Activity Bar Icon Not Appearing

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?

Environment:

• OS: macOS 15.6 (Darwin 25.2.0)
• VS Code Version: 1.109.2
• Claude Code Extension Version: 2.1.39
• Machine: Apple M3 Pro

Description:
The Claude Code extension is fully functional (can open and use Claude Code via Command Palette), but the Activity Bar icon does not appear in either the primary or secondary Activity Bar.

Actual Behavior:

• The extension is installed and working correctly
• Claude Code can be opened via Command Palette (Claude Code: Open in Side Bar)
• The interface works perfectly when opened
• However, no Claude icon appears in any Activity Bar

Troubleshooting Steps Already Attempted:

• ✅ Reinstalled the extension (uninstall + install)
• ✅ Reloaded VS Code window multiple times (Developer: Reload Window)
• ✅ Enabled Secondary Side Bar (View: Toggle Secondary Side Bar Visibility)
• ✅ Opened Claude Code in sidebar via Command Palette
• ✅ Cleared workspace storage (~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/workspaceStorage/*)
• ✅ Verified extension settings: "claudeCode.preferredLocation": "sidebar"
• ✅ Checked that only Claude Code extension is installed (no conflicts)
• ✅ Verified extension process is running (visible in code --status)

Configuration:
// settings.json
{
"claudeCode.preferredLocation": "sidebar",
"workbench.sideBar.location": "right"
}

Extension package.json Analysis:
The extension's viewsContainers are defined with "when" clauses:

• Primary activity bar: "when": "claude-code:doesNotSupportSecondarySidebar"
• Secondary sidebar: "when": "!claude-code:doesNotSupportSecondarySidebar"

Hypothesis:
The claude-code:doesNotSupportSecondarySidebar context may not be getting set correctly by the extension, causing neither view container to register.

Workaround:
Currently using keyboard shortcut Cmd+Escape or Command Palette to access Claude Code, which works fine. The functionality is not impacted, only the discoverability/UX of having a visible Activity Bar icon.

Additional Notes:

• VS Code 1.109.2 definitely supports secondary sidebar (feature added in 1.64)
• Extension works perfectly functionally, this is purely a UI/registration issue
• No errors visible in VS Code Developer Tools console
• Extension's native binary process is running correctly

What Should Happen?

Expected Behavior:
The Claude Code icon should appear in the Activity Bar (either primary or secondary sidebar) to provide quick access to the extension, similar to how Explorer, Search, and other built-in views appear.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Install Claude Code extension (v2.1.39) in VS Code 1.109.2 on macOS
2. Reload VS Code window
3. Check both primary and secondary Activity Bars
4. Open Claude Code via Command Palette
5. Icon still does not appear

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.39

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_