[BUG] Claude Code desktop tab crashes (exit code 1) — app passes --no-chrome and omits --model/--effort flags, causing immediate crash

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 tab in the Claude desktop app crashes immediately with "Claude Code process exited with code 1" on every session attempt.

The desktop app is invoking the Claude Code binary with an incorrect set of flags. Specifically it passes --no-chrome and --max-thinking-tokens but omits --model and --effort, which working sessions on the same machine include. The binary itself works correctly when invoked manually.

Broken invocation (from ps aux):
claude --output-format stream-json --verbose --input-format stream-json --max-thinking-tokens 31999 --permission-prompt-tool stdio --setting-sources=user,project,local --permission-mode default --include-partial-messages --debug --debug-to-stderr --enable-auth-status --no-chrome --replay-user-messages

Working invocation from another user account on the same machine:
claude --output-format stream-json --verbose --input-format stream-json --effort medium --model claude-sonnet-4-6 --permission-prompt-tool stdio --setting-sources=user,project,local --permission-mode acceptEdits --include-partial-messages --plugin-dir [...] --replay-user-messages

Key differences in broken session: has --no-chrome, missing --model, missing --effort.

What Should Happen?

The desktop app should invoke the Claude Code binary with the correct flags including --model and --effort, and should not pass --no-chrome which causes an immediate crash.

Error Messages/Logs

From ~/Library/Logs/Claude/main.log:

2026-04-27 15:00:50 [error] Session local_9ef72497-706a-4639-a0ed-09a551076c4a query error: Claude Code process exited with code 1 {
  stack: 'Error: Claude Code process exited with code 1
    at Gdr.getProcessExitError (/Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/.vite/build/index.js:390:8215)
    at ChildProcess.i (/Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/.vite/build/index.js:390:11260)
    at Object.onceWrapper (node:events:631:26)
    at ChildProcess.emit (node:events:521:24)
    at ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:295:12)'
}
2026-04-27 15:00:50 [info] [CCD CycleHealth] unhealthy cycle for local_9ef72497 (1s, hadFirstResponse=false, reason=no_response)

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open Claude desktop app on macOS (Apple Silicon)
2. Go to Code tab → New session → select any local folder
3. Send any message (e.g. "hi")
4. Session crashes immediately with "Claude Code process exited with code 1"

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.119

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

The binary works correctly when invoked directly:

"/Users/IMBA/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude-code/2.1.119/claude.app/Contents/MacOS/claude" --print "hi"

Output: Hi.

The disclaimer helper also works:
"/Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Helpers/disclaimer" "<binary path>" --print "hi"

Output: Hi.

Another user account (arjun) on the same machine works perfectly with the same Claude desktop app installation. The only observable difference is the flags passed at invocation — the working account receives --model and --effort while the broken account receives --no-chrome instead.

Workarounds attempted with no success: reinstall Claude app, logout/login, clear session storage (~Library/Application Support/Claude/Session Storage/, claude-code-sessions/, local-agent-mode-sessions/), move project folder outside ~/Documents.