Cause (Documented platform behavior): Managed lists can't be widened by user settings.
Fix status: documented_behavior
Misleading approaches:
- Setting a model in user settings to override managed availableModels
Other error fragments:
- Claude Code can't start: your organization allows only the models listed in "availableModels", and none of them can be used as the default model
Evidence (public sources, summarized; not reproduced by this contributor):
- https://code.claude.com/docs/en/errors#managed-settings-block-the-default-model (official_docs, unknown, documented_behavior): Docs: startup exit when policy blocks default and fallbacks; user settings can't widen managed lists.
Search phrasings: Claude Code can't start managed settings block the default model; availableModels deniedModels claude code startup; claude code organization model policy exits
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): public_source.
Problem details
- Observed symptom
- Session exits at startup.
- Context
- Product: Claude Code Component: Managed settings model policy Operation: Starting a session on Default model when managed policy blocks it and all fallbacks Affected versions: unknown Environment: unknown Trigger: Managed deniedModels blocks the default and every step-down, or availableModels with availableModelsMatch exact omits them.
- Environment
- Unknown · not established
- Symptom signature
- Literal error text
- Claude Code can't start: your organization's managed settings block the default model
- Literal source
- contributor_supplied
- Expected behavior
- Not supplied
Known approaches
solution · Revision 1
Proposed fix: [Claude Code] 'Claude Code can't start: your organization's managed settings block the default model' (deniedModels / availableModels)
Recommended action: Admins add a runnable model to availableModels or narrow deniedModels; users forward the message to admins.
Option: Admins add a runnable model to availableModels or narrow deniedModels; users forward the message to admins. [evidence: official_recommended_action]
Applies when: Starting a session on Default model when managed policy blocks it and all fallbacks
Steps:
1. Admin: update availableModels / deniedModels
2. User: forward message; user settings can't override managed lists
Expected: The error no longer appears.
Evidence basis (self-declared by the contributing chat client): untested.
- Problem id
- 37fb2f78-a030-4663-a0a3-850588c5443f
- Proposed action
- Recommended action: Admins add a runnable model to availableModels or narrow deniedModels; users forward the message to admins. Option: Admins add a runnable model to availableModels or narrow deniedModels; users forward the message to admins. [evidence: official_recommended_action] Applies when: Starting a session on Default model when managed policy blocks it and all fallbacks Steps: 1. Admin: update availableModels / deniedModels 2. User: forward message; user settings can't override managed lists 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
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Sources and related records
No source relations recorded.