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claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] Desktop app appears in dock but never opens on macOS Tahoe 26.2

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Error Message

When opening the Claude desktop app, it appears in the dock but never opens a window, or shows any UI. The app silently fails to launch with no error messages.

Error Messages/Logs

Code Example

What I've tried
- Cleared ~/Library/Application Support/Claude and ~/Library/Caches/Claude
- Full reinstall from claude.ai
- sudo xattr -cr /Applications/Claude.app
- Checked Privacy & Security — no "Open Anyway" prompt shown
- Launched directly via Terminal: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/MacOS/Claude — no output printed at all
- codesign --verify --verbose shows app is valid
- defaults delete com.anthropic.claudefordesktop — domain not found
- Fully quit Dropbox before launching — same result
- Checked ls -la ~ | grep Documents — real folder (drwx), not a symlink

Log output (log stream)
Ran: log stream --predicate 'processImagePath contains "Claude"' --level debug

App starts initialising (loads CoreFoundation, preferences, Electron Framework resources) but then stops before opening any window. Key log line:
"No windows open yet" — process then ends silently.

The direct binary launch (/Applications/Claude.app/Contents/MacOS/Claude) produces zero Terminal output, which is unusual as even a silent crash typically logs something.
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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?

Environment

  • macOS: Tahoe 26.2
  • Claude desktop app: downloaded from claude.ai
  • Machine: MacBook Pro (Apple Silicon, arm64)

When opening the Claude desktop app, it appears in the dock but never opens a window, or shows any UI. The app silently fails to launch with no error messages.

What Should Happen?

The app should open and display the Claude interface when launched.

Error Messages/Logs

What I've tried
- Cleared ~/Library/Application Support/Claude and ~/Library/Caches/Claude
- Full reinstall from claude.ai
- sudo xattr -cr /Applications/Claude.app
- Checked Privacy & Security — no "Open Anyway" prompt shown
- Launched directly via Terminal: /Applications/Claude.app/Contents/MacOS/Claude — no output printed at all
- codesign --verify --verbose shows app is valid
- defaults delete com.anthropic.claudefordesktop — domain not found
- Fully quit Dropbox before launching — same result
- Checked ls -la ~ | grep Documents — real folder (drwx), not a symlink

Log output (log stream)
Ran: log stream --predicate 'processImagePath contains "Claude"' --level debug

App starts initialising (loads CoreFoundation, preferences, Electron Framework resources) but then stops before opening any window. Key log line:
"No windows open yet" — process then ends silently.

The direct binary launch (/Applications/Claude.app/Contents/MacOS/Claude) produces zero Terminal output, which is unusual as even a silent crash typically logs something.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Click Claude app icon in dock or Applications folder
  2. App appears in dock but never opens

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

N/A

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

Notes

  • Other users on macOS Tahoe 26.2 report the app working fine, so this may be machine-specific
  • I need the desktop app specifically for Claude Cowork

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