[BUG] Performance regression in v2.0.72 - slow input/response with ~30k tokens context

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/14413
2. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/14461
3. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/14420

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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

Confirming this regression (slowdown + request failures), but I’m not 100% sure which exact version introduced it.

I didn’t use Claude Code CLI on Tuesday. I started using it again on Wednesday evening, and at that time my installed version was 2.0.72. Since then, everything feels noticeably slower (general responsiveness + longer time to get outputs).

Additional detail on the request failures:

• I started getting request errors when sending prompts (retry sometimes works).
• I usually start seeing the request issues when the session is around ~80–90% context used.
• In many cases, after ~10 retries it still keeps failing and the session effectively becomes unusable.
• The error I see is: Request timed out. Check your internet connection and proxy settings
• What consistently helps is manually compacting the session — after compaction I can continue working again.

This seems correlated with session/context growth: once it reaches some threshold, requests start timing out/failing, and compaction resets it back to a workable state.

If helpful, I can share sanitized logs / list enabled plugins & hooks.

I also want to mention that I’m using the Max / Pro plan, so other plans might encounter even more severe issues than I do.

+1 - Experiencing the same issue

Environment:

• Claude Code v2.0.72
• Windows
• Claude Max 5x subscription, Opus 4.5 thinking

Symptoms:

• Console window, or wherever Claude code is open begins to lag and input is delayed
• After a few edits, consistently getting API Error (Request timed out.) retrying up to 10/10 attempts
• /compact temporarily helps, but timeouts return quickly after first edit
• Starting a new chat resolves it temporarily, errors return after first/second edit
• Increased API_TIMEOUT_MS to 600000ms (shown in retry message), but still timing out

Workaround attempts that didn't help:

• Setting API_TIMEOUT_MS in .claude/settings.json
• /compact (only temporary relief, bugs return after first/second message)
• /clear (works but loses context, bugs return after first/second message)

*Downgraded now, working just fine in v2.0.70 as suggested by another github user.

The workaround doesn't work since compaction fails most of the time due to too long conversation if you apply a large plan (sometimes we cannot break things up). 2.0.72 is unusable.

May be related to these reported performance issues, but just running claude in the terminal to kick Claude Code off hangs indefinitely on Windows. Previously versions started up immediately.

We're looking into this folks - bear with us. I don't have a repro yet but downgrading _sounds_ reasonable.

Downgrading doesnt work. It keeps auto updating

On Thu, Dec 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM Chris Lloyd @.***>
wrote:

chrislloyd left a comment (anthropics/claude-code#14476) <https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/14476#issuecomment-3671444464> We're looking into this folks - bear with us. I don't have a repro yet but downgrading sounds reasonable. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/14476#issuecomment-3671444464>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ACUNGOYPUDA76WXUDSTQMGT4CLTBBAVCNFSM6AAAAACPOBMTAGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTMNZRGQ2DINBWGQ> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: @.***>

Downgrading doesnt work. It keeps auto updating […](#)

you need to set

{
  "env": {
    "DISABLE_AUTOUPDATER": "1"
  }
}

in global ~/.claude/settings.json

Nope. It ignores it. And got tricked into auto update. Will post a detailed
bug about it.

On Thu, Dec 18, 2025 at 7:04 PM Vasyl @.***> wrote:

VasylHryha left a comment (anthropics/claude-code#14476) <https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/14476#issuecomment-3671477528> Downgrading doesnt work. It keeps auto updating … <#m_6757462399556388924_> you need to set { "env": { "DISABLE_AUTOUPDATER": "1" } } in global ~/.claude/settings.json — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/14476#issuecomment-3671477528>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ACUNGOYIO5AFY35JWK4PHR34CLUEHAVCNFSM6AAAAACPOBMTAGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTMNZRGQ3TONJSHA> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: @.***>

This bug is really bad. The ignore auto update also doesn't work like blackholegalaxy mentioned.

