[Desktop, Windows] File links outside the session folder get no file menu, and no pane can show them
Status Fixed / completed
Reported on v2.1.263
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 0 comments · opened Sep 17, 2026 · closed Sep 21, 2026
What's wrong
In the Code tab on Windows, a markdown link only gets the file context menu (Attach as context, Copy path, Open in) when its target is a path relative to the session folder with no :line suffix. These all fall back to the plain message menu, so there is no "Open in VS Code":
- absolute target:
[x](C:/Users/me/.claude/CLAUDE.md) - absolute target inside the session folder:
[x](D:/proj/CLAUDE.md) - relative target with a line:
[x](CLAUDE.md:5) - relative target using
.. file:///andvscode://targets
Only [x](CLAUDE.md) works. Files the agent edits outside the session folder (for example ~/.claude) therefore cannot be opened from chat at all, and the file pane and diff pane refuse them too ("could not be resolved inside this session's working directory or granted folders"; diff pane shows "No changes to show").
Expected
- Any link that resolves to an existing file gets the file menu, including absolute paths and
:line, and Open in passes the line to the editor. - The diff pane can show changes in granted or additional directories that are git repos (desktop counterpart of #92108).
- Optional: a default-editor setting so one click opens the external editor (#54027, #89598 were closed as not planned).
Steps
- Windows 11, Claude desktop, Code tab, session in
D:\proj. - Have the assistant output the link forms above.
- Right-click each.
Environment
- Claude desktop 2.110.0.0 (MSIX)
- Claude Code 2.1.263
- Windows 11 Pro 10.0.26200
Related: #61443, #72423, #68559, #92108