[FEATURE] Desktop (macOS): folder picker always opens at ~ — hardcoded defaultPath ignores last-used folder; allow a default

Thank you for the desktop app. I start a dozen local sessions a day in it, and it has become the center of how I work.

Problem Statement

On macOS, when I start a new local session and choose a folder, the native folder picker always opens at my home folder (~). My projects live several levels deep inside a Google Drive folder (~/Library/CloudStorage/GoogleDrive-…/My Drive/<workspace>/<project>), so each new session starts with the same 5-level click-through.

macOS already tracks where I last browsed. The app's NSOSPLastRootDirectory preference (com.anthropic.claudefordesktop) holds my real workspace folder. But the picker never opens there, and there is no setting to change where it starts.

Why it happens (from the shipped app, 2.9939.2)

The folder-picker call in app.asar passes an explicit start folder that falls back to the home folder:

{ properties: ["openDirectory","createDirectory"], defaultPath: n ?? homedir() }

On macOS, an explicit defaultPath overrides the panel's own last-directory memory, so no user-level defaults write can change where the picker opens. As far as I can tell, n is only set by an admin-managed workspace policy.

Proposed Solution

Either of these would solve it (the first needs no UI):

1. Leave defaultPath unset (or use the last folder chosen) when no managed root applies. macOS then opens the panel at the last-used folder by itself.
2. Add a "Default folder for new sessions" setting, used as defaultPath.

Alternative Solutions

• Pinning the folder to the Finder sidebar makes it one click inside the picker. That helps, but the picker still opens at ~ every time.
• ⌘⇧G and pasting the path works, but it is slow for something I do many times a day.
• The Recent folders list covers only folders I have already opened, not a new project folder next to them.

Priority

Medium: repeated friction, not blocking.

Feature Category

Desktop app / session setup

Use Case Example

I keep ~60 project folders under one Google Drive workspace folder. Starting a session in a new project means navigating from ~ to Library → CloudStorage → GoogleDrive-… → My Drive → workspace each time. If the picker opened at the workspace folder (or remembered it), that would be one click.

Additional Context

Related, all closed as not planned or stale, none about the picker's start folder specifically: #57607 (configurable default startup directory, Windows), #46053 (remember/pin default project folder), #46176 (desktop app loses default working directory). Open and adjacent: #44933 (Cowork default project folder).

• macOS, Claude desktop app 2.9939.2, Code tab, local sessions