[BUG] macOS: "Virtual Machine Service for Claude" causes cursor to freeze and drift every ~5s; killing the process stops it instantly

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?

Summary

While Claude Desktop for Mac is running, the trackpad cursor becomes unresponsive and then moves/drifts on its own roughly every 5 seconds. Killing the Virtual Machine Service for Claude process in Activity Monitor stops the behaviour immediately. Quitting Claude Desktop also stops it. Closing and reopening the laptop lid (sleep/wake) stops it temporarily until the VM resumes.

Environment

• Claude for Mac: 1.44121.2 (817a7b), built Sep 2, 2026
• macOS: [FILL IN — Apple menu → About This Mac]
• Mac model / chip: [FILL IN — e.g. MacBook Pro 14" M3]
• Input device: built-in trackpad only. No external mouse or Bluetooth pointing device paired. Bluetooth was also disabled during testing.
• Features in use: Cowork, Dispatch (Beta), Claude Code, Claude in Chrome (1 browser connected)

Steps to reproduce

1. Launch Claude Desktop with Cowork/Dispatch enabled (default config).
2. Confirm Virtual Machine Service for Claude is running in Activity Monitor.
3. Use the trackpad normally in any app.

Expected

Cursor responds normally while Claude Desktop is open.

Actual

Approximately every 5 seconds the cursor stops responding to trackpad input, then moves by itself (random drift, not purposeful movement — no clicks or typing). This continues indefinitely while the VM process is alive.

Isolation performed

• Quit Claude Desktop → issue stops immediately.
• Force-quit only Virtual Machine Service for Claude (Claude Desktop still open) → issue stops immediately. This is the isolating step.
• Sleep/wake (lid close/open) → issue stops until the VM resumes.
• open -a Claude --args --disable-gpu-compositing → no effect.
• open -a Claude --args --disable-gpu → no effect.
• "Enable computer use" (Settings → Desktop app → General) → OFF. No effect.
• macOS Accessibility permission for Claude.app → OFF (toggle present but disabled). No effect.
• macOS Input Monitoring → no entries. No effect.
• macOS Screen Recording → not requested.
• Idle CPU: Claude Helper processes ~6% + ~6%, Claude ~5%, VM ~0.8%, system 89–95% idle. Not a CPU-starvation issue.
• GPU usage for all Claude processes: 0.0%.
• Battery Health: Normal. No external peripherals. Occurs on battery and while charging.

Additional observation (separate display bug)

Settings → Desktop app → General shows Accessibility as "Granted" while macOS System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility shows Claude.app toggled off. The in-app status appears stale or inverted.

Impact

Claude Desktop is unusable with Cowork/Dispatch enabled; the only workaround is force-quitting the VM process after every launch or quitting the app.

• Settings → Desktop app → General screenshot showing "Accessibility: Granted"
• System Settings → Accessibility screenshot showing Claude.app OFF

What Should Happen?

The trackpad cursor should respond normally while Claude Desktop is running, regardless of whether the Cowork VM ("Virtual Machine Service for Claude") is active. Background VM activity should not interfere with host pointer input.

If the VM must interact with host input for a feature (e.g. Dispatch or computer use), it should do so only during an active task and never while idle.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Claude for Mac 1.44121.2 on macOS [VERSION] with Cowork and Dispatch enabled (default state after setup).
2. Launch Claude Desktop. Do not start any Cowork or Dispatch task.
3. Open Activity Monitor and confirm "Virtual Machine Service for Claude" is running.
4. Use the built-in trackpad normally in any application (Chrome, Finder, etc.).
5. Observe: roughly every 5 seconds the cursor stops responding to trackpad input, then moves on its own (random drift, no clicks).
6. In Activity Monitor, select "Virtual Machine Service for Claude" → Quit (or Force Quit).
7. Observe: cursor behaviour returns to normal immediately, with Claude Desktop still open.
8. Alternatively, close and reopen the laptop lid: cursor normal until the VM resumes.

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude 1.44121.2 (817a7b) 2026-09-02T17:47:36.000Z

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_