/rename command unavailable in VS Code extension — session tabs cannot be renamed

Problem

The /rename slash command works in the Claude Code CLI (terminal) but is not available in the VS Code extension. There is no way to rename session tabs in the extension — not via slash command, not via right-click context menu, and not via any other UI element.

When working on multiple parallel sessions (feature work, debugging, reviews), the auto-generated tab names are generic and indistinguishable. This makes it very difficult to navigate between sessions.

Current behavior

• CLI (terminal): /rename My Session works correctly, name displays in prompt bar
• VS Code extension: /rename is not recognized as a command. Session tabs show auto-generated names only with no option to change them.

Expected behavior

• /rename <name> should work in the VS Code extension
• Alternatively: right-click on a session tab → "Rename" option
• Renamed session names should persist across restarts, compaction, and /clear

Prior issues (all closed without resolution for the extension)

Several issues have been filed about this. Some were closed as "duplicate" pointing to CLI-only fixes, others as "stale/not planned":

Feature requests (VS Code extension specific):

• #17536 — Renamable/Named Sessions in Claude Code Extension (NOT_PLANNED, stale)
• #9198 — Rename conversation titles in VS Code extension (DUPLICATE)
• #15050 — Rename conversations in VS Code sidebar (DUPLICATE)
• #24090 — Renameable session tabs in VS Code (NOT_PLANNED, stale)
• #24472 — /rename slash command support in VS Code (closed)
• #25488 — Rename conversation/session tabs in VS Code (closed)
• #25757 — Rename Claude Code tab titles in VS Code (closed)
• #28679 — Rename conversation tabs in VS Code (closed)
• #29895 — "Rename Session" command in VS Code (DUPLICATE)
• #33637 — Rename session titles in VS Code (COMPLETED — but not working)
• #43511 — Rename conversation tabs in VS Code (COMPLETED — but not working)

Desktop app:

• #38207 — Allow renaming active sessions in desktop app (DUPLICATE)
• #46155 — Rename conversations in desktop app (DUPLICATE)

Bug reports about /rename not persisting (cross-platform):

• #34411 — VS Code: renamed sessions revert to original name
• #37579 — VS Code doesn't restore renamed session titles
• #23964 — /rename names not persisted to disk (fixed for CLI)
• #47197 — /rename name lost after process exit (fixed for Windows CLI)

Why this matters

• 20+ issues filed about this across CLI, extension, and desktop — clear community demand
• #33637 and #43511 were closed as COMPLETED for VS Code, but the feature does not work
• CLI users have a working /rename; extension users have no equivalent
• Power users managing multiple sessions (scheduled tasks, parallel features, debugging) cannot distinguish tabs

Environment

• Claude Code VS Code Extension (latest)
• Windows 11 / macOS / Linux (platform-independent)
• Claude Code CLI /rename works correctly on the same machine