> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://platform.stepfun.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# The step command

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

```text theme={"theme":{"light":"light-plus","dark":"dark-plus"}}
step [options] [--] [@files...] [task...]
```

Inspect available options and the installed version:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"light-plus","dark":"dark-plus"}}
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                                                               |

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"light-plus","dark":"dark-plus"}}
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`   |

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"light-plus","dark":"dark-plus"}}
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:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"light-plus","dark":"dark-plus"}}
step --tools read,grep,find,ls -p "Check README against the project structure without modifying files"
```

See [Approval flow](/docs/en/step-code/guides/interaction#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](/docs/en/step-code/customization/plugins) for package sources and pinning.

## Next steps

* [Slash commands](/docs/en/step-code/reference/slash-commands)
* [Keyboard shortcuts](/docs/en/step-code/reference/keyboard-shortcuts)
* [Configuration files](/docs/en/step-code/configuration/files)