# How to Set Up Reasoning Effort Control in Claude Code with DeepSeek Models

> Master reasoning effort control in Claude Code with DeepSeek models. Set CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL to max, high, medium, or low for tailored computational depth. Optimize your AI's performance.

- Repository: [DeepSeek/awesome-deepseek-agent](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-15

---

**Set the `CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL` environment variable to `max`, `high`, `medium`, or `low` in your Claude Code configuration file or shell environment to regulate computational depth when using DeepSeek models.**

Claude Code uses **reasoning effort levels** to determine how much computational resources it allocates for generating code suggestions. When paired with DeepSeek's Anthropic-compatible models through the `deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent` repository, you can control this effort through the `CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL` setting, either in the global Claude Code configuration file or via environment variables.

## Configuring Reasoning Effort Control

The `CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL` setting translates into deeper reasoning and longer context windows when set to higher values. You can configure this using two primary methods documented in [`docs/claude_code.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/docs/claude_code.md).

### Method 1: Global Configuration File

Add the key under the `"env"` block in `~/.claude/settings.json` (Linux/macOS) or `%USERPROFILE%\.claude\settings.json` (Windows). According to line 57 of [`docs/claude_code.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/docs/claude_code.md), setting the value to `max` (or `high`, `medium`, `low` depending on the model) tells Claude Code to request the highest-effort model parameters from DeepSeek.

```json
{
  "env": {
    "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic",
    "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "<your DeepSeek API Key>",
    "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "deepseek-v4-pro[1m]",
    "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_OPUS_MODEL": "deepseek-v4-pro[1m]",
    "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_SONNET_MODEL": "deepseek-v4-pro[1m]",
    "ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_HAIKU_MODEL": "deepseek-v4-flash[1m]",
    "CLAUDE_CODE_DISABLE_NONESSENTIAL_TRAFFIC": "1",
    "CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL": "max"
  }
}

```

### Method 2: Environment Variables (Linux/macOS)

For temporary changes or CI pipelines, export `CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL` before launching Claude Code. As documented at line 74 of [`docs/claude_code.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/docs/claude_code.md), use the following export commands:

```bash
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic
export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN=<your DeepSeek API Key>
export ANTHROPIC_MODEL=deepseek-v4-pro[1m]
export CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL=max
claude   # launch Claude Code CLI

```

### Method 3: Environment Variables (Windows PowerShell)

On Windows systems, set the variables using PowerShell syntax as shown at line 87 of [`docs/claude_code.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/docs/claude_code.md):

```powershell
$env:ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic"
$env:ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="<your DeepSeek API Key>"
$env:ANTHROPIC_MODEL="deepseek-v4-pro[1m]"
$env:CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL="max"
claude   # start Claude Code

```

## Understanding Effort Levels and Model Selection

The effort level works in conjunction with the DeepSeek model selection variables (`ANTHROPIC_MODEL`, `ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_OPUS_MODEL`, etc.). By default, lines 50-53 of [`docs/claude_code.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/docs/claude_code.md) suggest using the `deepseek-v4-pro[1m]` model for all three Claude families (Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku), though you can pair any of those with the effort flag to fine-tune performance versus cost.

- **`max`**: Highest computational effort, deepest reasoning, longest context processing
- **`high`**: Increased reasoning with moderate resource allocation
- **`medium`**: Balanced performance for standard coding tasks
- **`low`**: Minimal reasoning, fastest response times, lower cost

The Chinese translation in [`docs/claude_code.zh-CN.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/docs/claude_code.zh-CN.md) provides equivalent instructions for bilingual teams, while [`CONTRIBUTING.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) references these configuration patterns as standard practice for contributors working with Claude Code integrations.

## Summary

- **Primary control**: Use `CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL` environment variable to adjust reasoning depth
- **Configuration location**: Set persistently in `~/.claude/settings.json` (Linux/macOS) or `%USERPROFILE%\.claude\settings.json` (Windows)
- **Temporary overrides**: Export variables in shell sessions or CI pipelines before running `claude`
- **Model pairing**: Combine effort levels with `ANTHROPIC_MODEL` variables pointing to DeepSeek endpoints like `deepseek-v4-pro[1m]`
- **Documentation source**: Reference [`docs/claude_code.md`](https://github.com/deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent/blob/main/docs/claude_code.md) in the `deepseek-ai/awesome-deepseek-agent` repository for line-specific configuration details

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What values can I set for CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL?

You can set `CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL` to `max`, `high`, `medium`, or `low`. The `max` setting requests the highest-effort model parameters from DeepSeek, triggering deeper reasoning and longer context windows, while `low` prioritizes speed and cost efficiency.

### Does the reasoning effort level work with all DeepSeek models?

Yes, the effort level setting works with any DeepSeek model accessed through the Anthropic-compatible API endpoint (`https://api.deepseek.com/anthropic`). The configuration pairs `CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL` with model selection variables like `ANTHROPIC_MODEL` or family-specific defaults such as `ANTHROPIC_DEFAULT_OPUS_MODEL`.

### Where is the Claude Code configuration file located on Windows?

On Windows, store your configuration in `%USERPROFILE%\.claude\settings.json`. This file uses the same JSON structure as the Linux/macOS version, containing an `"env"` block where you define `CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL` alongside your DeepSeek API credentials and endpoint settings.

### Can I use different effort levels for different Claude model families?

While you set a global `CLAUDE_CODE_EFFORT_LEVEL` variable, you can override it per session by exporting different values before launching Claude Code. The repository recommends using `deepseek-v4-pro[1m]` for Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku families simultaneously, but you can create separate shell aliases or configuration files if you need distinct effort levels for different model families.