Desktop app should support a configurable default startup directory

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?

Description:
The Claude Code desktop app always launches in the user's home directory (C:\Users\<name>). There is no way to configure a default startup directory — not in settings, not via a shortcut (the app is installed as a Windows Store/MSIX package, which doesn't support the "Start in" shortcut property).

This matters because Claude Code's behavior is directory-dependent: it reads CLAUDE.md from the working directory at startup. Users who work primarily in a specific project folder have no way to make that the default without using the terminal instead of the desktop app.

Platform: Windows 11, Claude Code desktop app (MSIX/Store install), v2.1.128

What Should Happen?

Requested behavior:
A setting (in settings.json or the app UI) to specify a default startup directory, so the desktop app launches in the right project context automatically. - This was Claude's suggestion for a fix.

I would like a way to control the startup directory for the app.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Start the Claude app. Select the Code tab.

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.138

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

_No response_