claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] [BUG] Claude Desktop black screen + "damaged" error on macOS 26.4.1 — preload script failure [1 participants]

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• I am using the latest version of Claude Desktop

What's Wrong?

Claude Desktop fails to launch correctly on macOS 26.4.1 (Tahoe). The sidebar renders but the main content area stays completely black on every launch. After a full clean reinstall, macOS now refuses to open the app altogether, reporting it as "damaged."

Environment

• macOS: 26.4.1 (build 25E253)
• Claude Desktop: 1.5354.0 (9a9e3d), built 2026-04-29
• Hardware: Mac (Apple Silicon)
• Network: confirmed working — TLS handshakes succeed, update endpoint returns HTTP 200

Symptom 1 — Black content area on launch

Sidebar (native UI) renders correctly. Main webview area is completely blank/black. The area does not respond to interaction.

Symptom 2 — Root cause from logs

~/Library/Logs/Claude/main-window.log:

[error] Unable to load preload script: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/.vite/build/mainWindow.js
[error] Error: reply was never sent
[error] Preload script failed to execute: 'mainWindow.js' reply was never sent

~/Library/Logs/Claude/claude.ai-web.log:

[error] [REACT_QUERY_CLIENT] QueryClient error: {"name":"Error","message":"[\"account_profile\"] data is undefined"}

~/Library/Logs/Claude/main.log:

[warn] Blocked permission check { permission: 'media', requestingOrigin: '', requestingUrl: '', isMainFrame: true, topFrameUrl: '' }
[error] [EventLogging] POST threw: Error: net::ERR_FAILED

The preload script failure breaks the IPC bridge between the main process and the renderer. The webview loads claude.ai but cannot retrieve account_profile from the native process → React Query crashes → black screen. The empty requestingOrigin and requestingUrl in the permission warnings confirm the webview never received a URL to load.

Symptom 3 — "Claude is damaged" after clean reinstall

After fully removing the app and all support directories:

sudo rm -rf /Applications/Claude.app
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/Claude
rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/Claude
rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.plist
rm -rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.savedState

Then downloading a fresh DMG from claude.ai and reinstalling, macOS rejects the app with:

"Claude" is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash.

This suggests a code signature / notarization issue with the current build on macOS 26.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Use macOS 26.4.1 (Tahoe)
2. Download Claude Desktop 1.5354.0 from claude.ai
3. Install to /Applications
4. Open the app
5. Sidebar appears, main content area is black
6. Attempt clean reinstall (full removal + fresh DMG)
7. macOS reports "Claude is damaged and can't be opened"

Expected Behavior

Claude Desktop should launch normally on macOS 26.4.1, with both the sidebar and main content area rendering correctly. The notarized DMG should install without macOS reporting it as damaged.

Troubleshooting Attempted (all failed)

• Cmd+R / hard reload of the webview
• Clearing GPUCache, Cache, Local Storage, Session Storage, IndexedDB
• Launch flags: --disable-gpu, --disable-software-rasterizer, --use-gl=swiftshader
• Full clean uninstall + fresh download + reinstall
• sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Claude.app
• Ad-hoc resigning with sudo codesign --force --deep --sign - /Applications/Claude.app

Workaround

Using claude.ai directly in Safari/Firefox works correctly. Adding claude.ai to the Dock via Safari (File → Add to Dock) provides a usable standalone-app alternative.

Suspected Root Cause

Two possibilities (not mutually exclusive):

1. .asar archive missing/corrupted preload script — mainWindow.js cannot be loaded from /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/.vite/build/mainWindow.js, breaking the IPC bridge.
2. Notarization/signature incompatibility with macOS 26 — the "damaged" verdict on a freshly downloaded DMG, even after xattr quarantine removal, suggests the code signature is being rejected by macOS 26's stricter Gatekeeper checks.

Request

Please confirm whether build 1.5354.0 has been notarized for macOS 26 (Tahoe), and whether a compatible build is in progress. Happy to provide additional logs (gpu-info.json, system-info.txt, full main.log) or run targeted diagnostics if helpful.

What Should Happen?

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• I am using the latest version of Claude Desktop

What's Wrong?

Claude Desktop fails to launch correctly on macOS 26.4.1 (Tahoe). The sidebar renders but the main content area stays completely black on every launch. After a full clean reinstall, macOS now refuses to open the app altogether, reporting it as "damaged."

Environment

• macOS: 26.4.1 (build 25E253)
• Claude Desktop: 1.5354.0 (9a9e3d), built 2026-04-29
• Hardware: Mac (Apple Silicon)
• Network: confirmed working — TLS handshakes succeed, update endpoint returns HTTP 200

Symptom 1 — Black content area on launch

Sidebar (native UI) renders correctly. Main webview area is completely blank/black. The area does not respond to interaction.

