[BUG] Single $ Latex not rendering in MacOS Claude Code Desktop

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?

The Claude Code macOS desktop app does not render single-dollar inline LaTeX ($...$). The expression is passed through as raw text with the dollar signs visible, rather than being rendered as math.

Double-dollar display math ($$...$$) renders correctly, both on its own line and when placed inline mid-paragraph.

This affects both Claude's output and user input, and appears to still reproduce on the latest version (Claude Code 2.1.97).

Expected: $y = mx + b$ renders as inline math, matching the behavior of claude.ai and most markdown renderers that support KaTeX/MathJax.

Actual: $y = mx + b$ appears as literal text with dollar signs.

What Should Happen?

Expected: $y = mx + b$ renders as inline math, matching the behavior of claude.ai and most markdown renderers that support KaTeX/MathJax.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open the Claude Code macOS desktop app
2. Send a message containing single-dollar inline math, e.g.:

    repeat back: $y = mx + b$ and $$y = mx + b$$

1. Observe the rendered output:

• Expected: both expressions render as math
• Actual: the first appears as raw text ($y = mx + b$), only the second renders:

> $y = mx + b$ and $$y = mx + b$$

Claude Model

Not sure / Multiple models

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude Code 2.1.97

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_