[Bug] Branch picker search fails to find existing branches in Claude Code Desktop

Status Fixed / completed
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 4 comments · opened Mar 7, 2026 · closed Aug 25, 2026

Bug Description
Bug: Branch picker in Claude Code Desktop shows "No branches found" when searching for a branch that exists
Environment: Claude Code Desktop app
Steps to reproduce:

  1. Open a repository in Claude Code Desktop where develop is set as the default branch on GitHub.
  2. In the bottom bar, click the base branch selector (showing main with an arrow pointing to the feature branch).
  3. Type develop (or any part of it) into the search field.

Expected behavior: The develop branch appears in the dropdown and can be selected as the base branch.
Actual behavior: The dropdown shows "No branches found", even though develop is the default branch of the repository and the app header correctly displays "Review code changes against develop branch".
Screenshot: The header reads "Review code changes against develop branch" while the branch picker simultaneously reports no results for the query deve.
Notes: The app appears to be aware of the develop branch (it shows it in the header) but the branch picker search does not find it.

Environment Info

  • Platform: darwin
  • Terminal: Apple_Terminal
  • Version: 2.0.75
  • Feedback ID: 9672d60b-628b-4f76-bab6-fcc1cb4c3300

<img width="1018" height="812" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/320cb570-cb21-4e28-b504-eac3a7f2de5c" />

View original on GitHub ↗

4 Comments

vallamost · 5 months ago

Similar issue on Windows, I think you should include platform:windows too.

I get "Unable to load branches" when selecting the target branch it wants to merge into, really annoying.

I am running Windows 11 x64
Claude App ver:
Claude 1.1.5368 (d12d02) 2026-03-05T17:29:33.000Z

<img width="273" height="222" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/55e02d1b-d6ad-473b-b00e-89fce62939c8" />

There should be a way to refresh branches too with a button without having to ask the session to do it.

eat-sleep-code · 5 months ago

Any update on this? Running latest version on macOS and having this issue... restarting the desktop app seems to have allowed me to see the branch, but there should be a refresh button.

benw10-1 · 4 months ago

Having this same exact issue with this same description. Claude desktop does not seem to re-fetch.

<img width="1196" height="196" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/497b9c3e-0df6-48ff-ba6b-e95376900d14" />

StephenPapadatos · 2 months ago

Still happening to me, refresh button would be useful here.