Set Up Claude Code Docs for Offline Use (2026)

The Claude Code Docs project mirrors official Anthropic documentation into a local repository. Set it up once and you have offline documentation that auto-updates when you are online.

Prerequisites

  • Git installed (git --version)
  • Internet connection for initial setup
  • Claude Code installed (to use the docs as context)

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/ericbuess/claude-code-docs.git ~/claude-code-docs

This pulls the full mirror of official Claude Code documentation to your local machine. The repository is small (mostly markdown) so the clone completes quickly.

Step 2: Verify the Contents

ls ~/claude-code-docs/

You should see markdown files organized by topic: configuration, hooks, tools, commands, MCP, and more. The structure mirrors the official documentation site.

Step 3: Set Up Auto-Update

The repo includes a hook mechanism for automatic updates. Set up a periodic pull:

cd ~/claude-code-docs
git pull --rebase

For automatic updates, add a cron job or launchd plist:

On macOS (launchd):

cat > ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.claude-docs.update.plist << 'PLIST'
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.claude-docs.update</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/bin/git</string>
        <string>-C</string>
        <string>/Users/you/claude-code-docs</string>
        <string>pull</string>
        <string>--rebase</string>
    </array>
    <key>StartCalendarInterval</key>
    <dict>
        <key>Hour</key>
        <integer>9</integer>
    </dict>
</dict>
</plist>
PLIST
launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.claude-docs.update.plist

On Linux (cron):

echo "0 9 * * * cd ~/claude-code-docs && git pull --rebase" | crontab -

Step 4: Use With Claude Code

Reference the local docs in your Claude Code sessions. You can either symlink into your project:

ln -s ~/claude-code-docs .claude-docs

Or reference directly when asking Claude questions:

Read the file at ~/claude-code-docs/hooks.md and explain how pre-command hooks work

Step 5: Verify Offline Access

Disconnect from the internet and confirm you can still read the docs:

cat ~/claude-code-docs/README.md

If the file renders, your offline setup is complete.

Step 6: Feed Docs to Claude as Context

One powerful use is having Claude reference its own documentation during sessions. Add the docs directory to your project-level context:

# Add to your CLAUDE.md
echo "Reference ~/claude-code-docs/ for official documentation when answering questions about Claude Code features, hooks, or configuration." >> CLAUDE.md

You can also create a slash command that makes Claude read specific doc sections:

Create .claude/commands/lookup-docs.md:

Read the relevant files in ~/claude-code-docs/ to answer this question about Claude Code:
$ARGUMENTS
Cite the specific documentation section in your answer.

Now /lookup-docs how do hooks work gives you documentation-backed answers without opening a browser.

Step 7: Organize for Quick Access

Create a local index file for faster navigation:

cd ~/claude-code-docs
find . -name "*.md" -type f | sort > INDEX.txt

For frequent topics, create symlinks in your project:

# Symlink the sections you reference most
ln -s ~/claude-code-docs/hooks.md .claude/ref-hooks.md
ln -s ~/claude-code-docs/mcp.md .claude/ref-mcp.md
ln -s ~/claude-code-docs/configuration.md .claude/ref-config.md

When Offline Access Matters

The offline setup pays off in several scenarios beyond obvious ones:

Air-gapped environments: Some enterprise development happens on machines without internet access. The local mirror ensures documentation availability.

Slow connections: Hotel WiFi, mobile tethering, or congested office networks make online docs painfully slow. Local files render instantly.

CI/CD pipelines: If your CI pipeline needs to reference Claude Code documentation for automated checks or validations, a local mirror avoids network dependencies.

Focus sessions: Some developers disconnect intentionally during deep work. Local docs mean they can still reference material without breaking focus.

Troubleshooting

Clone fails: Check your internet connection and GitHub access. Try git clone with HTTPS if SSH is blocked. If behind a corporate proxy, configure git proxy settings.

Auto-update fails silently: Check the launchd or cron logs. Common issue: the git path differs on your system — use which git to find the correct path. On macOS, also check that the plist has the correct home directory path.

Docs seem outdated: Run git -C ~/claude-code-docs log -1 to see when the last update happened. If it is old, run a manual pull. The mirror syncs with Anthropic’s documentation releases, which typically happen with major Claude Code updates.

Disk space concerns: The documentation repo is lightweight — typically under 50MB. It should not impact disk space on any modern system.

Merge conflicts during auto-pull: If you have accidentally modified local files, the rebase will fail. Reset with git -C ~/claude-code-docs checkout . and then pull again.

Next Steps

See Also

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