Symptom 2 — Root cause from logs

~/Library/Logs/Claude/main-window.log:

[error] Unable to load preload script: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/.vite/build/mainWindow.js
[error] Error: reply was never sent
[error] Preload script failed to execute: 'mainWindow.js' reply was never sent

~/Library/Logs/Claude/claude.ai-web.log:

[error] [REACT_QUERY_CLIENT] QueryClient error: {"name":"Error","message":"[\"account_profile\"] data is undefined"}

~/Library/Logs/Claude/main.log:

[warn] Blocked permission check { permission: 'media', requestingOrigin: '', requestingUrl: '', isMainFrame: true, topFrameUrl: '' }
[error] [EventLogging] POST threw: Error: net::ERR_FAILED

The preload script failure breaks the IPC bridge between the main process and the renderer. The webview loads claude.ai but cannot retrieve account_profile from the native process → React Query crashes → black screen. The empty requestingOrigin and requestingUrl in the permission warnings confirm the webview never received a URL to load.

Symptom 3 — "Claude is damaged" after clean reinstall

After fully removing the app and all support directories:

sudo rm -rf /Applications/Claude.app
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/Claude
rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/Claude
rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.plist
rm -rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.savedState

Then downloading a fresh DMG from claude.ai and reinstalling, macOS rejects the app with:

"Claude" is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash.

This suggests a code signature / notarization issue with the current build on macOS 26.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Use macOS 26.4.1 (Tahoe)
2. Download Claude Desktop 1.5354.0 from claude.ai
3. Install to /Applications
4. Open the app
5. Sidebar appears, main content area is black
6. Attempt clean reinstall (full removal + fresh DMG)
7. macOS reports "Claude is damaged and can't be opened"

Expected Behavior

Claude Desktop should launch normally on macOS 26.4.1, with both the sidebar and main content area rendering correctly. The notarized DMG should install without macOS reporting it as damaged.

Troubleshooting Attempted (all failed)

• Cmd+R / hard reload of the webview
• Clearing GPUCache, Cache, Local Storage, Session Storage, IndexedDB
• Launch flags: --disable-gpu, --disable-software-rasterizer, --use-gl=swiftshader
• Full clean uninstall + fresh download + reinstall
• sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Claude.app
• Ad-hoc resigning with sudo codesign --force --deep --sign - /Applications/Claude.app

Workaround

Using claude.ai directly in Safari/Firefox works correctly. Adding claude.ai to the Dock via Safari (File → Add to Dock) provides a usable standalone-app alternative.

Suspected Root Cause

Two possibilities (not mutually exclusive):

1. .asar archive missing/corrupted preload script — mainWindow.js cannot be loaded from /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/.vite/build/mainWindow.js, breaking the IPC bridge.
2. Notarization/signature incompatibility with macOS 26 — the "damaged" verdict on a freshly downloaded DMG, even after xattr quarantine removal, suggests the code signature is being rejected by macOS 26's stricter Gatekeeper checks.

Request

Please confirm whether build 1.5354.0 has been notarized for macOS 26 (Tahoe), and whether a compatible build is in progress. Happy to provide additional logs (gpu-info.json, system-info.txt, full main.log) or run targeted diagnostics if helpful.

Error Messages/Logs

## 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 Desktop

## What's Wrong?

Claude Desktop fails to launch correctly on macOS 26.4.1 (Tahoe). The sidebar renders but the main content area stays completely black on every launch. After a full clean reinstall, macOS now refuses to open the app altogether, reporting it as "damaged."

## Environment

- **macOS**: 26.4.1 (build 25E253)
- **Claude Desktop**: 1.5354.0 (9a9e3d), built 2026-04-29
- **Hardware**: Mac (Apple Silicon)
- **Network**: confirmed working — TLS handshakes succeed, update endpoint returns HTTP 200

## Symptom 1 — Black content area on launch

Sidebar (native UI) renders correctly. Main webview area is completely blank/black. The area does not respond to interaction.

## Symptom 2 — Root cause from logs

`~/Library/Logs/Claude/main-window.log`:

[error] Unable to load preload script: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/.vite/build/mainWindow.js
[error] Error: reply was never sent
[error] Preload script failed to execute: 'mainWindow.js' reply was never sent


`~/Library/Logs/Claude/claude.ai-web.log`:

[error] [REACT_QUERY_CLIENT] QueryClient error: {"name":"Error","message":"[\"account_profile\"] data is undefined"}


`~/Library/Logs/Claude/main.log`:

[warn] Blocked permission check { permission: 'media', requestingOrigin: '', requestingUrl: '', isMainFrame: true, topFrameUrl: '' }
[error] [EventLogging] POST threw: Error: net::ERR_FAILED


The preload script failure breaks the IPC bridge between the main process and the renderer. The webview loads claude.ai but cannot retrieve `account_profile` from the native process → React Query crashes → black screen. The empty `requestingOrigin` and `requestingUrl` in the permission warnings confirm the webview never received a URL to load.

