The step command

Use step to start sessions or manage installation, resource packages, and MCP servers.

step [options] [--] [@files...] [task...]

Inspect available options and the installed version:

step --help
step --version

Model options

Option	Description
`--provider <name>`	Provider such as `step`, `anthropic`, or `openai`
`--model <model>`	Model ID or pattern; supports `provider/id` and a thinking-level suffix
`--api-key <key>`	Override other credentials; beware of shell history and process-argument exposure
`--thinking <level>`	`off`, `minimal`, `low`, `medium`, `high`, `xhigh`, `max`, subject to model support
`--models <list>`	Comma-separated models for Ctrl+P cycling
`--list-models [search]`	List available models

step --provider step --model step-3.7-flash
step --list-models flash

Session options

Option	Description
`-c`, `--continue`	Continue the most recent session
`-r`, `--resume`	Browse sessions; optionally supply a path or ID
`--session <path-or-ID>`	Select a session, including by partial ID
`--fork <path-or-ID>`	Fork a session
`--session-dir <directory>`	Override the session directory
`--no-session`	Do not save this session
`--name <name>`, `-n <name>`	Name the session
`-p`, `--print`	Run once and exit; accepts stdin and `@files`

step --name "Interface review" @README.md "Summarize the interface contracts"
step -p @screenshot.png "Explain the error in this screenshot"
step --no-session -p "Explain semantic versioning"

Tool options

Option	Description
`--tools <list>`, `-t <list>`	Comma-separated allowlist for built-in and extension tools
`--exclude-tools <list>`, `-xt <list>`	Exclude tools
`--no-builtin-tools`, `-nbt`	Disable built-in tools, keeping extensions
`--no-tools`, `-nt`	Disable all tools

For example, allow file reading and search:

step --tools read,grep,find,ls -p "Check README against the project structure without modifying files"

See Approval flow for permissions and dangerous operations.

Resource options

Option	Description
`-e <source>`, `--extension <source>`	Load an extension temporarily; repeatable
`--skill <path>`	Explicitly load a Skill; repeatable
`--prompt-template <path>`	Load a prompt template; repeatable
`--theme <path>`	Load a theme resource; repeatable
`--no-extensions`, `--no-skills`, `--no-prompt-templates`, `--no-themes`	Disable corresponding automatic discovery
`--no-context-files`, `-nc`	Disable automatic project-instruction loading

Explicit resources can be combined with options disabling discovery. They must still come from trusted sources.

Other options

Option	Description
`--plan`	Start in Plan mode
`--tui-mode <mode>`	`regular` or experimental `fullscreen`
`--approval-mode <mode>`	Approval policy for non-interactive mode
`--version`	Show version
`--use-theme <name>`	Theme for this launch
`--export <session-file> [output-file]`	Export a session to HTML
`--`	End option parsing; remaining arguments are messages or file references

Subcommands

Command	Description
`step update`	Update to the latest stable version; alias `step upgrade`
`step update <version>`	Install a version, for example `step update 0.4.0`
`step update --all`	Update Step and all packages
`step update --extensions`	Update only packages
`step install <source>`	Install a resource package
`step remove <source>`	Remove a resource package
`step list`	List packages
`step config`	Manage resources interactively; Tab switches global and project scope
`step mcp`	MCP `list`, `get`, `add`, `remove`, `login`, `logout`
`step login`, `step logout`	Sign in to or out of Step
`step login status`	Show Step login method and status

Updates include download, checksum verification, a smoke test, and rollback on failure. Replace the example 0.4.0 with the release you need. See Plugins for package sources and pinning.

Guides

Configuration

Customization

Reference

Model options

Session options

Tool options

Resource options

Other options

Subcommands

Next steps

​Model options

​Session options

​Tool options

​Resource options

​Other options

​Subcommands

​Next steps

Model options

Session options

Tool options

Resource options

Other options

Subcommands

Next steps