[BUG] API Error: 401 — authentication_error: OAuth token

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?

claude login returns a 401 authentication error. The OAuth token is expired and cannot be refreshed through any local method. The CLI is completely unusable.

What Should Happen?

claude login should open a browser auth flow and issue a fresh OAuth token, restoring access.

Error Messages/Logs

API Error: 401 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"authentication_error","message":"OAuth token has expired. Please obtain a new token or refresh your existing token."}}

Steps to Reproduce

Open Claude Code
Run any command — immediately returns 401
Run claude login — same 401, no browser flow opens
Run claude auth logout then claude login — same result
Delete ~/.claude/credentials.json — same result
Full uninstall (rm -rf ~/.claude, remove binary) and reinstall — same result

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude Code v2.1.73

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_