[BUG] Cowork refuses to start when Claude data directory is a junction/symlink (user relocated data to another drive to save disk space)

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?

Environment

• OS: Windows 11
• Claude Desktop: MSIX/Store install (package Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc)
• Feature: Cowork

Description

Cowork fails to start with:

Failed to start Claude's workspace configure: path C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Packages\Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc\LocalCache\Roaming\Claude is a symlink or junction, refusing to open

I intentionally moved the Claude data directory to my E: drive and created an NTFS junction at the original location, because Claude's data (VM bundles, session data) takes many GB and my C: drive is nearly full. Cowork's security check refuses to follow the junction, so Cowork is completely unusable in this setup. Restarting Claude or the computer does not help (expected — the junction is intentional and persistent).

Related

• Path confusion between %APPDATA%\Claude and the MSIX virtualized LocalCache\Roaming\Claude: #36642, #30584
• Symlink/junction rejection in folder picker: #24964

What Should Happen?

Either:

• Cowork should tolerate a junction whose target is a fixed local NTFS volume (this is a standard, legitimate way Windows users relocate large app data), or
• Claude Desktop should provide an official setting to relocate its data/VM directory to another drive.

Relocating app data via junction is a common practice for users with small system drives. Blocking it with no official alternative leaves no supported way to keep Cowork's multi-GB VM data off the C: drive.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Move %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc\LocalCache\Roaming\Claude to another drive (e.g. E:\ClaudeData)
2. Create a junction: mklink /J "<original path>" "E:\ClaudeData"
3. Launch Claude Desktop and start a Cowork session
4. Error above appears every time

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.128

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Windows Terminal

Additional Information

_No response_