[BUG] claude-code-vm downloads Linux ARM binary on macOS, breaking Claude Code in Desktop

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?

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• This is a single bug report
• I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Claude Code in Claude Desktop stopped working overnight (Feb 18-19, 2026). Investigation revealed that the claude-code-vm folder is being populated with a Linux ARM binary instead of a macOS ARM binary.

Environment:

• macOS 14.5 (23F79)
• Apple M3 Pro (arm64)
• Claude Desktop 1.1.3541
• Claude Code 2.1.45
• Account: Claude Max subscription

What works:

• Claude Desktop regular chat ✅
• Claude Code CLI in Terminal ✅

What doesn't work:

• Claude Code in Claude Desktop with local folders ❌

Root cause identified:
The file at:
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude-code-vm/2.1.45/claude
is an ELF 64-bit Linux ARM binary, not a macOS Mach-O binary.

Running file on it confirms:
ELF 64-bit LSB executable, ARM aarch64 (should be Mach-O 64-bit executable arm64)

Steps to reproduce:

1. Delete ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude-code-vm/
2. Relaunch Claude Desktop
3. It re-downloads the same Linux binary automatically
4. Claude Code fails with: Claude Code process exited with code 1

What Should Happen?

Claude Desktop should download a macOS arm64 (Mach-O) binary for the claude-code-vm folder, not a Linux ARM (ELF) binary. Claude Code in Claude Desktop should work with local projects without any manual intervention.

Error Messages/Logs

2026-02-19 09:02:53 [error] Session local_058b4f61-24e4-4bd6-aa63-a8bc379cbb7a query error: Claude Code process exited with code 1
2026-02-19 09:35:23 [error] Session local_472c7982-5f42-408d-8457-f8603760bc27 query error: Claude Code process exited with code 1
2026-02-19 10:13:28 [error] Session local_e63ee387-271a-4199-8232-6adbac78e768 query error: Claude Code process exited with code 1
2026-02-19 18:48:29 [error] Session local_a903f943-347d-4d72-88f1-6ecf50b06eb4 query error: Claude Code process exited with code 1
2026-02-19 18:51:10 [error] Session local_eee8b9b2-3fd9-49fb-9f16-a22f6f438517 query error: Claude Code process exited with code 1
2026-02-19 19:01:18 [error] Session local_98b1f84c-e659-4ada-a691-ed4bbcb8ee45 query error: Claude Code process exited with code 1

Binary check:
file ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude-code-vm/2.1.45/claude
→ ELF 64-bit LSB executable, ARM aarch64 (Linux binary — should be Mach-O arm64 for macOS)

file ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude-code/2.1.45/claude
→ Mach-O 64-bit executable arm64 (correct)

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open Claude Desktop on macOS (Apple Silicon / arm64)
2. Click "Claude Code" and select any local project folder
3. Type any prompt and press Enter
4. Claude Code spins indefinitely and returns "Claude Code process exited with code 1"

To confirm the root cause:

1. Open Terminal
2. Run: file ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude-code-vm/2.1.45/claude
3. Result shows: ELF 64-bit LSB executable, ARM aarch64 (Linux binary)
4. Delete the folder: rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude-code-vm/
5. Relaunch Claude Desktop — it re-downloads the same Linux binary automatically
6. Claude Code fails again with the same error

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

2.1.45 — was working on February 18, 2026 at 23:46 (confirmed via logs). Stopped working February 19, 2026 at 09:02 after an automatic overnight re-download of the claude-code-vm binary.

Claude Code Version

2.1.45 (Claude Code) Note: the version number is the same — the binary version didn't change, but the content of the claude-code-vm download changed overnight to a Linux binary.

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_