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

See Keyboard shortcuts for model-switching shortcuts.

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"

See Slash commands for interactive session commands.

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. See Configuration files for persistent resource configuration.

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 Code 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.

Overview

Get Started

Using Step Code

Reference & Support

Model options

Session options

Tool options

Resource options

Other options

Subcommands

​Model options

​Session options

​Tool options

​Resource options

​Other options

​Subcommands

Model options

Session options

Tool options

Resource options

Other options

Subcommands