VS Code extension panel is blank on stable + WSL (401 on webview/index.js); works on Insiders and local Windows

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Description

The Claude Code panel (sidebar and "Open in New Tab") is completely empty when VS Code stable is connected to WSL. No input box, no session history. The extension activates and authenticates fine, but the webview never renders.

Environment

• OS: Windows + WSL2 (Ubuntu-24.04)
• VS Code stable: 1.141.1
• Remote - WSL extension: 0.104.3
• Claude Code extension: 2.1.299 (linux-x64, installed in WSL)
• Claude Code CLI: 2.1.296 (native install)

Expected

Chat panel with input box and session history.

Actual

Blank panel. Extension log shows it is active and healthy:

• "Claude code extension is now active"
• "OAuth tokens found in secure storage"
• "MCP Server running on port ..." and the WS connection succeeds

Developer Tools console shows the webview assets failing:

vscode-remote+wsl-002bubuntu-002d24-002e04.vscode-resource.vscode-cdn.net/home/hugo/.vscode-server/extensions/anthropic.claude-code-2.1.299-linux-x64/webview/index.js: Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 401
index.css: Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 401

The Codex extension (openai.chatgpt) fails the same way on its webview assets ("Codex could not start its user interface"), so this looks like a VS Code remote webview resource problem rather than an extension-specific one.

What works

• VS Code stable opening a local Windows folder (no WSL): the panel works.
• VS Code Insiders connected to the same WSL distro and project: the panel works.

What I tried (no effect on stable + WSL)

• Reinstalled the extension (several times)
• Reinstalled VS Code stable on Windows
• wsl --shutdown, wsl --update, and rm -rf ~/.vscode-server
• Removed a duplicate npm-global CLI install
• No .wslconfig present

What Should Happen?

The Claude Code panel should render normally in VS Code stable when connected to WSL: the chat input box and the session history (clock icon) should be visible, the same as it already works in VS Code Insiders connected to the same WSL distro and in VS Code stable on a local Windows folder.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. On Windows, install VS Code stable 1.141.1 and the "WSL" extension (v0.104.3).
2. Have a WSL2 distro available (Ubuntu-24.04). Install the Claude Code CLI inside it (native install).
3. From the Ubuntu terminal, open any project folder in VS Code:

cd ~/apps/<any-project>
code .

1. In the VS Code window (title shows "[WSL: Ubuntu-24.04]"), install "Claude Code for VS Code" in WSL (extension 2.1.299). Reload the window.
2. Click the Claude icon in the sidebar, or run "Claude Code: Open in New Tab" from the Command Palette.
3. Result: the panel is completely empty (no input box, no session history).
4. Open Help > Toggle Developer Tools > Console. Errors appear:

.../anthropic.claude-code-2.1.299-linux-x64/webview/index.js: Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 401
index.css: Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 401

Control cases (the panel renders correctly):

• VS Code stable opening a local Windows folder (no WSL).
• VS Code Insiders connected to the same WSL distro and project.

No project code is needed: the problem reproduces with any empty folder opened through WSL.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude Code v2.1.299

Platform

Other

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Additional Information

_No response_