[BUG] Desktop: new-session dispatch requires redundant folder re-confirmation even when correct folder is pre-selected
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?
Description
When a Claude Code Desktop session is opened programmatically (e.g. dispatched from an
external tool/workflow that points it at a specific project folder), pressing Enter to
submit the first message does not submit it. Instead it opens the project/folder picker
dropdown — with the correct folder already shown as selected (checkmarked) — and forces
me to manually re-select that same folder and press Enter again before the message
actually sends and the session starts working.
This adds a redundant manual step to every dispatched session, since the folder was
already correct.
Steps to reproduce
- Dispatch a new Claude Code Desktop session programmatically at a specific project
folder (e.g. via an external script/tool that opens Desktop with a target directory).
- In the new session window, type a message and press Enter.
- Observe: instead of submitting, a "Recent" folder-picker dropdown opens, with the
intended folder already checkmarked as selected.
- Click the already-selected folder again, then press Enter.
- Only now does the message submit and the session begin.
Environment
- Claude Code Desktop app (macOS)
- OS: Darwin 25.5.0
Notes / related issues
This sits between two existing issues but isn't quite either of them:
- #73928 — allow choosing working directory before first message (about the picker not
existing at all)
- #65442 — session silently inherits previous project's directory with no warning
(about the picker being skipped entirely, causing wrong-directory sessions)
In my case the picker does show and does have the right folder pre-selected — it
just doesn't accept Enter as confirmation of that pre-selected state, forcing a
redundant manual step on every dispatched session.
Screenshot
(attach the screenshot showing the folder dropdown open with the correct folder
checkmarked)
What Should Happen?
Expected behavior
If the correct folder is already pre-selected/checkmarked when the session opens,
pressing Enter should submit the message directly — no extra manual re-confirmation
step.
Actual behavior
The first Enter press opens the folder picker instead of submitting, even though the
correct folder is already selected. A second explicit selection + Enter is required.
Error Messages/Logs
Steps to Reproduce
Steps to reproduce
- Dispatch a new Claude Code Desktop session programmatically at a specific project
folder (e.g. via an external script/tool that opens Desktop with a target directory).
- In the new session window, type a message and press Enter.
- Observe: instead of submitting, a "Recent" folder-picker dropdown opens, with the
intended folder already checkmarked as selected.
- Click the already-selected folder again, then press Enter.
- Only now does the message submit and the session begin.
Claude Model
Sonnet (default)
Is this a regression?
No, this never worked
Last Working Version
_No response_
Claude Code Version
Claude 1.24012.9 (03c61d) 2026-07-24T04:59:17.000Z
Platform
Anthropic API
Operating System
macOS
Terminal/Shell
Terminal.app (macOS)
Additional Information
_No response_