[BUG] CLI OAuth login succeeds but all API calls return 401 Invalid bearer token (desktop app 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?

Claude Code CLI (claude.exe) consistently fails with 401 authentication errors despite successfully completing OAuth login. The desktop app works fine with the same Claude.ai Pro account.

Steps to reproduce:

Run claude in PowerShell
Send any message → get 401
Run /login → browser opens, authenticate, "Login successful"
Send any message → still get 401
Expected behavior: OAuth login grants API access, messages succeed.

Actual behavior:

API Error: 401 {"type":"error","error":{"type":"authentication_error","message":"Invalid bearer token"}}
Environment:

Claude Code version: 2.1.121
OS: Windows 11
Installation: standalone .exe (C:\Users\matan\.local\bin\claude.exe) + npm global
Account: Claude.ai Pro, personal account
Diagnostics:

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is not set
.credentials.json exists, has correct structure, scopes include user:sessions:claude_code, subscriptionType: "pro", token is not expired
Both fresh and cached tokens are rejected immediately
Desktop app Claude Code works fine with the same account
Request IDs:

req_011CaVsBjy8HDPXrpmYVgnid
req_011CaVsKDcERdhtT6DYXKW3C
req_011CaVtUrPvFZSWuLqQ8GiVb
req_011CaVtAwPZGNBxnjtKbVwRa
req_011CaVtVyHwDvu6wcQSB5AYZ

What Should Happen?

regular login

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

idk

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.121

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

_No response_