### Preflight Checklist - [x] I have searched [existing issues](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20state%3Aopen%20label%3Abug) 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 (Microsoft Store / MSIX build), when Claude uses the in-app Browser pane (or Claude in Chrome), the desktop app hides its own window before the

[BUG] Windows (MSIX): Claude desktop window becomes hidden and never restored after a Browser pane screenshot times out (hideBeforeAction) — follow-up to #78765, #78533, #78221

Status Open

Reported on v2.1.263

Maintainer reply None cached

Workaround ✓ Mentioned in description ↑

Activity 0 comments · opened Oct 4, 2026

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 (Microsoft Store / MSIX build), when Claude uses the in-app Browser pane (or Claude in Chrome), the desktop app hides its own window before the action (chicago config "hideBeforeAction": true). If the screenshot step times out, the window is never restored: it disappears from the taskbar AND from Alt+Tab while all processes keep running. The only way back is Settings > Apps > Claude > Advanced options > Terminate, or signing out of Windows. The session is lost mid-task.

Follow-up to #78765, #78533 and #78221 — all closed automatically by the bot as inactive (not_planned), not fixed. Still reproduces.

What Should Happen?

The app window should always be restored after a browser/computer-use action, even when the screenshot fails or times out (e.g. restore in a finally path, or minimize instead of hide).

Error Messages/Logs

%APPDATA%\Claude\logs\main.log:
[chicago] GrowthBook chicago_config: raw={"batchOnly":false, ..., "enabled":true, "hideBeforeAction":true, ...}
capturePreviewScreenshot failed
Screenshot timed out after 5s: the Browser pane is not displayed, so the page is not compositing frames
(no window restore afterwards; Crashpad reports folder empty — no crash)

Steps to Reproduce

Open the Claude desktop app (Windows, MSIX) > Code tab.
Ask Claude to use the built-in Browser pane: navigate to any page, then take a screenshot or zoom.
Have the Browser pane not visible / not compositing at that moment (pane hidden or app window not in front).
The screenshot call times out.
The Claude window is now hidden: not on the taskbar, not in Alt+Tab; processes still running.

Intermittent — seen 2026-08-03 and 2026-09-18.

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.263 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

This happens in the Claude desktop app (Microsoft Store / MSIX build 2.9939.4.0), Code tab — not in a terminal.
Windows 11 Home 10.0.26200.9550.
Related closed (bot, inactive — not fixed): #78765, #78533, #78221.
Workaround: we blocked browser tools in project settings (permissions.deny for mcp__Claude_Browser and mcp__claude-in-chrome) to keep working.

View original on GitHub ↗