Mobile App Session Breaks After Long Tasks - Message Loss

Summary

Claude Code mobile app frequently gets stuck on "Starting Claude..." after completing long tasks, especially when the app is backgrounded or user is inactive.

Critical issue: User's typed message disappears and cannot be recovered, causing data loss and blocking mobile app usability.

Severity

HIGH - This issue makes the mobile app nearly unusable for longer tasks.

Environment

• Platform: claude.ai mobile app (iOS/Android)
• Access Method: Mobile app interface (not desktop browser)
• Feature: Claude Code agent sessions

Steps to Reproduce

1. Start a Claude Code session on mobile app
2. Give Claude a task that takes significant time (e.g., code changes, git operations, file searches)
3. While task is running, either:

• Switch to another app
• Let the phone become inactive/screen lock
• Wait several minutes

1. Return to Claude app after task completes
2. Type a new message and send it

Expected Behavior

• Interface should resume normally
• User's message should be visible and processed
• Session should continue smoothly

Actual Behavior

• Interface gets stuck displaying "Starting Claude..."
• User's typed message disappears completely
• Message content cannot be recovered or copied
• User cannot continue chat and need start new one
• All effort typing the message is lost
• Stop button is unresponsive

Frequency

High - Happens each 2-3 chats where more than 1 message.

Impact

1. Data Loss: User's typed message content is lost permanently
2. Wasted Chat: User cannot continue using chat, loosing context.
3. Frustration: Cannot recover what was typed, extremely frustrating UX
4. Blocks Usage: Makes mobile app nearly unusable for Claude Code sessions

Additional Context

• Conversation history is preserved (older messages remain)
• Only the UI state and newly typed message are lost
• Issue appears related to mobile app session/state management during backgrounding, but sometimes even without switching
• Does NOT occur consistently on desktop browser
• Issue happens with various task types, not specific to git operations
• Interesting that some chats can do a lot of messages without problem and can be continued after days. As other get stuck on second message in matter of minutes.

Workarounds (All Unsatisfactory)

1. Draft messages in external app first (adds friction)
2. Use desktop browser instead (defeats mobile use case)
3. Stay in app and keep phone active during long tasks (impractical)
4. Break tasks into very small pieces (inefficient)

Suggested Fix

• Preserve user's typed message in session state
• At minimum: allow copying/recovering message content if session breaks
• Ideally: fix session state management to handle mobile app backgrounding

Request

This is a critical usability issue that blocks a key use case (Claude Code on mobile). Please prioritize fixing the message loss issue - even if session resumption takes time, users should never lose what they typed.

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Reported by: User of claude.ai mobile app with Claude Code
Date: 2026-01-08