[BUG] Claude Desktop Code mode unresponsive on macOS - no response after sending message

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?

Code mode in Claude Desktop app does not respond to messages. After sending a message, there is no loading indicator and no response. Chat and Cowork modes work fine.

Environment:

• OS: macOS (Apple Silicon)
• Claude Desktop: latest version
• Claude Code CLI: 2.1.81
• Claude Code binary used by Desktop: 2.1.78

What Should Happen?

Claude should respond normally in Code mode like it does in Chat mode.

Error Messages/Logs

**What I've Tried:**
- Cleared plugin cache: `rm -rf ~/.claude/plugins/cache`
- Cleared app cache in `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/Cache`
- Updated Claude Desktop app to latest version
- Updated Claude Code CLI to 2.1.81
- Disabled qnap-jira MCP server (72 tools) — issue persisted
- Cleared `enabledPlugins` in `~/.claude/settings.json` — issue persisted
- Ran claude binary directly in Terminal with `--plugin-dir` — works fine
- Ran `claude --print "hello"` in Terminal — works fine

From `~/Library/Logs/Claude/main.log`:

[CCD] Using skills plugin at: .../skills-plugin/...
[CCD] Passing 1 plugin(s) to SDK
Session query error: Claude Code process exited with code 1
[CCD CycleHealth] unhealthy cycle (hadFirstResponse=false, reason=no_response)

The process exits with code 1 immediately after the Desktop passes plugins to the SDK.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open Claude Desktop on macOS
2. Switch to Code mode
3. Send any message
4. No loading indicator appears, no response received

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.78

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_