[BUG] Desktop app fails to boot workspace on Windows WSL2 — CLI works fine

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?

Environment:

• OS: Windows with WSL2 (Ubuntu, WSL version 2)
• Claude Code version:
• WSL distro: Ubuntu (default)
• Node.js in WSL: v24.14.1
• bubblewrap & socat: installed and functional (bwrap sandbox test passes)

Description:

The Claude Code desktop app on Windows fails to initialize a workspace. It boots partially then dies consistently. No
error message is shown to the user. The only log available (%LOCALAPPDATA%\Claude\Logs\chrome-native-host.log) shows
no errors — it only logs the Chrome browser bridge lifecycle and contains no workspace initialization output.

What works:

• Running claude directly in the WSL terminal works perfectly
• bwrap --ro-bind / / echo "sandbox works" succeeds
• WSL2 Ubuntu is healthy, default distro, running

What doesn't work:

• The Claude Code desktop app on Windows HOME — workspace never fully boots, session dies mid-initialization

What Should Happen?

he Claude Code desktop app on Windows HOME — workspace never fully boots, session dies mid-initialization. it should (cowork) be able to run the bash command but it keeps failing.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to reproduce:

1. Open Claude Code desktop app on Windows
2. Attempt to start a new session/workspace
3. Observe it boots partially then crashes — no error shown

Expected behavior: Workspace boots successfully, same as running claude in WSL terminal.

Additional context: No .bash_profile or custom shell configuration exists in WSL that could interfere. .bashrc is
default Ubuntu. ~/.claude/settings.json only contains {"theme": "auto"}.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.119

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Additional Information

_No response_