[BUG] Claude Code defaults to 1M context on fresh session with no workaround on Pro plan

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?

Title: Claude Code defaults to 1M context on fresh session with no workaround on Pro plan

Plan: Pro ($20/month)
OS: macOS
Interface: Claude Code desktop app
Claude Code version: Latest

Description:
On a brand new session with no files open and no prior context, Claude Code throws the following error immediately:

API Error: Usage credits required for 1M context · turn on usage credits at claude.ai/settings/usage, or use --model to switch to standard context

I never requested 1M context. Session usage was at 0% (5-hour window: 5%, 7-day: 11%) when the error occurred.

Steps to reproduce:

Open Claude Code desktop app on Pro plan
Start a fresh session
Error appears immediately without any prompt or file loaded
Attempted workarounds — none resolved it:

claude --model claude-sonnet-4-5 — same error
claude --model claude-sonnet-4-6 — same error
claude logout → claude login with Pro credentials only — same error
Expected behavior: Standard context window used by default on a fresh session. Pro plan should not require usage credits for standard context.

Actual behavior: 1M context is selected automatically with no way to override it via --model flag.

What Should Happen?

Standard context window used by default on a fresh session. Pro plan should not require usage credits for standard context.

Error Messages/Logs

Usage limit reached
You've reached your usage limit. Try again after your limit resets.
View details
API Error: Usage credits required for 1M context · turn on usage credits at claude.ai/settings/usage, or use --model to switch to standard context

Steps to Reproduce

Open Claude Code desktop app on Pro plan
Start a fresh session
Error appears immediately without any prompt or file loaded

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

claude --version returns usage error

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Windows Terminal

Additional Information

No response