Native UI (VSCode extension): no way to expand/view full thinking-block detail

Open 💬 0 comments Opened Jul 3, 2026 by excessuk

Environment

  • Claude Code VSCode extension, native chat panel UI (claudeCode.useTerminal: false, the default)
  • Extension version: 2.1.199 (also reproduced on 2.1.198)
  • CLI version: 2.1.168
  • macOS (Darwin 25.5.0)

Description

Until recently, the native chat panel showed an expandable "Thinking" block with a clickable arrow to reveal the full extended-thinking content. That arrow/toggle is no longer present.

Investigating further: the terminal-based CLI TUI has a documented Ctrl+O shortcut (added in v2.1.152, refined in v2.1.181) to expand collapsed thinking summaries. However, checking the extension's package.json, this shortcut was never registered as a VSCode keybinding, and there's no equivalent button, command, or setting in the native webview UI (claude-vscode.* commands contain nothing for thinking display). So in native-UI mode, there is currently no way to view full thinking content at all — not just hidden behind an undiscoverable shortcut.

Expected behavior

The native chat panel should have some way (button, command palette entry, or keybinding) to expand and view full thinking-block content, matching what's available in terminal mode.

Steps to reproduce

  1. Use the Claude Code VSCode extension in native UI mode (default, claudeCode.useTerminal unset or false)
  2. Send a prompt that triggers extended thinking
  3. Observe the thinking summary is shown collapsed with no way to expand it

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