[BUG] Windows: Unified "One Claude" rollout forces cloud execution for Max users – local dev work 3–4x slower, ~30% task failures, no opt-out

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?

Since the unified Cowork/chat experience (announced Sept 16, 2026) reached my Max account around Sept 19, all sessions in Claude Desktop for Windows run in Anthropic's cloud. Local project folders are only reachable through the remote-devices bridge. Previously the same work ran locally.

Impact on software development work (local repos, Git, SSH, local MCP servers):

• Tasks take 3–4x longer than before.
• Today I started 3 projects and abandoned all 3 because tasks took far too long.
• Roughly 30% of tasks failed outright: bridge disconnects mid-task, stalled sessions, network errors.
• Higher usage/cost for identical work (more tool calls and context for staging/committing files through the bridge).
• The sidebar session indicator changed from blue/grey to orange at the same time.

I found no user-facing setting for Pro/Max to run tasks locally.

What Should Happen?

Pro/Max users need a choice to run tasks locally on their own computer, as before. Cloud execution should be opt-in, or at least opt-out, for local development workflows.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Use a Claude Max (personal) account on which the unified "One Claude" experience has rolled out (message box no longer shows separate "Chat" / "Cowork" options; session dot in the sidebar is orange).
2. Open Claude Desktop for Windows ([VERSION]) and connect a local project folder (e.g. a Git repository) via "+" → "Add folder".
3. Start a new conversation and give a multi-step development task that reads and edits several files in that folder and runs shell commands (e.g. "analyze the project, refactor module X, run the tests").
4. Observe: the session runs in Anthropic's cloud. Every file access goes through the remote-devices bridge (device_stage_files / device_commit_files) instead of running locally.
5. Observe: the task takes 3–4x longer than the same kind of task did before the rollout.
6. Repeat with several tasks. Roughly 30% fail outright: the bridge disconnects mid-task ("device not connected to the bridge"), the session stalls, or network errors occur.
7. Look for a setting to run the task locally on this computer instead. There is none for Pro/Max accounts.

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Last version before the unified experience reached my account (around Sept 19, 2026). The exact version number is unknown.

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

• OS: Windows 11
• Plan: Max (personal)
• Related: #76187, #77385, #84463