Claude Desktop won't recover after version update

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?

If I update Claude Code in the Windows Desktop version and there is a Monitor process running, will that prevent Claude from restarting? That appears to be where I am.
John • 14m
Yes, that can be the reason. If a Monitor process is still running in the background, it can keep a Claude Code session active, which can prevent the app from fully restarting cleanly after an update.
What to do:
In the same session, ask Claude to cancel the Monitor, or end the session that started it.
Then fully quit Claude Code and relaunch it (updates take effect the next time you start the app).
If it still won’t quit on Windows, use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to end the Claude process, then start again.
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 14m
Did that help resolve the restart issue?
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 14m
But I'm already out of Claude Desktop and it won't restart.
John • 13m
Yes, John - if Claude Desktop is “out” but won’t restart, it usually means a Claude process is still running in the background on Windows.
Do this:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Find any Claude process and End task.
Then launch Claude Desktop again (it auto-updates on launch).
If it still won’t start, check Event Viewer → Windows Logs → Application for crash logs.
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 13m
Did that fix the restart problem?
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 13m
I executed end task for Claude but when I go to restart Claude it just goes back to the same state.
John • 11m
That loop usually means the app is still hitting a crash or stuck state on launch, even after you end the main Claude process.
Next steps on Windows:
Check Event Viewer → Windows Logs → Application for crash logs right after you try to start Claude again.
Also check for conflicting installations (multiple claude binaries can cause weird behavior). In PowerShell, run: where.exe claude and Test-Path "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Claude Code\claude.exe". If you find more than one, keep only the native install and remove the extra one.
If you paste the Event Viewer error text (or the exact message you see), I can help interpret it.
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 11m
Did that help you get Claude restarted?
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 11m

