[BUG] Desktop app reinstall wipes local "Recents" session index while CLI transcripts remain intact

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?

After uninstalling and reinstalling the Claude desktop app (Windows) due to repeated errors, the "Recents" sidebar in the Code tab now shows only 1 session, even though the actual conversation history was not lost.

What Should Happen?

After reinstall, the app should rediscover and relist prior sessions for a project (e.g. by scanning the CLI's session transcripts), so "Recents" and the Overview stats reflect actual history.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Use the Claude desktop app's Code tab normally over multiple sessions/days.
2. Encounter recurring app errors that require uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
3. Reopen the app and check the Code tab's "Recents" list.

Claude Model

Not sure / Multiple models

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

2.1.210 (Claude Code)

Claude Code Version

2.1.210 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

Impact

Reinstalling the app (a fairly common recovery step after a crash/error) creates the impression that all prior chat history has been permanently lost, even though the underlying data is safe. This is confusing and alarming, and there's no in-app way to force a re-sync/rescan of existing local sessions.

Environment

• OS: Windows 11 Pro (build 10.0.26200)
• Claude desktop app version (from config.json updaterLastSeenVersion): 1.21459.3
• Bundled Claude Code CLI version: 2.1.209

Suggested Fix

On startup (or via a manual "rescan" action), have the app rebuild its local session index from the existing ~/.claude/projects/**/*.jsonl transcripts instead of relying solely on its own claude-code-sessions registry, so a reinstall doesn't orphan valid history.