[BUG] Claude Code VS Code Extension — "Interrupted During Launch" Bug on Apple Silicon Mac

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?

When setting up Claude Code on a new Apple Silicon MacBook (M-series), the VS Code extension sidebar panel fails to launch and shows "Interrupted during launch." The terminal CLI works fine but the sidebar panel hangs indefinitely on every new session attempt.
Environment:

MacBook Pro Apple Silicon (ARM64)
VS Code latest
Claude Code extension v2.1.91
macOS (new machine, migrating from Intel Mac)

What happens:

Extension panel shows "Interrupted during launch" with "View output logs" and "Troubleshooting resources" links
Clicking "New session" results in infinite spinning/hanging
Output logs show repeated "Launching Claude on channel... Closing Claude on channel" with no error details
Terminal CLI (claude) works perfectly — authenticated, responds normally

What I tried:

Cleared ~/.claude/ide/ lock files
Reinstalled the extension
Fresh claude auth logout / claude auth login
Running claude /ide to connect terminal to VS Code

Current workaround: Using terminal CLI only

What Should Happen?

he VS Code extension sidebar panel should launch successfully on a new Apple Silicon Mac, just as the terminal CLI does. New sessions should connect and respond without hanging or showing "Interrupted during launch."

Error Messages/Logs

2026-04-09 23:50:11.967 [info] Received message from webview: {"type":"launch_claude","channelId":"z6ynyv5i4h",...}
2026-04-09 23:58:13.524 [info] Closing Claude on channel: znjh6sbu0z
2026-04-09 23:58:13.524 [info] generateSessionTitle failed: Error: Channel closed mid-launch
2026-04-10 00:01:54.946 [info] Received message from webview: {"type":"interrupt_claude","channelId":"tbpx2x6k5ib"}
2026-04-10 00:01:54.949 [info] Closing Claude on channel: tbpx2x6k5ib

Pattern: Every session launches then immediately closes with "Channel closed mid-launch." No error code returned to UI — just shows "Interrupted during launch."

Steps to Reproduce

Get a new Apple Silicon MacBook (M-series chip)
Install VS Code and the Claude Code extension
Open a project folder in VS Code
Click the Claude Code icon in the sidebar
Click "Claude.ai Subscription" to sign in — browser auth completes successfully
Return to VS Code — extension shows "Interrupted during launch"
Click "New session" — panel spins indefinitely and never loads
Repeat steps 6-7 — same result every time

Note: Running claude in the VS Code integrated terminal works perfectly. The issue is specific to the sidebar panel UI.

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.91 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_