[BUG] False "Multiple installations found" warning when using native installation with symlink

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?

The update checker incorrectly warns about multiple installations when only a single native installation exists via symlink.

Output:

Current version: 2.1.31
Checking for updates to latest version...

Warning: Multiple installations found

• npm-global at /Users/<user>/.local/bin/claude
• native at /Users/<user>/.local/bin/claude (currently running)

Warning: Leftover npm global installation at /Users/<user>/.local/bin/claude
Fix: Run: npm -g uninstall @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Claude Code is up to date (2.1.31)

Actual state:

$ ls -la ~/.local/bin/claude
lrwxr-xr-x@ - <user> 4 Feb 10:39 /Users/<user>/.local/bin/claude -> /Users/<user>/.local/share/claude/versions/2.1.31

$ which -a claude
/Users/<user>/.local/bin/claude

Only one installation exists - the native installation using a symlink. There is no npm global installation.

Problems:

1. Both "npm-global" and "native" are reported at the exact same path, which is impossible
2. The symlink-based native installation is being misidentified as an npm-global installation
3. The suggested fix (npm -g uninstall) would either do nothing or potentially break the working installation

What Should Happen?

The detection logic should resolve symlinks and deduplicate paths before reporting multiple installations.

Environment:

• Claude Code version: 2.1.31
• OS: macOS (Darwin 25.2.0)
• Installation method: native

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Claude Code using the native installer (not npm)
2. Verify installation exists as symlink: ls -la ~/.local/bin/claude
3. Run claude update or trigger the update checker

---
That's really all it takes - the bug appears to trigger automatically for native installations that use the standard symlink structure.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.31

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

_No response_