[BUG] Claude Desktop stuck on infinite loading spinner at startup due to unhandled OAuth 403 error (Claude Code subscription check)

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

• Platform: Claude Desktop for Windows
• App version: 1.1.3189 (build 1b7b58b8b5060b7d5d19c6863d8f0caef4f0fc97)
• Operating System: Windows 11 25H2 (Build 26200.7840 / OS version 10.0.26200)
• Claude.ai subscription: Free

Bug Description

Claude Desktop launches but the window remains blank with an infinite loading spinner. The app never becomes usable. This has been happening consistently for several days.

Logging in at claude.ai in a web browser works perfectly fine, including access to past conversations. The issue is isolated to the Desktop application.

Root Cause (identified from logs)

main.log shows that at startup, the app attempts a fresh OAuth token exchange for Claude Code. Because the account does not have a Pro or Max subscription, the server returns a 403 permission error:

oauth failed: authorize returned 403
{"type":"error","error":{"type":"permission_error","message":"Claude Code requires a Pro or Max subscription."}}

This error is not handled gracefully — it blocks the entire UI from loading, leaving the app stuck on the loading spinner indefinitely.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Have a Claude account without a Pro or Max subscription
2. Launch Claude Desktop on Windows 11
3. The window opens but only a spinning loader is displayed
4. The app never loads — the spinner continues indefinitely

Expected Behavior

The OAuth failure for Claude Code (a separate, subscription-gated feature) should be handled gracefully and not prevent the main Claude Desktop UI from loading.

Actual Behavior

The app is completely unusable. The 403 error from the Claude Code OAuth exchange blocks the entire startup flow.

Troubleshooting Already Attempted

• Uninstalled and reinstalled Claude Desktop → issue persists
• Reset local app data via Windows Settings → Apps → Claude → Advanced options → Reset → issue persists

Relevant Log Excerpt (%APPDATA%\Claude\main.log)

2026-02-17 12:02:07 [info] [oauth] performing fresh oauth exchange for orgId=...
2026-02-17 12:02:07 [info] oauth failed: authorize returned 403 {
  error: '{"type":"error","error":{"type":"permission_error",
  "message":"Claude Code requires a Pro or Max subscription."}}'
}
2026-02-17 12:02:07 [info] claude.ai account active and logged in

Note: despite the log saying "account active and logged in", the UI never renders.

What Should Happen?

The OAuth failure for Claude Code (a separate, subscription-gated feature) should be handled gracefully and not prevent the main Claude Desktop UI from loading.

Error Messages/Logs

2026-02-17 12:02:07 [info] [oauth] performing fresh oauth exchange for orgId=...
2026-02-17 12:02:07 [info] oauth failed: authorize returned 403 {
  error: '{"type":"error","error":{"type":"permission_error",
  "message":"Claude Code requires a Pro or Max subscription."}}'
}
2026-02-17 12:02:07 [info] claude.ai account active and logged in

Steps to Reproduce

1. Have a Claude account without a Pro or Max subscription
2. Launch Claude Desktop on Windows 11
3. The window opens but only a spinning loader is displayed
4. The app never loads — the spinner continues indefinitely

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

1.1.3189 (build 1b7b58b8b5060b7d5d19c6863d8f0caef4f0fc97)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Windows Terminal

Additional Information

_No response_