[BUG] Cowork "VM connection timeout after 60 seconds" — persists after reinstall, AppData wipe, and fresh install on Windows

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?

Cowork fails to start with "Failed to start Claude's workspace — VM connection timeout after 60 seconds." Error persists after: (1) restarting the app, (2) restarting the computer, (3) using the in-app reinstall workspace option, (4) manually deleting AppData\Local\Anthropic and AppData\Roaming\Anthropic, and (5) full uninstall and fresh install of Claude Desktop.

What Should Happen?

Cowork workspace should start and connect successfully, as it does for other users.

Error Messages/Logs

Failed to start Claude's workspace
VM connection timeout after 60 seconds

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install latest Claude Desktop on Windows
2. Open Cowork tab
3. Error appears: "VM connection timeout after 60 seconds"
4. Tried all standard remedies — error persists:

• Restarted app
• Restarted computer
• Used in-app "reinstall workspace"
• Deleted AppData\Local\Anthropic and AppData\Roaming\Anthropic
• Full uninstall and fresh install of Claude Desktop

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

N/A - Claude Desktop app

Platform

Other

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Windows Terminal

Additional Information

Windows version: 10.0.26200.8037 (Windows 11)
This is Claude Desktop Cowork, not Claude Code CLI.
Related issues: #27801, #25663
All standard troubleshooting steps exhausted.