# Claude Settings Audit Guide

> **Purpose**: Condensed reference for Claude.ai Projects
> **Source**: 00-claude-settings-audit skill
> **Version**: 1.0

Comprehensive reference for diagnosing Claude Desktop errors and optimizing context usage.

## Error Quick Reference

| Error Type | Message Pattern | Category |
|------------|-----------------|----------|
| Context too large | "Exceed response limit" | Input |
| Output interrupted | "Response could not be fully generated" | Output |
| Length exceeded | "Message will exceed the length limit" | Input |
| Conversation limit | "Conversation reached maximum length" | Input |
| File too large | "Files larger than 10mb" | File |
| Rate limited | "5-hour limit reached" | Usage |
| Server overload | "Unexpected capacity constraints" | Server |
| MCP failure | "Error connecting to [ServerName]" | MCP |
| Account issue | "Account has been disabled" | Account |

## Quick Diagnosis Tree

```
Error occurred?
│
├─ BEFORE response started?
│   ├─ "Exceed response limit" → Reduce input context
│   ├─ "Length limit" → Break into smaller messages
│   ├─ "File too large" → Reduce file size or excerpt
│   ├─ "Capacity constraints" → Wait and retry
│   └─ "MCP error" → Check MCP configuration
│
├─ DURING response?
│   ├─ "Could not be fully generated" → Request smaller output
│   └─ Output suddenly stopped → Retry or chunk request
│
└─ BEFORE even sending?
    ├─ "5-hour limit reached" → Wait for reset
    ├─ "Messages left" → Near usage limit
    └─ "Account disabled" → Contact support
```

---

## Token Limits by Model

| Model | Context Window | Output Limit | Practical Available |
|-------|---------------|--------------|---------------------|
| Claude 3.5 Sonnet | 200K tokens | ~8K tokens | ~150K after system |
| Claude 3 Opus | 200K tokens | ~4K tokens | ~150K after system |
| Claude 3 Haiku | 200K tokens | ~4K tokens | ~160K after system |

---

# ERROR CATEGORIES

## 1. Input/Context Errors

### "Exceed response limit"

**Causes:**
- Loaded context too large (MCP tools + skills + files)
- Conversation history accumulated
- Multiple large files attached

**Solutions:**
1. Reduce MCP servers (max 5 recommended)
2. Add `serverInstructions` to all MCP servers
3. Start fresh conversation
4. Attach file excerpts instead of full files

### "Message will exceed the length limit"

**Solutions:**
1. Break content into smaller chunks
2. Summarize key sections before sending
3. Start a new conversation

### "Conversation reached maximum length"

**Solutions:**
1. Start a new conversation
2. Copy essential context to new chat

---

## 2. Output Errors

### "Response could not be fully generated"

**Causes:**
- Output exceeded ~4K-8K token limit
- Safety filter triggered
- Network interruption
- Server timeout

**Solutions:**
1. Request smaller chunks of output
2. Add constraints: "In under 500 words..."
3. Be more specific in scope
4. Retry once before rephrasing

**Prompting techniques:**
- "Provide a concise summary..."
- "List the top 10..."
- "First, outline the structure"
- "Use bullet points, not paragraphs"

---

## 3. File Errors

### "Files larger than 10MB"

**Solutions:**
1. Compress file if possible
2. Split into smaller files
3. Extract text content only

### "Message is X% over the length limit"

**Solutions:**
1. Extract relevant excerpts only
2. Summarize large documents
3. Split across multiple messages

---

## 4. Usage Limit Errors

### "5-hour limit reached"

**Solutions:**
1. Wait until reset time shown
2. Upgrade plan for higher limits
3. Optimize prompts to use fewer tokens

### "X messages left until [time]"

**Solutions:**
1. Combine multiple questions into one
2. Wait for reset
3. Consider paid plan

---

## 5. Server/Capacity Errors

### "Unexpected capacity constraints"

**Solutions:**
1. Wait 2-5 minutes and retry
2. Try during off-peak hours
3. Check status.claude.com for incidents

### HTTP Error Codes

| Code | Meaning | Solution |
|------|---------|----------|
| 500 | Internal Server Error | Wait and retry |
| 429 | Too Many Requests | Slow down, wait |
| 403 | Forbidden | Check account status |
| 400 | Bad Request | Check input format |

