Windows 11 Pro: taskbar unresponsive after a Cowork computer-use session releases screen control (Alt+Tab still works; needs app restart)

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?

On Windows 11 Pro, after the Claude desktop app (Cowork) takes control of the screen for a computer-use session and then hands control back, the Windows taskbar stops responding. Clicking any taskbar app (for example the browser) does nothing.

Alt+Tab still switches windows, so keyboard window-switching works, but the taskbar itself is dead. The only way to restore it is to fully restart Claude Desktop. It looks like input focus is not released cleanly when the computer-use session ends.

What Should Happen?

The Windows taskbar should stay fully responsive after a Cowork computer-use session releases screen control. Taskbar clicks (for example switching to the browser) should work immediately, with no need to restart Claude Desktop.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. On Windows 11 Pro, start a Cowork task that uses computer use, so the Claude desktop app takes control of the screen.
2. Let the computer-use session finish and hand control back to the user.
3. Click any app on the Windows taskbar, for example the browser.
4. Observe that nothing happens: the taskbar does not respond to clicks.
5. Note that Alt+Tab still switches windows, so keyboard window-switching still works.
6. Fully restart Claude Desktop and confirm the taskbar responds again.

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

1.34493.1.0 (Claude Desktop / Cowork, Windows 11 Pro)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

_No response_