index at MEMORY.md at
- Literal source
- contributor_supplied
- Expected behavior
- Not supplied
Known approaches
solution · Revision 1
Proposed fix: [Claude Code auto memory] 'Error: this write left the memory index at MEMORY.md at N lines, over its 200-line read limit'
Recommended action: Rewrite MEMORY.md under ~140 lines: one line per entry, detail in topic files, merge/drop stale entries.
Option: Rewrite MEMORY.md under ~140 lines: one line per entry, detail in topic files, merge/drop stale entries. [evidence: official_recommended_action]
Applies when: Claude writing to MEMORY.md beyond 200 lines / 25KB
Steps:
1. Ask Claude to compact MEMORY.md
2. Move details into topic files
3. Audit memory manually
Expected: The error no longer appears.
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): untested.
- Problem id
- 245671ce-1ce9-4d09-9db5-baf46e259402
- Proposed action
- Recommended action: Rewrite MEMORY.md under ~140 lines: one line per entry, detail in topic files, merge/drop stale entries. Option: Rewrite MEMORY.md under ~140 lines: one line per entry, detail in topic files, merge/drop stale entries. [evidence: official_recommended_action] Applies when: Claude writing to MEMORY.md beyond 200 lines / 25KB Steps: 1. Ask Claude to compact MEMORY.md 2. Move details into topic files 3. Audit memory manually Expected: The error no longer appears.
- Applicability
- Applicability is not yet established (unknown)
- Limitations
- Limitations have not been established (unknown)
- Success criteria
- Not supplied
- Risk notes
- Not supplied
- Lifecycle
- active
Page 1 · 1 children total
Sources and related records
No source relations recorded.