[BUG] Cowork RPC error: user optimistic-tender-pasteur persists after complete cleanup

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?

After updating to Claude Desktop 1.1.2321 (495628) on 2026-02-06, Cowork fails to initialize sessions with a persistent RPC error. The VM connects successfully (no timeout), but every task attempt fails with the same error.

Every task attempt fails with:

"RPC error: ensure user: user optimistic-tender-pasteur should already exist but does not, and recovery failed: home directory /sessions/optimistic-tender-pasteur does not exist: stat /sessions/optimistic-tender-pasteur: no such file or directory

The session name "optimistic-tender-pasteur" persists even after complete cleanup.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Update to Claude Desktop 1.1.2321 (received ~Feb 6, 2026)
2. Open Cowork tab
3. Attempt to create any task
4. Observe RPC error

What I've Tried

All of the following failed to resolve the issue:

• Deleted ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/vm_bundles/
• Deleted ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/cowork/
• Deleted ~/Library/Caches/Claude/
• Deleted ~/Library/Logs/Claude/
• Restarted Mac
• Reinstalled Claude Desktop

The error persists with the same hardcoded session name after all cleanup attempts.

Environment

• macOS Version: 15.3.1 (24D70)
• Claude Desktop Version: 1.1.2321 (495628) 2026-02-06T22:01:17.000Z
• When it started: Immediately after updating from previous version on Feb 6, 2026
• Other tabs: Chat and Code tabs work fine

Additional Context

The VM boots successfully (no timeout errors like issue #24070). The problem occurs during session user initialization. The specific session name appears to be hardcoded or cached somewhere inaccessible to standard cleanup procedures.

What Should Happen?

Cowork should successfully create a user session and allow tasks to execute.
But every task attempt fails with the error message:

"RPC error: ensure user: user optimistic-tender-pasteur should already exist but does not, and recovery failed: home directory /sessions/optimistic-tender-pasteur does not exist: stat /sessions/optimistic-tender-pasteur: no such file or directory"

The session name "optimistic-tender-pasteur" persists even after complete cleanup.

Error Messages/Logs

RPC error: ensure user: user optimistic-tender-pasteur should already exist but does not, and recovery failed: home directory /sessions/optimistic-tender-pasteur does not exist: stat /sessions/optimistic-tender-pasteur: no such file or directory

Steps to Reproduce

1. Update to Claude Desktop 1.1.2321 (received ~Feb 6, 2026)
2. Open Cowork tab
3. Attempt to create any task
4. Observe RPC error

What I've Tried

All of the following failed to resolve the issue:

• Deleted ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/vm_bundles/
• Deleted ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/cowork/
• Deleted ~/Library/Caches/Claude/
• Deleted ~/Library/Logs/Claude/
• Restarted Mac
• Reinstalled Claude Desktop

The error persists with the same hardcoded session name after all cleanup attempts.

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

1.1.2321 (495628)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_