---
name: pause
description: Pause mehmory capture and injection for this session when the user says pause memory, stop capturing, or mute mehmory. Uses a locked helper to write the pause flag under ~/.mehmory/.state (outside the project), so permission may be required. Reversible with resume.
allowed-tools: Read Bash
---

# Pause

Pause the explicitly identified current session through the transactional helper.

1. Read the `session: <id>` line inside the injected `<mehmory-memory>` frame; decode
   the id if JSON-quoted. It identifies `$HOME_DIR/.state/<sha256(session-id)>.json`
   (`HOME_DIR` is `${MEHMORY_HOME:-$HOME/.mehmory}`). If the line is unavailable, ask the
   user for the id. A recent state file is not proof of identity when sessions run concurrently.
   If the frame names a session but only
   `$HOME_DIR/.state/<sha256(session-id)>.finalized.json` exists, read `project_key` and
   `host` from that marker; it is the same session retired by the idle sweep.
2. Pass that exact id as `session_id` in JSON on stdin:

   ```bash
   mehmory inbox-tx pause <<'JSON'
   {"session_id":"<current session id>"}
   JSON
   ```

   If the CLI is unavailable, use the installed bundle with the same payload and `pause`:
   - Claude Code: `node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/hooks/inbox-tx.mjs" pause`.
   - Codex: read `${CODEX_HOME:-$HOME/.codex}/hooks.json`; use the `inbox-tx.mjs`
     sibling of the absolute `session-start.mjs` path in mehmory's `SessionStart` command.
   - Pi git install: `node "${PI_CODING_AGENT_DIR:-$HOME/.pi/agent}/git/github.com/elderfo/mehmory/hooks/inbox-tx.mjs" pause`.
     For a project-local install, the package is under `.pi/git/github.com/elderfo/mehmory/`.

3. Confirm the returned `session_id` and `paused: true` only after exit 0. On failure,
   report the error; a busy session can be retried. For a finalized session, retry after
   the next turn. Never edit state files directly.

Paused sessions emit no capture, injection, or pointers. The helper changes only the
session flag under the session lock; it preserves the cursor, counter, topic, and origin.

For persistent disabling, offer user-managed `config.json` changes instead. Resume clears
only the session flag and does not override a hook disabled in config.