[Windows] CLI launch automatically starts Electron desktop app in background
Resolved 💬 2 comments Opened Feb 5, 2026 by yuuki-courage Closed Feb 5, 2026
Bug Description
When launching claude CLI on Windows, the Electron desktop app (Claude.exe) automatically starts in the background. This happens every time the CLI is invoked, even when only the terminal-based CLI is intended.
Environment
- OS: Windows 11
- Claude Code CLI: Latest version (installed via npm)
- Claude Desktop App: Installed (Electron)
Steps to Reproduce
- Open a terminal (PowerShell / CMD / Git Bash) on Windows
- Run
claudeto start the CLI - Check Task Manager
Expected Behavior
Only the CLI process should start. The Electron desktop app should not launch unless explicitly opened by the user.
Actual Behavior
The Electron desktop app (Claude.exe) starts in the background automatically alongside the CLI session. This can be observed in Task Manager as a separate Claude.exe process appearing each time claude is run from the terminal.
Impact
- Unnecessary resource consumption (RAM/CPU) from the Electron app running in background
- Confusing behavior for CLI-only users
- May cause port conflicts or other side effects if both CLI and desktop app are running
Additional Context
This appears to be Windows-specific. The CLI should be fully independent from the desktop Electron app.
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