[BUG] Claude Cowork/Desktop folder revocation problem ("Hotel California")

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?

Claude Cowork lets you grant folder access but provides no visible way to revoke it once granted. This causes extreme friction when trying to isolate shifting projects from one another and makes it impossible to correct erroneous access grants. You can check in anytime you want, but you can never leave.

What Should Happen?

There should be a simple, salient UI control to grant or revoke access to any of the user's directories.

Error Messages/Logs

[Claude Cowork lets you grant folder access but does not provide any visible way to revoke that access once granted](https://www.perplexity.ai/search/2378347a-c204-4a7b-9488-13d8d3cdda87)

Steps to Reproduce

1. Grant access to any folder
2. Try to revoke that access

Claude Model

Not sure / Multiple models

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.202 (Claude Code) accessed from Claude for Windows Version 1.19367.0 (1a5be1)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

Workaround for the folder revocation problem ("Hotel California" bug)

No built-in way to revoke folder access once granted? Here's a repeatable workaround that immediately severs access. (I recommend you use File → Exit to close Claude Desktop before doing this.)

Steps:

1. Outside Cowork/Claude Code, in your OS file manager, rename the granted folder -- or any parent folder above it in the path -- to anything else.

1. Cowork/Claude Code loses the path it mounted. Access is severed immediately, even if a session is active. (Though I recommend you completely exit Claude Desktop

1. Rename the folder back to its original name right away if you want to keep it. Access stays severed -- it does not silently remount.

1. Grant Cowork/Claude Code access to whichever folder(s) you actually want it to have.

1. Need to revoke again later? Repeat steps 1-4.

Tested only on Windows, where it works on any folder you have rename rights to.

This is a stopgap until Anthropic adds a proper remove/unmount control.