[BUG] Desktop app "Download failed" for Local mode despite CLI v2.1.83 already installed

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?

Environment

• macOS
• Claude desktop app (latest)
• Claude Code CLI: v2.1.83 (installed via native installer)
• Node: v22

What's wrong
When switching to Local mode in the Code tab, the app shows:
"Download failed. Check your connection and try again."

The app is attempting to download the CLI binary from Google Cloud Storage
but the request returns HTTP/2 400 from UploadServer.

What I tried

• curl -I https://storage.googleapis.com → returns HTTP/2 400 (GCS reachable but request fails)
• rm -rf ~/.claude/local && ~/.local/state/claude
• Created symlink: ~/.claude/local/bin/claude → ~/.local/bin/claude → ~/.local/share/claude/versions/2.1.83
• App ignores the symlink and still attempts to download

Expected behavior
App should detect existing CLI installation at ~/.local/bin/claude before
attempting a download, or the GCS download endpoint should not return 400.

Workaround
Cloud/GitHub mode works fine. CLI via terminal works fine.

What Should Happen?

Expected behavior
App should detect existing CLI installation at ~/.local/bin/claude before
attempting a download, or the GCS download endpoint should not return 400.

Error Messages/Logs

"Download failed. Check your connection and try again."

Steps to Reproduce

not sure

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.83 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_