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    First steps

    Claude Managed Agents overview

    Pre-built, configurable agent harness that runs in managed infrastructure. Best for long-running tasks and asynchronous work.

    Anthropic offers two ways to build with Claude, each suited to different use cases:

    Messages APIClaude Managed Agents
    What it isDirect model prompting accessPre-built, configurable agent harness that runs in managed infrastructure
    Best forCustom agent loops and fine-grained controlLong-running tasks and asynchronous work
    Learn moreMessages API docsClaude Managed Agents docs

    Claude Managed Agents provides the harness and infrastructure for running Claude as an autonomous agent. Instead of building your own agent loop, tool execution, and runtime, you get a fully managed environment where Claude can read files, run commands, browse the web, and execute code securely. The harness supports built in prompt caching, compaction, and other performance optimizations for high quality, efficient agent outputs.

    Quickstart

    Create your first agent session

    API Reference

    Full endpoint documentation

    Core concepts

    Claude Managed Agents is built around four concepts:

    ConceptDescription
    AgentThe model, system prompt, tools, MCP servers, and skills
    EnvironmentA configured container template (packages, network access)
    SessionA running agent instance within an environment, performing a specific task and generating outputs
    EventsMessages exchanged between your application and the agent (user turns, tool results, status updates)

    How it works

    1. 1

      Create an agent

      Define the model, system prompt, tools, MCP servers, and skills. Create the agent once and reference it by ID across sessions.

    2. 2

      Create an environment

      Configure a cloud container with pre-installed packages (Python, Node.js, Go, etc.), network access rules, and mounted files.

    3. 3

      Start a session

      Launch a session that references your agent and environment configuration.

    4. 4

      Send events and stream responses

      Send user messages as events. Claude autonomously executes tools and streams back results via server-sent events (SSE). Event history is persisted server-side and can be fetched in full.

    5. 5

      Steer or interrupt

      Send additional user events to guide the agent mid-execution, or interrupt it to change direction.

    When to use Claude Managed Agents

    Claude Managed Agents is best for workloads that need:

    • Long-running execution - Tasks that run for minutes or hours with multiple tool calls
    • Cloud infrastructure - Secure containers with pre-installed packages and network access
    • Minimal infrastructure - No need to build your own agent loop, sandbox, or tool execution layer
    • Stateful sessions - Persistent file systems and conversation history across multiple interactions

    Supported tools

    Claude Managed Agents gives Claude access to a comprehensive set of built-in tools:

    • Bash - Run shell commands in the container
    • File operations - Read, write, edit, glob, and grep files in the container
    • Web search and fetch - Search the web and retrieve content from URLs
    • MCP servers - Connect to external tool providers

    See Tools for the full list and configuration options.

    Beta access

    Claude Managed Agents is currently in beta. All Managed Agents endpoints require the managed-agents-2026-04-01 beta header. The SDK sets the beta header automatically. Behaviors may be refined between releases to improve outputs.

    To get started, you need:

    1. A Claude API key
    2. The beta header above on all requests
    3. Access to Claude Managed Agents (enabled by default for all API accounts)

    Certain features (outcomes, multiagent, and memory) are in research preview. Request access to try them.

    Rate limits

    Managed Agents endpoints are rate-limited per organization:

    OperationLimit
    Create endpoints (agents, sessions, environments, etc.)60 requests per minute
    Read endpoints (retrieve, list, stream, etc.)600 requests per minute

    Organization-level spend limits and tier-based rate limits also apply.

    Branding guidelines

    For partners integrating Claude Managed Agents, use of Claude branding is optional. When referencing Claude in your product:

    Allowed:

    • "Claude Agent" (preferred for dropdown menus)
    • "Claude" (when within a menu already labeled "Agents")
    • "{YourAgentName} Powered by Claude" (if you have an existing agent name)

    Not permitted:

    • "Claude Code" or "Claude Code Agent"
    • "Claude Cowork" or "Claude Cowork Agent"
    • Claude Code-branded ASCII art or visual elements that mimic Claude Code

    Your product should maintain its own branding and not appear to be Claude Code, Claude Cowork, or any other Anthropic product. For questions about branding compliance, contact the Anthropic sales team.

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    • Core concepts
    • How it works
    • When to use Claude Managed Agents
    • Supported tools
    • Beta access
    • Rate limits
    • Branding guidelines