[BUG] Cowork: "API Error: Rate limit reached" on every action despite 2% session / 24% weekly usage (Max 5x)

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?

Title: [BUG] Cowork: "API Error: Rate limit reached" on every action despite 2% session / 24% weekly usage (Max 5x)

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?
Cowork returns "API Error: Rate limit reached" immediately on every action, every session. No processing delay, no partial response. This has persisted for 10+ hours.

Expected behavior: Cowork processes requests normally within Max 5x plan limits.

Actual behavior: Instant rate limit error on every Cowork action.

What works on the same account, same machine:

• Claude.ai Chat: works fine
• Claude Code CLI: works fine
• Only Cowork is affected

Usage dashboard at time of error:

• Current session: 2% used
• Weekly (all models): 24% used
• Weekly (Sonnet only): 32% used

(Screenshots attached)

Environment:

• Plan: Max 5x
• Claude Desktop version: 1.2.234
• Platform: macOS
• Model: Sonnet 4.6
• Auth: Subscription (not API key)

Reproduction steps:

1. Open Cowork in Claude Desktop
2. Start any new session or resume existing one
3. Send any message or action
4. Immediately returns "API Error: Rate limit reached"

Troubleshooting already attempted:

• Relaunched Claude Desktop
• Waited 10+ hours (multiple 5-hour session resets)
• Verified usage dashboard shows low utilization
• Confirmed Chat and CLI work fine

Related issues: #33120, #33293, #34068

All three describe the same pattern: Cowork-only rate limit error, account-specific, server-side, persists across sessions and machines.

<img width="446" height="689" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d6699239-5d1c-433a-9f2b-8284ee527ade" />

What Should Happen?

Cowork should process requests normally within Max 5x plan limits.

Error Messages/Logs

API Error: Rate limit reached

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open Cowork in Claude Desktop
2. Start any new session
3. Send any message
4. Immediately returns "API Error: Rate limit reached"

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude Code v2.1.92

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

Related issues: #33120, #33293, #34068

<img width="1680" height="1050" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/6c8c2f35-5ed0-417c-b08c-8a96f501726b" />
<img width="1680" height="1050" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a563bb71-5e3f-4ada-b941-7718f306176f" />
<img width="1680" height="1050" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/22ec2f10-d6b2-40d8-8cdb-00942bff451a" />