[BUG] Claude Desktop "Something went wrong loading this session" - React #185 infinite loop on specific project directory

EDIT

Seems to be resolved now. I threw 100 solutions against the wall, including asking Codex to run an audit and fix whatever it could find--but most likely, Anthropic just fixed a bug somewhere. Frustrating, but there tends to be a lot of issues around update-time.

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?

When I open a specific project directory in Claude Desktop (Windows 11), every session immediately shows "Something went wrong loading this session." New sessions also fail — they start, the CLI backend responds successfully, then get killed within 2 seconds.

Other project directories (same machine, same OneDrive, same plugins) work fine. The issue is specific to one project directory regardless of:

• Moving the directory out of OneDrive
• Deleting all session files (~/.claude/projects/ AND AppData/Roaming/Claude/claude-code-sessions/)
• Removing CLAUDE.md, .claude/settings.json, hooks, skills, MCP servers
• Stripping .claude/ to match a working project's minimal setup
• Disabling all plugins
• Renaming the directory to a new path

The CLI backend works — debug logs show sessions start, index files, stream API responses, then immediately receive a Stop signal from the Desktop app. The renderer log shows repeated "Minified React error #185" (maximum update depth exceeded) every time a session in this directory is focused.

Environment:

• Claude Desktop v1.1.3770, Claude Code v2.1.49
• Windows 11 (10.0.26200), x64
• Model: claude-opus-4-6

Relevant logs:

• %APPDATA%\Claude\logs\unknown-window.log shows repeated React error #185 when switching to this project
• ~/.claude/debug/<session>.txt shows sessions start normally then receive Stop after ~2 seconds
• %APPDATA%\Claude\logs\main.log shows sessions being created and mapped to CLI sessions, then immediately stopped

Workaround attempted: None successful. CLI backend works fine — the bug appears to be in the Desktop app's React renderer only.

What Should Happen?

Opening a new session in any project directory should load successfully without errors.

Error Messages/Logs

From %APPDATA%\Claude\logs\unknown-window.log (repeated on every session focus):
Error: Minified React error #185; visit https://react.dev/errors/185

From %APPDATA%\Claude\logs\main.log:
Sessions start and map to CLI, then immediately stop:
  Starting local session local_b1daf4ef... in C:\Users\Kurt\pumpbot
  Mapping internal session local_b1daf4ef... to CLI session a8826f48...
  [Stop hook] Query completed for session local_b1daf4ef...

From ~/.claude/debug/<session>.txt:
  Stream started - received first chunk
  [2 seconds later]
  Getting matching hook commands for Stop with query: undefined

Steps to Reproduce

1. Have a project directory with a git repo, .claude/ directory with settings, hooks, and custom skills
2. Open it in Claude Desktop on Windows
3. Every session (new or existing) shows "Something went wrong loading this session"
4. Other project directories on the same machine with similar setups work fine
5. Issue persists after: deleting all session files, removing CLAUDE.md/hooks/skills/MCP servers, stripping .claude/ to bare minimum, disabling all plugins, moving directory to a new path
6. CLI backend works fine — debug logs show sessions start, API streams, then immediately receive a Stop signal from the Desktop app

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.49

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

The CLI backend (claude.exe) works perfectly — sessions start, index files, and stream API responses. The bug is in the Claude Desktop app's React renderer which hits an infinite re-render loop (React error #185 = maximum update depth exceeded) specifically when displaying sessions for this project. This causes the session to be killed within 2 seconds of starting.

Claude Desktop v1.1.3770, Windows 11 (10.0.26200), 12th Gen i9-12900KF, 64GB RAM.