[BUG] VS Code terminal steals focus even when running Claude Code externally with /ide (terminal not open)

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/1591
2. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/3419
3. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/6919

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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

Not a duplicate. There are several references to this bug in JetBrains products but I haven't seen a report of this for VS Code/Cursor.

I can confirm the bug report, I observe the same behaviour.

I use latest Ghostty from main branch (version 0c63946bd, build 12105).

Claude Code version 1.0.112 (Claude Code).

VSCode version info:

Version: 1.104.0
Commit: f220831ea2d946c0dcb0f3eaa480eb435a2c1260
Date: 2025-09-10T06:46:18.035Z (5 days ago)
Electron: 37.3.1
ElectronBuildId: 12342881
Chromium: 138.0.7204.235
Node.js: 22.18.0
V8: 13.8.258.31-electron.0
OS: Darwin arm64 24.6.0

Just confirming that this bug is still reproducible in November with Claude Code CLI 2.0.31.
The issue reported back in September seems to persist in the current release. But I'm using window platform.

Claude Code v2.0.36 and confirming this bug AGAIN, can you work a bit more instead doing nothing please?

This issue has been inactive for 30 days. If the issue is still occurring, please comment to let us know. Otherwise, this issue will be automatically closed in 30 days for housekeeping purposes.

This issue is still occuring!

Able to reproduce this issue with warp and cursor

I think the best workaround here would be to just introduce a new vscode extension setting to opt-out of the current behaviour which seems to open the terminal panel and focus it.

Still occurring, please fix

Still occurring, please fix

Still running into this - please fix

issue persists on 2.1.42

also confirming this. is there a way to disconnect clude-cli from the claude extention in vs code?

Happening for me on 2.1.79

The focus-stealing happens because the /ide connection triggers VS Code to open/activate its terminal panel. Workarounds:
Workaround 1 — Prevent terminal auto-focus in VS Code:

// VS Code settings.json
{
  "terminal.integrated.focusAfterRun": "none",
  "terminal.integrated.showExitAlert": false
}

This prevents VS Code from auto-focusing the terminal panel when Claude Code sends commands through the IDE integration.
Workaround 2 — Use a separate VS Code window:
Keep your code in one VS Code window and let Claude's /ide connection go to a different window. Focus changes in the second window won't interrupt your work in the first.
Workaround 3 — Don't use /ide, use file paths instead:
If you primarily need Claude to edit files, it can do so via the Edit/Write tools without IDE integration:

<!-- CLAUDE.md -->
Edit files directly using the Edit tool. Do not use IDE integration.

The /ide connection is mainly useful for features like "go to definition" and inline diffs. If you don't need those, skipping /ide avoids the focus issue entirely.
Workaround 4 — Use the VS Code extension instead of external terminal + /ide:
The Native UI mode in the extension handles IDE integration without the focus-stealing issue, since Claude runs inside VS Code natively.

now, (for me), it happens _twice_, on startup. That's quite disruptive.

https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/7618#issuecomment-4159655672

(1) does not work; see https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/23713 for an explanation

(2) This is very awkward; now I'm juggling 3 windows (VSCode 1 where I do my work, VSCode 2 whose only purpose is to feed context to CC, an external terminal running claude code). Also VSCode doesn't really like to have 2 windows open to the same project as far as I know, though I haven't tried it in some time. Historically the only way I've managed to do it was to have one window open to the folder, one window open to a VSCode workspace in the same folder.

(3) That also defeats the entire purpose of having ide integration. "Don't use the thing" is not a workaround

(4) Also defeats the entire purpose of /ide integration

Still reproducible on Claude Code v2.1.126 / VS Code Claude Code extension v2.1.126 (macOS).

Environment

• OS: macOS
• External terminal: Ghostty
• Claude Code CLI: v2.1.126
• VS Code with Claude Code extension v2.1.126

Reproduction

1. Run claude in Ghostty
2. /ide → "Connected to Visual Studio Code"
3. Send any prompt — even one that doesn't trigger any tool call
4. VS Code's integrated terminal panel pops open / steals focus
5. Happens on every prompt

New finding — narrows down the trigger
The pop-up only happens if at least one integrated terminal instance already exists in the current VS Code
session. Specifically:

| State of VS Code's integrated terminal | Pop-up on prompt? |
|---|---|
| Never opened in this VS Code session | ✅ No pop-up |
| Opened before, then hidden (Cmd+J) | ❌ Pops back |
| Opened and visible | ❌ Steals focus |

Workaround: restart VS Code and never manually open an integrated terminal. The pop-up does not occur as long as no
terminal instance exists.

This used to work a few weeks ago for me. Certainly way after the opening of this ticket. But it's been doing it every time for the last few weeks. I don't know the exact version.

Almost a year later and this is still an issue.