• System
• Provider

[ Name] CoworkVMService

• EventID 1

[ Qualifiers] 0

Version 0

Level 4

Task 0

Opcode 0

Keywords 0x80000000000000

• TimeCreated

[ SystemTime] 2026-04-18T19:08:52.9174432Z

EventRecordID 37268

Correlation

• Execution

[ ProcessID] 35160
[ ThreadID] 0

Channel Application

Computer Johns_Laptop

Security

• EventData

Claude VM Service starting. Detailed logs: C:\ProgramData\Claude\Logs\cowork-service.log
​
John • 8m
That Event Viewer entry is just the Claude VM Service starting message, not a crash. It’s expected during startup, and it points you to the detailed log file: C:\ProgramData\Claude\Logs\cowork-service.log.
Since Claude is looping back to the same state after you end task, the next step is to open that cowork-service.log and look for the first error line right after the “starting” message (it will usually show what’s failing during launch).
If you paste the first few lines of that log (or the first error you see), I can help interpret what’s blocking the restart.
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 8m
Did that point you in the right direction?
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 8m
2026/04/18 12:02:24.588893 [Server] Persistent RPC: connection ended: failed to read length: EOF
2026/04/18 12:02:24.687613 Service stop requested
2026/04/18 12:02:24.687613 Shutdown signal received...
2026/04/18 12:02:24.687613 [Server] Stopping server...
2026/04/18 12:02:24.688714 [Server] Server stopped
2026/04/18 12:02:24.688714 Service stopped.
2026/04/18 12:02:25.479215 Starting CoworkVMService as Windows service
2026/04/18 12:02:25.480795 Claude VM Service starting...
2026/04/18 12:02:25.480795 Waiting for configuration from app via 'configure' method...
2026/04/18 12:02:25.481319 [HCS] Initializing HCS DLLs...
2026/04/18 12:02:25.480795 Warning: failed to open service for recovery config: Access is denied.
2026/04/18 12:02:25.485485 [HCS] vmcompute.dll loaded successfully
2026/04/18 12:02:25.488637 [HCS] computecore.dll loaded successfully
2026/04/18 12:02:25.488637 [HCS] Procs initialized, HCS ready
2026/04/18 12:02:25.488637 [HCN] Initialized HCN API from computenetwork.dll
2026/04/18 12:02:25.501947 [HCN] EnumerateNetworks result: []
2026/04/18 12:02:25.591542 [Server] Signature verification initialized
2026/04/18 12:02:25.591542 [Server] Service: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Claude_1.3109.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc\app\resources\cowork-svc.exe
2026/04/18 12:02:25.591542 [Server] Subject: Anthropic, PBC
2026/04/18 12:02:25.591542 [Server] Thumbprint: dbde5d16768ed0c1...
2026/04/18 12:02:25.591542 [Server] Enforce: true
2026/04/18 12:02:25.591542 [Server] Starting named pipe server on \\.\pipe\cowork-vm-service
2026/04/18 12:02:25.592247 [Server] Named pipe server listening
2026/04/18 12:02:25.592247 Service ready. Listening on \\.\pipe\cowork-vm-service
2026/04/18 12:08:52.916173 Starting CoworkVMService as Windows service
2026/04/18 12:08:52.918396 Claude VM Service starting...
2026/04/18 12:08:52.918396 Waiting for configuration from app via 'configure' method...
2026/04/18 12:08:52.918396 [HCS] Initializing HCS DLLs...
2026/04/18 12:08:52.918926 Warning: failed to open service for recovery config: Access is denied.
2026/04/18 12:08:52.921093 [HCS] vmcompute.dll loaded successfully
2026/04/18 12:08:52.922202 [HCS] computecore.dll loaded successfully
2026/04/18 12:08:52.922202 [HCS] Procs initialized, HCS ready
2026/04/18 12:08:52.922202 [HCN] Initialized HCN API from computenetwork.dll
2026/04/18 12:08:52.925483 [HCN] EnumerateNetworks result: []
2026/04/18 12:08:53.047468 [Server] Signature verification initialized
2026/04/18 12:08:53.047468 [Server] Service: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Claude_1.3109.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc\app\resources\cowork-svc.exe
2026/04/18 12:08:53.047468 [Server] Subject: Anthropic, PBC
2026/04/18 12:08:53.047468 [Server] Thumbprint: dbde5d16768ed0c1...
2026/04/18 12:08:53.047468 [Server] Enforce: true
2026/04/18 12:08:53.047468 [Server] Starting named pipe server on \\.\pipe\cowork-vm-service
2026/04/18 12:08:53.047985 [Server] Named pipe server listening
2026/04/18 12:08:53.047985 Service ready. Listening on \\.\pipe\cowork-vm-service
​
John • 6m
That log shows the Claude VM Service is starting and then stopping cleanly, but it’s not showing a crash or a clear failure reason. The “connection ended: failed to read length: EOF” line suggests the service is losing its connection to the app, then shutting down when it receives a stop signal.
Since you’re on Windows and the app won’t restart, the next best step is to file this as a bug so our team can look at the full context. Include:
your Claude Desktop version
Windows version
the exact state you’re stuck in
the full cowork-service.log (or a longer snippet around the EOF line)
You can submit it here: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 6m
Does that give you what you need to report the issue?
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 6m
NO! I want Claude Code back up and running in the Desktop app
John • 5m
John, I hear you. From your logs, the Claude VM Service is starting and then stopping cleanly, but it’s not showing a clear crash reason, so there isn’t a single “restart” fix I can point to from here.
The next step to get you back up is to report this as a bug so our team can investigate the launch loop, and include:
your Claude Desktop version (Help → About)
Windows version
the exact state you’re stuck in
the full cowork-service.log (or a longer snippet around the EOF line)
You can do that by filing an issue here: https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues
If you can, also run /doctor in Claude Code to check your installation health, and use /bug to report it from inside the app.
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 5m
Would that help you move forward?
Fin AI Agent • AI Agent • 5m
How can I go to Help-> ABout if the app won't start?

What Should Happen?

If I select to update the version, I expect the process to be smart enough to check if current processes will interfere. I should either get a "wait" message or get a clean re-boot.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Another program is currently using this file. Pop up.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

1.3109.0.0

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

_No response_