claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] Code and Cowork tabs missing after auto-update — Claude Desktop 1.2581.0, macOS, Max plan [2 comments, 3 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?

Hi Anthropic Support,

I'm reporting a bug where the Code and Cowork tabs have completely disappeared from Claude Desktop after an automatic update.

Environment:

• Claude Desktop: 1.2581.0 (f10398)
• Device: MacBook Air M1, 2020
• OS: macOS Tahoe 26.3
• Plan: Max

Symptoms:

• Only the Chat tab is visible. Code and Cowork tabs are gone.
• This happened after an automatic update. No changes were made on my end.

Troubleshooting steps already taken:

• Quit and relaunched the app
• Full uninstall and reinstall from claude.com/download
• Manually deleted all Claude data: Application Support, Caches, Preferences, session folders
• Verified "You are running the latest version" in the app
• None of the above resolved the issue

Relevant error from ~/Library/Logs/Claude/main-window.log: [error] Unable to load preload script: .../mainWindow.js [error] Preload script failed to execute: 'mainWindow.js' reply was never sent [error] Uncaught ReferenceError: process is not defined

Note: cowork_vm_node.log shows no errors — the VM loads successfully. The issue appears to be in the Desktop app's UI initialization, not the underlying VM or Code binary.

Please investigate. I rely on Code and Cowork for daily work and have exhausted all local troubleshooting options.

Best regards, Șerban Dinu [email protected]

What Should Happen?

Code and Cowork tabs should appear in the top navigation bar alongside the Chat tab, as they did prior to the automatic update.

Error Messages/Logs

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

[error] Unable to load preload script: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/.vite/build/mainWindow.js
[error] Preload script failed to execute: 'mainWindow.js' reply was never sent
[error] Uncaught ReferenceError: process is not defined

Note: cowork_vm_node.log shows no errors — VM loads successfully. Issue is in Desktop UI initialization.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Launch Claude Desktop 1.2581.0 (f10398) on macOS Tahoe 26.3, MacBook Air M1
2. Observe: only the Chat tab is visible — Code and Cowork tabs are missing
3. Quit and relaunch the app — same result
4. Full uninstall, manual deletion of all Claude data (Application Support, Caches, Preferences, session folders), fresh reinstall from claude.com/download
5. Relaunch — same result. Only Chat tab visible.

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

The tabs were visible and working on April 14, 2026. They disappeared after an automatic update overnight. Last known working version is unknown — the app auto-updated without notification.

Claude Code Version

Claude Desktop: 1.2581.0 (f10398)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

No response