## Symptom 3 — "Claude is damaged" after clean reinstall

After fully removing the app and all support directories:


sudo rm -rf /Applications/Claude.app
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/Claude
rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/Claude
rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.plist
rm -rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.savedState


Then downloading a fresh DMG from claude.ai and reinstalling, macOS rejects the app with:

> "Claude" is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash.

This suggests a code signature / notarization issue with the current build on macOS 26.

## Steps to Reproduce

1. Use macOS 26.4.1 (Tahoe)
2. Download Claude Desktop 1.5354.0 from claude.ai
3. Install to /Applications
4. Open the app
5. Sidebar appears, main content area is black
6. Attempt clean reinstall (full removal + fresh DMG)
7. macOS reports "Claude is damaged and can't be opened"

## Expected Behavior

Claude Desktop should launch normally on macOS 26.4.1, with both the sidebar and main content area rendering correctly. The notarized DMG should install without macOS reporting it as damaged.

## Troubleshooting Attempted (all failed)

- Cmd+R / hard reload of the webview
- Clearing GPUCache, Cache, Local Storage, Session Storage, IndexedDB
- Launch flags: `--disable-gpu`, `--disable-software-rasterizer`, `--use-gl=swiftshader`
- Full clean uninstall + fresh download + reinstall
- `sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Claude.app`
- Ad-hoc resigning with `sudo codesign --force --deep --sign - /Applications/Claude.app`

## Workaround

Using claude.ai directly in Safari/Firefox works correctly. Adding claude.ai to the Dock via Safari (`File → Add to Dock`) provides a usable standalone-app alternative.

## Suspected Root Cause

Two possibilities (not mutually exclusive):

1. **`.asar` archive missing/corrupted preload script** — `mainWindow.js` cannot be loaded from `/Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/.vite/build/mainWindow.js`, breaking the IPC bridge.
2. **Notarization/signature incompatibility with macOS 26** — the "damaged" verdict on a freshly downloaded DMG, even after `xattr` quarantine removal, suggests the code signature is being rejected by macOS 26's stricter Gatekeeper checks.

## Request

Please confirm whether build 1.5354.0 has been notarized for macOS 26 (Tahoe), and whether a compatible build is in progress. Happy to provide additional logs (`gpu-info.json`, `system-info.txt`, full `main.log`) or run targeted diagnostics if helpful.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Use a Mac running macOS 26.4.1 (build 25E253) on Apple Silicon.

2. Download Claude Desktop installer (build 1.5354.0, hash 9a9e3d, dated 2026-04-29) from https://claude.ai.

3. Mount the .dmg and drag Claude.app to /Applications.

4. Launch the app for the first time.

   • Observed: Sidebar (Dashboard, Artículos, Resúmenes, etc.) renders correctly. Main content area is completely black. Area is unresponsive to clicks.
   • Expected: Full UI renders, including the chat/content area.

5. Inspect logs to confirm root cause:

   cat ~/Library/Logs/Claude/main-window.log | grep -i error
   cat ~/Library/Logs/Claude/claude.ai-web.log | tail -20

• main-window.log shows: Unable to load preload script: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/.vite/build/mainWindow.js followed by Preload script failed to execute: 'mainWindow.js' reply was never sent.
• claude.ai-web.log shows: [REACT_QUERY_CLIENT] QueryClient error: ["account_profile"] data is undefined.

1. Attempt full clean reinstall:

   pkill -x Claude
   sudo rm -rf /Applications/Claude.app
   rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude
   rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/Claude
   rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/Claude
   rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.plist
   rm -rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/com.anthropic.claudefordesktop.savedState

1. Re-download fresh .dmg from https://claude.ai and reinstall to /Applications.

2. Launch the app.

   • Observed: macOS blocks launch with dialog: "Claude" is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash.
   • Expected: App launches normally after a clean reinstall.

3. Attempt to bypass Gatekeeper (does not resolve):

   sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Claude.app
   sudo codesign --force --deep --sign - /Applications/Claude.app

The "damaged" error persists on every launch attempt.

Reproducibility: 100% on this environment. The black screen occurred on every launch of the original install (build 1.5354.0). The "damaged" error occurs on every launch attempt after clean reinstall.

Workaround: Accessing claude.ai via Safari/Firefox works correctly, indicating the issue is isolated to the desktop app build, not the account or network.

Claude Model

Not sure / Multiple models

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

Claude 1.5354.0 (9a9e3d) 2026-04-29T01:14:34.000Z

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

No response