[Desktop App] "Working directory no longer exists" error on startup with no UI option to change root directory — workaround & feature requests

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?

##Bug Description
When the working directory configured as the root is deleted or moved,
the Claude Code desktop app gets stuck on startup with the error:
"Working directory no longer exists"
There is no UI option to change the working directory from within the app —
the only way to recover is to manually edit config files.

What Should Happen?

Workaround (manual fix)

Edit these files to point to a valid directory:

1. %APPDATA%\Antigravity\User\workspaceStorage\<id>\workspace.json

→ Change "folder" to the new path (URL-encoded)

1. %APPDATA%\Antigravity\User\globalStorage\storage.json

→ Update the key in profileAssociations.workspaces

1. (Claude Package) claude-code-sessions\...\local_*.json

→ Update "cwd" and "originCwd" fields

Feature Requests

1. Recovery screen on startup: When cwd is missing, show a dialog

to choose a new directory instead of crashing/blocking

1. Multiple root directories: Support switching between several

recent root directories from within the app

1. "Change root directory" option in UI: A menu option to change

the working directory without restarting

Error Messages/Logs

"Working directory no longer exists"

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open Claude Code Desktop with a working directory set
2. Delete or move that directory
3. Relaunch the app → stuck with the error, no way to proceed via UI

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude 1.15962.1 (1e236d) 2026-06-26T19:44:44.000Z

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

• Claude Code Desktop (Antigravity-based)