[BUG] /clear command automatically switches model to Opus

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?

When I execute the /clear command in VSCode Claude Extension, the model automatically switches from my configured default setting to Opus without any notification. The settings still display "default" as the selected model, but the actual model being used is Opus. This silent model change caused me to unknowingly consume all my Opus tokens while thinking I was using the default model. There was no indication in the UI that the model had been switched, leading to unexpected token depletion and costs.

What Should Happen?

1. The /clear command should only reset the conversation context and preserve the user's configured model selection
2. If the model must be changed for any reason, users should receive a clear notification
3. The model shown in settings should always match the actual model being used
4. Users should be aware of which model they are currently using to manage their token usage appropriately

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open VSCode with Claude Extension installed
2. Go to Claude Extension settings
3. Set the model to "default" (not explicitly selecting Opus or Sonnet)
4. Start a new conversation with Claude
5. Verify you're using the default model
6. Execute the /clear command to reset the conversation
7. Continue the conversation
8. Observe that:

• Settings still show "default" as the model selection
• However, the actual model being used has been switched to Opus
• No notification or warning was displayed about this change
• Token usage reflects Opus consumption despite expecting default model usage

Result: Opus tokens are consumed without user awareness, potentially depleting the entire quota.

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.0.49 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

<img width="482" height="168" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3d82c607-10f7-4863-a54e-f187969572f4" />

<img width="388" height="241" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/28e49c33-ed58-43d5-9c95-534838deced3" />