Desktop app loses default working directory between sessions

Status Closed — not planned
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 5 comments · opened Apr 10, 2026 · closed May 27, 2026

Description

The Claude Code desktop app no longer remembers the working directory between sessions. Previously (as of April 9, 2026), opening a new conversation in the desktop app would default to the last-used project folder. After an update, it now defaults back to the home directory (~).

Expected behavior

The desktop app should remember the last-used working directory (or allow setting a default project folder) so users don't have to re-select it every time they start a new conversation.

Current behavior

Every new conversation starts at ~ (home directory), requiring manual folder selection via the UI each time.

Configuration context

  • localAgentModeTrustedFolders and dispatchTrustedCodeWorkspaces are set in claude_desktop_config.json but don't influence the default working directory
  • window-state.json stores window geometry but no working directory
  • Session data in claude-code-sessions/ appears to store per-session paths, but this doesn't persist across app restarts/updates

Environment

  • macOS (Darwin 25.3.0)
  • Claude Code desktop app (latest as of April 10, 2026)
  • CLI version works correctly (inherits cwd from terminal)

Suggestion

Either persist the last-used working directory across sessions, or add a defaultWorkingDirectory config key to claude_desktop_config.json.

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