Interactive mode freezes on second launch in non-home directories (Windows)

Bug Description

Claude Code interactive mode freezes (accepts no keyboard input) on the second and all subsequent launches in any directory except the user's home directory (C:\Users\<user>). The first launch in a new directory always works. The home directory always works regardless of how many times you launch.

Environment

• Claude Code: 2.1.33 (npm install via @anthropic-ai/claude-code)
• OS: Windows NT 10.0.26200.0 (Windows 11)
• Node.js: v22.20.0
• npm: 10.9.3
• PowerShell: 5.1
• Terminal: Windows Terminal (PowerShell and cmd both affected)

Steps to Reproduce

1. mkdir C:\test-fresh && cd C:\test-fresh
2. claude — works (first launch, shows trust prompt, REPL is interactive)
3. Exit with /exit
4. claude — frozen (REPL appears but no keyboard input accepted)

What Was Ruled Out (24 tests across 3 sessions)

| Suspect | Result |
|---------|--------|
| .mcp.json (project or global) | NOT the cause — freeze occurs with no .mcp.json present |
| CLAUDE.md | NOT the cause — bare directories freeze too |
| F: drive / non-C: paths | NOT the cause — C:\test-fresh also freezes |
| Git repos | NOT the cause — non-git directories freeze too |
| Project size | NOT the cause — empty directories freeze |
| Session cache (~/.claude/projects/<path>/) | Clearing does NOT fix it |
| All session files (debug, todos, session-env) | Clearing does NOT fix it |
| history.jsonl | Renaming does NOT fix it |
| --strict-mcp-config --setting-sources user | Does NOT fix it |
| Reboot | Does NOT fix it |
| npm vs native binary | Both freeze identically |
| Junction links (C: pointing to F:) | Does NOT fix it (resolves to real path) |

Theory

The first launch shows a workspace trust/permission prompt which likely uses simple input handling. Subsequent launches skip the trust prompt and go directly to the REPL, which uses Ink's raw mode — suspected to be broken on Windows in this scenario. The home directory may have special handling that bypasses this code path.

Workarounds

1. Launch from home directory: cd ~; claude --add-dir F:\project (works but doesn't load project CLAUDE.md or .mcp.json)
2. Non-interactive mode: claude -p "prompt" works from any directory
3. VS Code extension (untested but may avoid the terminal issue)

Related Issues

• #10487 — Permission prompt unresponsive on Windows non-home directories
• #9929 — Interactive mode completely frozen on Windows 11 - Raw mode not supported
• #7171 — Interactive mode freezes on Windows
• #12234 — Claude Code freezes intermittently on Windows Terminal
• #18109 — Claude Code hangs indefinitely on Windows PowerShell