[BUG] Agent mode status shows "working" during permission prompts instead of "waiting for input"
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?
In agent mode, when a permission prompt appears (e.g. file read
permissions at session start, or MCP tool approval mid-session),
the session status in the agent view stays "working" instead of
updating to indicate it's waiting for user input.
The session IS showing the permission prompt correctly — this is
purely a status indicator issue. The prompt can be answered
normally; it's just not obvious the session is blocked.
Note: there are cases where the session correctly shows
"waiting for user input" — so the state exists. It's unclear
what determines which state is shown; we suspect it may be
that permission prompts fire mid-turn before the UI gets the
signal to flip state, but this is a guess.
What Should Happen?
Session should appear in "Needs input"
Error Messages/Logs
Steps to Reproduce
- Open an agent mode session
- Trigger a permission prompt (e.g. session start with
file read permissions pending, or invoke an MCP tool
that hasn't been approved yet)
- Observe: session status remains "working" while permission
prompt is displayed waiting for answer
Claude Model
Sonnet (default)
Is this a regression?
I don't know
Last Working Version
_No response_
Claude Code Version
2.1.141
Platform
Anthropic API
Operating System
macOS
Terminal/Shell
VS Code integrated terminal
Additional Information
<img width="2000" height="702" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/ce00104f-6923-4e39-8aa7-517514cb7ca9" />
possibly related issue: #56860 (same class — status indicator stuck — but different scenario)
4 Comments
Found 1 possible duplicate issue:
This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.
🤖 Generated with Claude Code
Not a duplicate of #50665. That issue covers Claude being genuinely idle with a stuck spinner and an unresponsive stop button. This issue is specifically about permission prompts: the prompt appears correctly and can be answered normally, but the session status in the agent view stays "working" instead of updating to "needs input."
Pattern observed across multiple cases:
This suggests the bug is scoped to read and MCP tool permission prompts. Write/edit prompts appear to go through a different flow that correctly updates the status indicator.
The two issues may share a root cause in the UI state machine, but the trigger conditions are different.
<img width="2000" height="702" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b1961e4e-a31a-4552-a617-11289a7f7de4" />
<img width="880" height="155" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/082bb908-4b45-4c21-92a8-65d53ef617e7" />
Addressed by a merged fix. Please reopen with a fresh repro if you still see this on a current version.
This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.