[BUG] Claude Desktop OOM crash on launch — JS heap hits ~3.4GB in ~12 seconds, macOS 26

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 Desktop crashes on every launch with a JavaScript heap out of memory
error. The JS heap reaches ~3.4GB in approximately 12 seconds and V8 runs
out of memory before the app finishes initializing.

What Should Happen?

App launches normally and stays open when using the Code tab.

Error Messages/Logs

OOM error in V8: CALL_AND_RETRY_LAST Allocation failed - JavaScript heap out of memory

GC log shows back-to-back last resort Mark-Compact cycles with mu = 0.000 
(no memory being freed), then immediate crash.

Steps to Reproduce

Environment:

• macOS 26 (tested on both 26.4.1 build 25E253 and 26.5 beta)
• Hardware: MacBook Pro M1 (MacBookPro18,3)
• Claude Desktop: latest version (confirmed via app)

Steps to reproduce:

1. Launch Claude Desktop normally
2. App crashes after ~12 seconds every time

What I tried:

• Clean reinstall (deleted /Applications/Claude.app and ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/)
• Cleared Cache, GPUCache, Session Storage, Local Storage, IndexedDB
• Cleared and locked vm_bundles folder (9.7GB, rebuilt itself after deletion)
• Still crashes identically after all of the above

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.126 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

I used to use Claude Code on the Claude desktop app.
Claude Code works fine when using it on termional