[BUG] Missing top menu bar (Chat, Cowork, Code) after Claude Desktop update (Windows)
Status Fixed / completed
Reported on v2.1.101
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 4 comments · opened Apr 15, 2026 · closed Apr 16, 2026
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?
After claude desktop performed an update today, the the upper middle menu bar (the bar that contained "chat" "cowork" and "code") is no longer present. I followed Claude's suggestions to resolve include uninstalling/reinstalling, but the problem persists. Degraded functionality.
Windows 11 home. 10.2.26200 build 26200
Attached screen capture
What Should Happen?
After the update, the "chat" "cowork" and "code" menu should be present.
Error Messages/Logs
Steps to Reproduce
<img width="2550" height="1513" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/94295907-503a-40e6-bd60-3a43c2344235" />
Claude Model
Sonnet (default)
Is this a regression?
Yes, this worked in a previous version
Last Working Version
_No response_
Claude Code Version
2.1.101
Platform
Anthropic API
Operating System
Windows
Terminal/Shell
PowerShell
Additional Information
_No response_
4 Comments
Cowork was working correctly the previous day (Apr 14/26)
Apr 15/26 my other Windows 11 Home laptop with Claude Desktop also has the same problem now. See attached images, one showing claude desktop version 1.2581.0.
Apr 16/26 messaging indicating Claude desktop updated to 1.2773.0 on my prime Windows laptop
<img width="507" height="255" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/fde8c9d8-2168-481a-85c8-d3f0f46af5c8" />
<img width="943" height="609" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/4c920e6d-def3-414f-aac6-7ea89268a69e" />
. Problem persists.
Apr 16/26 while manipulating a file with claude desktop this morning via CHAT, at the end a message appeared ~"try cowork". So I clicked it and there was cowork, however, still without the upper-centered menu Chat/Cowork/Code. I noticed, it appears, this text menu has been moved to the upper-right corner and changed to icons representing Chat/Cowork/Code. Looking back at yesterday's screen capture when I initially posted the problem, I see the icon-menu there also.
Issue appears resolved.
<img width="445" height="345" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5c87c814-faa1-4574-8b45-7832741e30c8" />
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