[BUG] Titel: "EEXIST error on every API call on Windows - mkdir .claude fails"

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?

Every API call fails with "API Error: EEXIST: file already exists, mkdir 'C:\Users\wolfi\.claude'" on Windows. Claude Code is completely unusable - no prompts work, no slash commands work.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Install Claude Code on Windows 10/11
2. Open Claude Code in any directory
3. Type any prompt and press Enter
4. Result: API Error: EEXIST: file already exists, mkdir 'C:\Users\wolfi\.claude'

The .claude directory already exists and is fully populated. The error occurs because mkdir is called without the { recursive: true } flag before every API call.

Also affected: Remote Control fails to connect with same EEXIST error on startup.

Environment:

• Claude Code v2.1.114
• Windows 10/11
• Installation: native .exe at C:\Users\wolfi\.local\bin\claude.exe
• npm installation also present at AppData\Roaming\npm

What Should Happen?

Claude Code should handle an already-existing .claude directory gracefully. The mkdir call should use { recursive: true } so it doesn't throw EEXIST when the directory already exists. All prompts and slash commands should work normally.

Error Messages/Logs

API Error: EEXIST: file already exists, mkdir 'C:\Users\wolfi\.claude'
Remote Control failed to connect: EEXIST: file already exists, mkdir 'C:\Users\wolfi\.claude'

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Claude Code on Windows 10/11 (v2.1.114)
2. Ensure C:\Users\<username>\.claude directory already exists
3. Open any terminal and run: claude
4. Type any prompt (e.g. "hello") and press Enter
5. Result: API Error: EEXIST: file already exists, mkdir 'C:\Users\<username>\.claude'

Note: The error occurs on EVERY prompt. Claude Code is completely unusable.
The .claude directory exists and is populated - mkdir fails because { recursive: true } is missing.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.114 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

Two claude installations exist on this system:

• C:\Users\wolfi\.local\bin\claude.exe (native, 246MB, takes PATH priority)
• C:\Users\wolfi\AppData\Roaming\npm\claude (npm wrapper)

The .claude directory at C:\Users\wolfi\.claude is fully populated with hooks, sessions, skills etc.

Attempted fixes that did NOT work:

• npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest --force
• Removing SessionStart hooks from settings.json
• Renaming the native .exe to force npm version

The bug appears to be in the native binary itself - mkdir is called without { recursive: true } before every API call, causing EEXIST when the directory already exists.