[BUG] Session shows as working (running timer + busy spinner + active work-tracker) while idle awaiting user input
Summary
After a long multi-tool turn completes and the assistant returns control to the
user, Claude Code keeps the session flagged as actively working — the elapsed
timer next to the reply keeps counting, the bottom status bar keeps a busy spinner,
and the work-tracker sidebar ("currentActiveWork") keeps the item marked
in-progress — even though nothing is running and the input box is empty/awaiting
input.
Environment
- Claude Code version: 2.1.193
- Model: Opus 4.8 (1M context), Ultracode mode enabled
- OS: macOS (Darwin 25.3.0)
- Surface: Claude Code app UI (shows the "currentActiveWork" / "parkedWork"
work-tracker sidebar + a context-window widget)
Steps to reproduce
- Run a long turn with many sequential tool calls (file reads/writes + shell commands).
- Let the assistant finish its final message and yield control back to the user.
- Observe the elapsed timer, the bottom status bar, and the work-tracker sidebar.
Expected
When the turn ends and the assistant is idle awaiting user input, the elapsed timer
stops and the status returns to idle/ready; the work-tracker should not show the
session as actively working.
Actual
- Elapsed timer keeps incrementing (observed "5m 14s" and counting) while idle
- Bottom status bar keeps showing a busy spinner
- Work-tracker sidebar keeps the session item flagged as in-progress
There was genuinely no background job, agent, or workflow running at the time — the
session was idle, so the "working" indicators are stale state that never reset on
turn completion.
Impact
Misleading — the UI implies ongoing work (and possibly active billing/usage) when
the session is idle, and makes the work-tracker unreliable for seeing what is
actually active.
Notes
Screenshots of the running timer, busy status bar, and work-tracker sidebar are
available and can be attached.
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