API Error 500: Internal server error affecting all chats simultaneously (Claude Max)

Bug Description

Persistent API 500 Internal Server Error affecting all chats and terminals simultaneously.

API Error: 500 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"api_error","message":"Internal server error"},"request_id":"req_011CY14wgpph7Qvc838Fmtvm"}

Environment

• Platform: macOS
• Subscription: Claude Max ($200/month)
• Claude Code version: 2.1.38 (latest)
• Issue started: February 10, 2026, ~15:00 CET

Behavior

• Error occurs on ALL chats/terminals simultaneously
• Was working seconds before the error started
• Restarting terminal doesn't fix it
• Affects all conversations, not just one
• Updated Claude Code to latest version (2.1.38) — issue persists

Request IDs

• req_011CY14wgpph7Qvc838Fmtvm

Additional Context

Multiple terminals with different conversations all failed at the same time. A clean update to the latest CLI version did not resolve the issue. This appears to be a server-side issue affecting all API calls for the account simultaneously.