claude.ai cloud connectors (Gmail, Calendar, Slack, Notion) unavailable in --channels CLI sessions

[inglishugo-nz]

Describe the bug

When running claude --channels plugin:telegram@claude-plugins-official, cloud connectors configured at claude.ai/settings/connectors (Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Notion, Granola, Airtable) are not available to the session. The bot correctly receives and responds to Telegram messages, but cannot access any cloud-connected tools.

This makes channels significantly less useful — the bot can read vault files and run skills, but cannot check email, calendar, Slack, or CRM. The same connectors work perfectly in the Claude Desktop app.

To reproduce

1. Configure connectors at claude.ai/settings/connectors (Gmail, Calendar, Slack, Notion)
2. Confirm they work in Claude Desktop app (Claudian)
3. Run claude --channels plugin:telegram@claude-plugins-official --dangerously-skip-permissions
4. Send a Telegram message asking the bot to check email or calendar
5. Bot reports connectors are not available
6. claude mcp list shows only local servers (telegram plugin, perplexity), no cloud connectors

Expected behaviour

Cloud connectors should sync to CLI sessions (including --channels sessions) the same way they sync to the desktop app. The feature flag tengu_claudeai_mcp_connectors is true and claudeAiMcpEverConnected in .claude.json lists all connectors correctly.

Environment

• Claude Code v2.1.81
• macOS Darwin 25.1.0 (Apple Silicon)
• Feature flag tengu_claudeai_mcp_connectors: true
• claudeAiMcpEverConnected lists: Gmail, Slack, Google Calendar, Granola, Airtable, Notion, Excalidraw, Magic Patterns, Fathom, Canva, Mermaid Chart
• claude mcp list shows only: telegram plugin, perplexity (local .mcp.json), notion (manually added HTTP), airtable (manually added stdio)

Impact

Running multiple Telegram bots via --channels for different business domains (personal assistant, people management, sales/partnerships) is severely limited without access to Gmail, Calendar, Slack, and Notion. The bots can only access local vault files and Perplexity, making them far less capable than the desktop session.

Related issues

• claude.ai connectors (Google Calendar, Notion) not loading in Claude Code CLI #29345 — claude.ai connectors not loading in CLI
• [BUG] Claude.ai MCPs not showing up on Claude code #21874 — claude.ai MCPs not showing (feature flag issue)
• [BUG] CoWork connectors (Gmail, Slack, Calendar) lose session state — work once after toggle, fail on next session #30385 — CoWork connectors lose session state
• Channel plugin MCP tools not available in session when using --channels flag #37072 — Channel plugin MCP tools not available in session

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. claude -p headless sessions don't load Claude AI connector MCP tools #36833
2. claude.ai managed MCP servers unavailable in --print mode since v2.1.79 #36587
3. claude.ai connectors (Google Calendar, Notion) not loading in Claude Code CLI #29345

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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically closed as a duplicate of #36833.

If this is incorrect, please re-open this issue or create a new one.

🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.