[BUG] Remote Control "failed to connect: /login" on App Store-billed Max subscription (desktop app, macOS)

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?

What happens

/remote-control in Claude Code consistently fails with:

Remote Control failed to connect: /login

Regular Claude Code usage works perfectly on my Max plan — only Remote Control fails. Support confirmed it's a "Remote credentials fetch failed" issue: the short-lived credentials Remote Control needs can't be fetched, even though subscription auth works for every other feature.

Likely root cause

My Max subscription is billed through the Apple App Store (iOS in-app purchase), not claude.ai web billing ("You're subscribed via iOS app"). This looks like an auth-sync gap between App Store-billed subscriptions and Remote Control's credential system. The subscription itself is valid — every other Max feature works.

Environment

• Claude Code 2.1.156, inside Claude desktop app 1.9659.2, macOS
• Auth: claude.ai OAuth, Max plan, no ANTHROPIC_API_KEY set, system clock correct

Tried (all failed)

Logged out and back in via the app, confirmed no API key set, on latest version, full app restart.

Expected

A Max plan should grant Remote Control regardless of billing channel (App Store vs. web). Right now App Store-billed Max users can't use a feature they pay for.

Related

Same "/login" error: #60606 (closed as not planned, no App Store mention). Plus several open "Remote Control not enabled for your account" reports from Max users.

What Should Happen?

Running /remote-control should open a Remote Control session (URL + QR code), exactly as it does for web-billed Max subscribers. Any active Max plan should grant Remote Control access regardless of billing channel (Apple App Store vs. claude.ai web).

Error Messages/Logs

Remote Control failed to connect: /login

Steps to Reproduce

1. Have an active Max subscription that was purchased via the Apple App Store (iOS in-app purchase).
2. Open Claude Code in the Claude desktop app on macOS, signed in with that claude.ai account (Max).
3. Run /remote-control (or /rc).
4. Observe: "Remote Control failed to connect: /login" — no URL/QR code is generated.

Regular Claude Code usage works normally throughout; only Remote Control fails. Logging out and back in via the app does not help.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.156 (inside Claude desktop app 1.9659.2 (390d6c), macOS)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

Claude Code runs inside the Claude desktop app, not a standalone terminal — so the Terminal/Shell field above isn't really applicable, and /logout isn't available in the embedded session (re-authentication was done via the app instead). Anthropic support (Fin) confirmed this is a known "Remote credentials fetch failed" issue affecting Apple App Store-billed subscriptions specifically: the plan is recognized for every other feature, but Remote Control can't fetch its short-lived credentials. Moving to claude.ai web billing would mean paying for a second subscription, so a server-side fix is the real solution.