Git not detected in Claude Code desktop app on Windows despite correct installation

[invgarden]

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?

Git is installed at C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe and works correctly in Command Prompt (git version 2.53.0.windows.2). The CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH environment variable is set correctly. Git was installed with "Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software" PATH option. Claude Code desktop app on Windows still shows "Git is required for local sessions" error. Cannot use /doctor or /bug commands because the error prevents any usage of Claude Code. Full system restarts have been performed multiple times.

What Should Happen?

Claude Code desktop app on Windows should detect Git automatically when it is correctly installed and available in the system PATH, without requiring any additional environment variables or manual configuration.

Error Messages/Logs

Git is required for local sessions. Download Git for Windows, or set the CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH environment variable to your git executable, then restart the app."
CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH was set to C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe but the error persists.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Git for Windows 2.53.0 with recommended settings including "Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software" PATH option
2. Set CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH environment variable to C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe
3. Restart computer
4. Open Claude Code desktop app on Windows
5. Error "Git is required for local sessions" appears
6. Running git --version in Command Prompt confirms Git is working correctly
7. Cannot use /doctor or /bug commands inside Claude Code because the error blocks all usage

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

Unknown - windows desktop app won't open due to this bug

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Windows Terminal

Additional Information

No response

[yurukusa]

The Desktop app may not inherit your PATH settings.

// ~/.claude/settings.json
{
  "env": {
    "PATH": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd;${PATH}",
    "GIT_EXEC_PATH": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\libexec\\git-core"
  }
}

1. Windows Settings → System → About → Advanced system settings
2. Environment Variables → System variables → Path → Edit
3. Ensure C:\Program Files\Git\bin and C:\Program Files\Git\cmd are listed
4. Restart the Desktop app (it reads PATH at launch)
   After setting the path, check in Claude Code:

! git --version

[Mostafeko]

For anyone still stuck on this, here's a workaround that worked for me.

The root cause: The extension has a function (e.g. xc6() in v2.1.90) that calls where.exe git without shell: true, so Windows PATH resolution fails even when Git Bash is correctly installed. The fix is to skip this redundant check entirely — the CLI already handles detection on its own.

Steps:

1. Find your extension.js:

Get-ChildItem -Path "$env:USERPROFILE" -Recurse -Filter "extension.js" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { $_.FullName -like "*claude*" }
``
2. Find the exact function name (it changes per version):

$content = Get-Content "C:\Users\YourName\.vscode\extensions\anthropic.claude-code-X.X.X-win32-x64\extension.js" -Raw $match = [regex]::Match($content, '.{50}requires git-bash.{300}') Write-Host $match.Value
Look for function XXXXX(){ just before the git-bash error text — that's your function name (e.g. xc6 in v2.1.90).

3.Apply the patch (replace FUNCTIONNAME with what you found in Step 2)

$file = "C:\Users\YourName\.vscode\extensions\anthropic.claude-code-X.X.X-win32-x64\extension.js" $content = Get-Content $file -Raw $patched = $content -replace 'function FUNCTIONNAME\(\)\{', 'function FUNCTIONNAME(){return;' Set-Content $file $patched -NoNewline

4.Step 4 — Verify

$content = Get-Content "C:\Users\YourName\.vscode\extensions\anthropic.claude-code-X.X.X-win32-x64\extension.js" -Raw if ($content -match 'function FUNCTIONNAME\(\)\{return;') { Write-Host "SUCCESS - patch applied!" } else { Write-Host "FAILED - patch not found" }

Step 5 — Restart VS Code fully

i tried it my self and it worked perfectly :)

[invgarden]

@Mostafeko
Thank you for your comment, but I am not sure how to do these directions. If you can send me a loom video or connect directly with me would be the easiest.