[BUG] VS Code extension: edited files open in Claude's tab panel instead of editor tabs when chat has focus

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

When Claude applies edits via the Edit tool, the extension returns focus to the chat input after each edit. This causes subsequent file opens to land in Claude's tab panel instead of the regular editor tab area, making edited files invisible within the normal editor workflow.

Steps to reproduce

1. Open a project in VS Code with the Claude Code extension
2. Have one or more files open in editor tabs
3. Ask Claude to edit a file
4. Claude applies the edit — focus is returned to the chat input automatically
5. Claude opens the next file to read/edit → the file opens in Claude's tab panel instead of the editor tab area

Observed behavior

• If the user has focus on an editor tab when Claude opens a file, the file opens correctly in the editor tab area
• After each edit, the extension returns focus to the chat input
• From that point on, any file Claude opens lands in Claude's tab panel (not in the editor tabs)
• With multiple Claude instances open, Claude's tab panel fills up with file tabs, making the chat content invisible

Expected behavior

Files opened/edited by Claude should always open in the editor tab area, regardless of where focus currently is.

Additional context

Not reproducible in another Claude Code instance on a different project (PHP) with the exact same VS Code and extension version — suggesting the issue may be instance/workspace-specific or a focus management regression.

Environment

• OS: macOS Darwin arm64 25.5.0
• VS Code: 1.124.2 (Universal) — Commit: 6928394f91b684055b873eecb8bc281365131f1c
• Electron: 42.2.0 / Chromium: 148.0.7778.97 / Node.js: 24.15.0
• Claude Code extension: 2.1.175

What Should Happen?

Files opened or edited by Claude should always open in the regular editor tab area, regardless of which panel currently has focus. The extension should not transfer focus to the chat input after applying an edit.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open a project in VS Code with the Claude Code extension and have files open in editor tabs
2. Ask Claude to edit a file
3. Claude applies the edit — focus is automatically returned to the chat input
4. Ask Claude to read or edit another file
5. The file opens in Claude's tab panel instead of the editor tab area

Note: if the user manually clicks on an editor tab before step 4, the file opens correctly. The issue is that the extension steals focus from the editor after each edit.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.175

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_