Temporary workaround - Downgrade via npm:

My solution was to install the previous version via npm:

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@2.0.71 && ~/path/to/npm/packages/claude --version && ~/path/to/npm/packages/claude

In my case with nvm:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@2.0.71 && ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.2/bin/claude --version && ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.2/bin/claude

To find your npm global path:
npm root -g
# or
which claude # if already in PATH

To prevent auto-updates, add to ~/.claude/settings.json:
{
"env": {
"DISABLE_AUTOUPDATER": "1"
}
}

⚠️ Note: For some reason, DISABLE_AUTOUPDATER is being ignored in my case. As a quick workaround, I created a shell alias that reinstalls the stable version each time:
alias claude='npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@2.0.71 && ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.2/bin/claude'

Edit:
Clarification: I also have the native/official installer version installed, but I'm forcing the use of the npm version by explicitly calling the npm binary path instead of the default claude command.

Edit 2:

Environment:

| Component | Version |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------------|
| OS | Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky) |
| Kernel | 6.14.0-37-generic |
| Arch | x86_64 |
| Node.js | v20.19.2 |
| npm | 11.4.2 |
| Shell | Bash |
| Terminal | Terminator (also tested on Alacritty/Gnome Terminal - same issue) |

The issue reproduces across different terminal emulators, so it's not terminal-specific.

Same!

I am having the same issue here

+1 Claude 2.0.73 - crazy high CPU usage with lagging starting in the first 5-10 minutes of a session.
Also can confirm downgrading to 2.0.71 solves the problem. Thank you @nasatome

Still occurs on 2.0.73

so, still waiting on 2.0.71

Confirming this issue with additional diagnostic data from extensive debugging session.

Environment

• Platform: WSL2 Ubuntu 24 on Windows 11
• Claude Code: 2.0.72 (upgraded from 2.0.71)
• Node: v20.19.5
• IDE: Cursor with Claude Code extension
• Account: Claude Max (Opus 4.5)
• RAM: 16GB (14GB free during issue)
• CPU: Low usage (load average 0.00-0.95)

Symptoms

1. Typing lag: 2-5+ seconds between each character appearing in the input field
2. Connection timeouts: "Request timed out. Check your internet connection and proxy settings" - retries up to 10/10
3. API errors: "API Error: Connection error" on most requests
4. Complete freezes: Eventually the entire session becomes unresponsive, even /exit command takes 30+ seconds to register
5. Pasting large text: Pasting ~684 lines triggers immediate connection errors

Critical Evidence: NOT a Network Issue

• GPT models work perfectly in the same Cursor IDE, same WSL2 environment, same terminal
• curl -I https://api.anthropic.com succeeds instantly with HTTP/2 200
• DNS resolution works fine
• TLS handshake completes successfully

Debugging Attempts (None Resolved the Issue)

1. ✗ Increased timeout: ANTHROPIC_TIMEOUT=120000
2. ✗ Disabled HTTP/2: ANTHROPIC_DISABLE_HTTP2=1
3. ✗ WSL2 mirrored networking mode in .wslconfig
4. ✗ DNS fix (Google/Cloudflare nameservers)
5. ✗ Deleted ~/.claude and ~/project/.claude directories
6. ✗ Fresh login with claude /login
7. ✗ Created .claudeignore to exclude node_modules/, data/, etc.
8. ✗ Killed all Claude processes and restarted

Project Context

• ~27,000 files in project (but .claudeignore was added)
• 1.7GB data directory (excluded via .claudeignore)
• 872-line CLAUDE.md file

Reproduction

1. Have a medium-to-large project (~20k+ files)
2. Upgrade to 2.0.72 from any 1.x version
3. Start Claude Code session
4. Attempt to type or paste anything
5. Observe multi-second input lag and eventual connection errors

Workaround

Downgrading to 2.0.71 resolves the issue (as original reporter noted).

sudo npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@2.0.71

Hypothesis

Something in the 2.0.71 → 2.0.72 change is causing the Node.js event loop to block, possibly related to:

• File indexing/watching not respecting .claudeignore
• Memory leak during session
• The new Chrome extension feature mentioned in changelog ("Claude in Chrome Beta")

This is a severe regression that makes 2.0.72 completely unusable on Linux/WSL2 with larger projects.

This issue has been inactive for 30 days. If the issue is still occurring, please comment to let us know. Otherwise, this issue will be automatically closed in 30 days for housekeeping purposes.

still waiting on 2.0.71