[BUG] macOS Desktop Code tab blocks new sessions when extra-usage cap is hit, despite plan quota remaining (iOS Code and macOS Chat unaffected)

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues (related: #28096, #46812, #28450). This has a distinct symptom surface and diagnostic signal not captured there.
• [x] This is a single bug report.
• [x] I am using the latest version of the Claude Desktop app.

Platform

• Claude Desktop app (macOS) — version 1.3883.0 (93ff6c)
• Also tested on the same account at the same moment:
• Claude iOS app — version v1.260409.1 (24361703904) → Code tab works
• Claude Desktop (macOS) → Chat tab → works

Summary

The Code tab in the macOS Desktop app greys out the send button with an "Out of extra usage / Upgrade" banner when the monthly extra-usage spend cap is exhausted — even when the plan still has significant weekly quota remaining. The same account on iOS Code and macOS Chat is unaffected, which indicates the macOS Code tab is gating on extra-usage availability rather than actual plan quota.

Expected Behavior

With plan quota remaining, starting a new Claude Code session should succeed. Per the Help Center article on extra usage for paid plans, extra usage should only be consumed after plan limits are exhausted. Hitting the extra-usage spend cap should not block sessions that can be served by remaining plan quota.

Actual Behavior

| Surface | Result |
|---|---|
| macOS Desktop → Code tab | Send button disabled, "Out of extra usage" banner, cannot start new session |
| macOS Desktop → Chat tab | Works normally |
| iOS Claude app → Code tab | Works normally |

Same account, same moment, same backend state.

Usage State When Blocked

• 5-hour limit: ~6% used (plenty of headroom)
• Weekly · all models: ~86% used (headroom remaining)
• Weekly · Claude Design: ~20% used
• Sonnet only: ~14% used
• Extra-usage monthly spend cap: exhausted (resets Friday 3:00 AM)

Steps to Reproduce

1. Enable extra usage with a monthly spend cap.
2. Exhaust the extra-usage cap (wait until the "Out of extra usage" state is active).
3. Ensure plan quota (5-hour and weekly) still has headroom.
4. Open Claude Desktop app on macOS → Code tab → new session → send button is greyed.
5. Open iOS Claude app → Code tab → new session → sends work normally.
6. Open Claude Desktop app on macOS → Chat tab → sends work normally.

Diagnostic Note

The asymmetry between surfaces on the same account rules out a backend account-state issue. The macOS Desktop Code tab appears to run a stricter client-side preflight that treats "extra-usage cap exhausted" as "no usage available," ignoring remaining plan quota. iOS Code and macOS Chat do not enforce this check.

Impact

Users whose extra-usage cap is hit — often intentionally, to control spend — are locked out of the macOS Desktop Code tab even though their paid-plan quota is intact. The only workarounds are raising the extra-usage cap (forcing users to risk the overspend they deliberately capped) or switching to a different client.

Related Issues

• #28096 — CLI "Rate limit reached" despite quota remaining, after extra usage exhausted/disabled. Same root-cause family (extra-usage state gates access despite plan quota), different surface. This new report adds a cross-surface asymmetry signal (iOS Code works, macOS Desktop Code blocks) that points at a macOS-Desktop-client preflight rather than a purely server-side flag.
• #46812 — Claude Code fully locked (no input box) after weekly limit with extra usage available. Different bug, referenced for completeness.
• #28450 — Max plan rate-limited when Extra Usage toggle disabled (closed as duplicate of #28096).