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claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted [1 comments, 2 participants]

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anthropics/claude-code#49362•Fetched 2026-04-17 08:43:18
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Error Message

2026-04-16 14:15:13 [error] [VM:start] Startup failed: Error: EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx' at async Object.rename (node:internal/fs/promises:782:10) at async kDn (D:\WindowsApps\Claude_1.3036.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc\app\resources\app.asar.vite\build\index.js:1855:10977) { [stack]: [Getter/Setter], [message]: "EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx'", errno: -4037, code: 'EXDEV', syscall: 'rename', path: 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\rootfs.vhdx', dest: 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx'

Failed to start Claude's workspace EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle.wvm-tmp-AjmY0E\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx' Restarting Claude or your computer sometimes resolves this. If it persists, you can reinstall the workspace.

Code Example

2026-04-16 14:15:13 [error] [VM:start] Startup failed: Error: EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx'
    at async Object.rename (node:internal/fs/promises:782:10)
    at async kDn (D:\WindowsApps\Claude_1.3036.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc\app\resources\app.asar\.vite\build\index.js:1855:10977) {
  [stack]: [Getter/Setter],
  [message]: "EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\\Users\\x\\AppData\\Roaming\\Claude\\vm_bundles\\claudevm.bundle\\.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\\Users\\x\\AppData\\Roaming\\Claude\\vm_bundles\\claudevm.bundle\\rootfs.vhdx'",
  errno: -4037,
  code: 'EXDEV',
  syscall: 'rename',
  path: 'C:\\Users\\x\\AppData\\Roaming\\Claude\\vm_bundles\\claudevm.bundle\\.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\\rootfs.vhdx',
  dest: 'C:\\Users\\x\\AppData\\Roaming\\Claude\\vm_bundles\\claudevm.bundle\\rootfs.vhdx'
  
Failed to start Claude's workspace
EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\.wvm-tmp-AjmY0E\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx'
Restarting Claude or your computer sometimes resolves this. If it persists, you can reinstall the workspace.
RAW_BUFFERClick to expand / collapse

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?

Failed to start Claude's workspace EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle.wvm-tmp-AjmY0E\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx' Restarting Claude or your computer sometimes resolves this. If it persists, you can reinstall the workspace.

When trying to create or use claude cowork. Typically runs for around 2-10 minutes or so and throws this error

EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users<User_Name>\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle.wvm-tmp-CnzkOL\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users<User_Name>\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx' Restarting Claude or your computer sometimes resolves this. If it persists, you can

I've restarted, updated windows, downloaded WLS, enabled debugging, updated, reinstalled, attempting running cowork in different files, ran claude as administrator . The file path does not exist. Claude file does not exist in Roaming. Created file. Enabled virtualization in BIOS. updated, re-installed. Updated BIOS. Same issue. Any ideas? https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1r8qpip/exdev_crossdevice_link_not_permitted_rename/ - no fix https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/25911 - no corp enviro, this is local https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/25476 - this is all in same C: drive, no claude on microsoft store https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/30584 - no hyperv

Version 1.1617.0 (8d6345) -> Claude 1.2773.0 (884b37) -> Version 1.3036.0 (cf521c)

Edition Windows 11 Home Version 25H2 OS build 26200.8117 Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.297.0

2026-04-16 14:15:13 [error] [VM:start] Startup failed: Error: EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx' at async Object.rename (node:internal/fs/promises:782:10) at async kDn (D:\WindowsApps\Claude_1.3036.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc\app\resources\app.asar.vite\build\index.js:1855:10977) { [stack]: [Getter/Setter], [message]: "EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx'", errno: -4037, code: 'EXDEV', syscall: 'rename', path: 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\rootfs.vhdx', dest: 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx'

What Should Happen?

Never worked before. But I imagine create a skill and setup the workspace. Has never done so

Error Messages/Logs

2026-04-16 14:15:13 [error] [VM:start] Startup failed: Error: EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx'
    at async Object.rename (node:internal/fs/promises:782:10)
    at async kDn (D:\WindowsApps\Claude_1.3036.0.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc\app\resources\app.asar\.vite\build\index.js:1855:10977) {
  [stack]: [Getter/Setter],
  [message]: "EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\\Users\\x\\AppData\\Roaming\\Claude\\vm_bundles\\claudevm.bundle\\.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\\Users\\x\\AppData\\Roaming\\Claude\\vm_bundles\\claudevm.bundle\\rootfs.vhdx'",
  errno: -4037,
  code: 'EXDEV',
  syscall: 'rename',
  path: 'C:\\Users\\x\\AppData\\Roaming\\Claude\\vm_bundles\\claudevm.bundle\\.wvm-tmp-BhbPKH\\rootfs.vhdx',
  dest: 'C:\\Users\\x\\AppData\\Roaming\\Claude\\vm_bundles\\claudevm.bundle\\rootfs.vhdx'
  
Failed to start Claude's workspace
EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted, rename 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\.wvm-tmp-AjmY0E\rootfs.vhdx' -> 'C:\Users\x\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\rootfs.vhdx'
Restarting Claude or your computer sometimes resolves this. If it persists, you can reinstall the workspace.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Install Claude, have pro account
  2. Attempt to use cowork

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

Version 1.3036.0 (cf521c)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Windows Terminal

Additional Information

No response

extent analysis

TL;DR

The issue is likely due to a file system limitation on Windows, where the rename operation is not permitted across different devices, and a potential workaround is to ensure that the temporary and target files are on the same device.

Guidance

  • Verify that the temporary files (e.g., .wvm-tmp-BhbPKH) and the target files (e.g., rootfs.vhdx) are on the same device (e.g., the same hard drive or partition) to avoid the cross-device link error.
  • Check the file system permissions and ensure that the user running Claude has the necessary permissions to read and write to the files and directories involved.
  • Consider reinstalling the workspace or restarting Claude and the computer to see if the issue resolves itself, as sometimes this can resolve temporary file system issues.
  • If the issue persists, try to identify any file system or disk-related issues on the system that could be contributing to the problem.

Example

No specific code example is applicable in this case, as the issue appears to be related to file system operations rather than code.

Notes

The error message EXDEV: cross-device link not permitted suggests a file system limitation on Windows. The fact that restarting Claude or the computer sometimes resolves the issue implies that it might be related to temporary file system state or caching.

Recommendation

Apply a workaround by ensuring that the temporary and target files are on the same device, and if the issue persists, consider reinstalling the workspace or seeking further assistance from the Claude support team.

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#api#container setup#orchestration issue#cache issue#memory leak

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