---

## 6. MCP Connection Errors

### "Error connecting to [ServerName]"

**Causes:**
1. Server not running
2. Incorrect configuration
3. Transport type mismatch (stdio vs HTTP)
4. Authentication failure

**Diagnosis steps:**
1. Check server logs:
   - macOS: `~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp-server-SERVERNAME.log`
   - Windows: `%APPDATA%\Claude\logs\mcp-server-SERVERNAME.log`

2. Verify configuration in `claude_desktop_config.json`

3. Test server independently

**Common fixes:**

| Issue | Fix |
|-------|-----|
| Transport mismatch | Add `"transport": "http"` to config |
| Path with spaces | Use escaped paths |
| Missing env vars | Add to `"env"` in config |
| Server not installed | Run `npm install -g` first |

**Critical:** Restart Claude Desktop after config changes.

---

## 7. Account Errors

### "Account has been disabled"

**Solutions:**
1. Contact Anthropic support
2. Review Terms of Service
3. Do not create new accounts

### "Error logging you in"

**Solutions:**
1. Disable VPN
2. Clear browser cache and cookies
3. Try incognito window
4. Check status.claude.com

---

## 8. Output Quality Issues

### Output Suddenly Stops

**Solutions:**
1. Ask "Please continue from where you stopped"
2. Request smaller chunks upfront
3. Be more specific in scope

### Gibberish Output

**Solutions:**
1. Simplify prompt
2. Start new conversation
3. Rephrase request differently

### Claude Refuses to Respond

**Solutions:**
1. Rephrase more clearly
2. Explain legitimate use case
3. Break into smaller requests

---

# TOKEN BUDGET GUIDELINES

## MCP Server Token Estimates

| Server | Tokens (approx) |
|--------|-----------------|
| Playwright | ~13,500 |
| Notion | ~5,000 |
| GitHub | ~18,000 |
| Filesystem | ~4,000 |
| Zapier | ~25,000+ (avoid) |

## serverInstructions Pattern

Every MCP server should have:

```json
"serverInstructions": "[Purpose]. Use for: [case1], [case2]. Keywords: [kw1], [kw2]"
```

Example:
```json
"serverInstructions": "Browser automation. Use for: screenshots, page testing. Keywords: browser, DOM, screenshot"
```

## Budget Calculator

```
System overhead:        ~10,000 tokens (fixed)
MCP servers:            [count] × ~3,000 = [estimate]
Loaded skills:          [count] × ~500 = [estimate]
Project instructions:   ~[estimate]
────────────────────────────────────────────
Baseline total:         [sum]
Available for work:     200,000 - [sum] = [remaining]
```

**Targets:**
- Baseline: < 40,000 tokens (20%)
- Available: > 160,000 tokens (80%)

---

# PREVENTION CHECKLIST

## Context/Input
- [ ] Maximum 5 MCP servers active
- [ ] All servers have serverInstructions
- [ ] Skills under 1,000 words
- [ ] Start fresh conversations for new topics
- [ ] Files under 10MB, prefer excerpts

## Output
- [ ] Break large requests into chunks
- [ ] Use specific scope in prompts
- [ ] Paginate lists (50 items max)
- [ ] Retry once before rephrasing

## Usage Limits
- [ ] Monitor "messages left" warnings
- [ ] Combine related questions
- [ ] Use concise prompts

## MCP Stability
- [ ] Test servers before adding
- [ ] Restart app after config changes
- [ ] Keep servers updated

## General
- [ ] Check status.claude.com when issues occur
- [ ] Keep Claude Desktop updated
- [ ] Back up important conversations

---

# CONFIGURATION LOCATIONS

## Config Files

**macOS:**
```
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
```

**Windows:**
```
%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
```

## Log Files

**macOS:**
```
~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp-server-SERVERNAME.log
```

**Windows:**
```
%APPDATA%\Claude\logs\mcp-server-SERVERNAME.log
```

---

*Reference: Claude Settings Audit Skill v1.0*
*Last updated: 2025-02*