[BUG] All file operations fail with "Executable not found in $PATH" error on Windows - PATH not recognized

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?

Environment

• OS: Windows 11 (MSYS_NT-10.0-26200 3.6.5-22c95533.x86_64)
• VSCode Version: Stable (latest as of 2026-01-20)
• Claude Code Extension Version: Latest (as of 2026-01-20)
• Git Installation: Git for Windows installed at C:\Program Files\Git
• WSL: Windows Subsystem for Linux installed
• Working Directory: c:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\<PROJECT>

Problem Description

All Claude Code file operation tools (Bash, Write, Edit, Read) fail with the error:
Executable not found in $PATH: "C:\Program Files\Git\bin"

Search tools work fine:

• ✅ Glob tool works
• ✅ Grep tool works
• ❌ Bash tool fails
• ❌ Write tool fails
• ❌ Edit tool fails
• ❌ Read tool fails

This prevents Claude Code from performing any file operations or bash commands, making the extension essentially non-functional.

Critical Findings

1. Git Bash Terminal Works Perfectly

VSCode's integrated Git Bash terminal works without issues:

<USER>@<USER>-PC MINGW64 ~/Desktop/<PROJECT>
$ pwd
/c/Users/<USER>/Desktop/<PROJECT>

$ echo $SHELL
/usr/bin/bash

$ which git
/mingw64/bin/git

$ "/c/Program Files/Git/bin/bash.exe" --version
GNU bash, version 5.2.37(1)-release (x86_64-pc-msys)

2. PowerShell Can Execute Bash

PowerShell successfully executes bash from the Git installation:

PS C:\Users<USER>> C:"Program Files"\Git\bin\bash.exe -c "echo test"
test

3. Windows System PATH is Configured Correctly

PowerShell shows Git paths in system PATH:

PS C:\Users<USER>> $env:Path
C:\windows\SysWOW64;C:\windows\System32;C:\Program Files\Git\cmd;C:\Program Files\Git\bin;C:\Users<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;...;C:\Program Files\Git\mingw64\bin;C:\Program Files\Git\usr\bin

All three Git directories are present:

- `C:\Program Files\Git\bin` (contains bash.exe, sh.exe, git.exe)
- `C:\Program Files\Git\mingw64\bin`
- `C:\Program Files\Git\usr\bin`

4. Files Verified to Exist

Windows File Explorer confirms executables exist:

C:\Program Files\Git\bin\

bash.exe (47,008 bytes)
sh.exe (47,008 bytes)
git.exe (46,480 bytes)

File permissions are correct (executable).

5. VSCode Configuration is Correct

settings.json configured with Git Bash:

{
    "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.windows": "Git Bash",
    "terminal.integrated.profiles.windows": {
        "Git Bash": {
            "path": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\bin\\bash.exe",
            "icon": "terminal-bash"
        }
    },
    "terminal.integrated.automationProfile.windows": {
        "path": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\bin\\bash.exe"
    }
}

6. Claude Code Configuration is Minimal

.claude/settings.local.json contains only:
{}

Steps to Reproduce

• Install Windows 11 with Git for Windows at C:\Program Files\Git
• Add Git directories to Windows System PATH:
• C:\Program Files\Git\bin
• C:\Program Files\Git\mingw64\bin
• C:\Program Files\Git\usr\bin
• Verify paths exist and executables are present
• Install Claude Code extension in VSCode
• Configure VSCode with Git Bash terminal settings (including automation profile)
• Restart computer
• Open VSCode and Claude Code
• Attempt to use any file operation tool (Bash, Write, Edit, Read)
• All operations fail with: Executable not found in $PATH: "C:\Program Files\Git\bin"

What We Tried (All Failed)

1. System PATH Configuration

• Added all three Git directories to Windows System PATH (System variables, not User)
• Verified paths exist and contain executables
• Multiple full computer restarts
• Verified in PowerShell that PATH contains all Git directories
• Issue persists

2. VSCode Terminal Configuration

Configured terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.windows to use Git Bash
Configured terminal.integrated.automationProfile.windows to use Git Bash
Multiple full VSCode restarts (close application, reopen)
Issue persists

3. Extension Reinstallation

• Completely uninstalled Claude Code extension
• Closed VSCode
• Reopened VSCode
• Reinstalled Claude Code extension
• Closed and reopened VSCode
• Issue persists

4. WSL Reinstallation

• Reinstalled Windows Subsystem for Linux
• Full system restart
• Issue persists

5. Claude Code Permissions

• Tried various .claude/settings.local.json configurations
• Tried empty config {}
• Tried wildcard permissions
• Issue persists

6. Sandbox Bypass

• Tried dangerouslyDisableSandbox: true parameter
• Issue persists

7. Multiple Restart Cycles

• Computer restarts after PATH changes
• VSCode full restarts (not just reload)
• Extension reinstallation with restarts
• Issue persists through all restart cycles

Analysis

The error occurs before any command executes. The error message is identical regardless of:

• Command being executed
• File path being accessed
• Tool being used (Bash, Write, Edit, Read all show same error)

Search Tools Work:

• Glob and Grep tools work perfectly
• Only file I/O and execution tools fail
• Suggests the issue is specifically with tools that need shell/file system access

PATH is Not Being Recognized:
Despite:

• Git paths being in Windows System PATH (verified in PowerShell)
• VSCode terminal working with Git Bash
• PowerShell being able to execute bash
• Multiple restarts

Claude Code still reports: Executable not found in $PATH: "C:\Program Files\Git\bin"

The Error Message is Misleading:
The error says executables are not found in C:\Program Files\Git\bin, but:

• The directory exists
• Executables are present in that directory
• They are executable
• PowerShell can run them
• The directory is in system PATH

What Should Happen?

Claude Code should:

• Detect Git Bash from Windows system PATH
• Use VSCode's configured automation profile
• Execute bash commands using the configured shell
• Create, read, and edit files in the project directory
• Function on Windows with Git for Windows installed

Error Messages/Logs

Executable not found in $PATH: "C:\Program Files\Git\bin"

Impact
- Cannot use Claude Code for file operations
- Extension is 90% non-functional (only search tools work)
- Cannot automate project setup
- Cannot write or edit code
- Cannot execute commands
- Defeats primary purpose of the extension

Steps to Reproduce

see above

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.12 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

_No response_