[BUG] Desktop app ignores settings.json "model" field for new sessions

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?

Claude Code Desktop app ignores the model field in ~/.claude/settings.json when starting a new session. Every new session defaults to Opus 4.7 1M regardless of the configured model. User must manually run /model claude-opus-4-6 every single session.

Tested (all failed to persist):

1. Global ~/.claude/settings.json → "model": "claude-opus-4-6"
2. "env": {"ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "claude-opus-4-6"} in settings.json
3. Project .claude/settings.local.json → "model": "claude-opus-4-6"
4. Windows user environment variable ANTHROPIC_MODEL=claude-opus-4-6
5. Full app restart (close + reopen)

What Should Happen?

New sessions should respect the model field in ~/.claude/settings.json and start with the configured model instead of always defaulting to Opus 4.7 1M.

Error Messages/Logs

No error messages. The app simply ignores the model setting silently.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Set "model": "claude-opus-4-6" in ~/.claude/settings.json
2. Fully close and reopen Claude Code Desktop app
3. Click "New session"
4. Check the model indicator in the bottom-right corner — it shows "Opus 4.7 1M" instead of "Opus 4.6"

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.110

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

_No response_