[BUG] When opening a remote GitHub repository in VS Code, Claude Code throws the following system error:

[evanskenn]

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?

2.1.83 (Claude Code)

Operating System: Windows 11

Platform: Anthropic API

Terminal: VS Code integrated terminal / PowerShell

Bug Description

When opening a remote GitHub repository in VS Code, Claude Code throws the following system error:

A system error occurred (ENOENT: no such file or directory, lstat 'C:\<github-username>')
An error occurred while loading view: claudeVSCodeSidebarSecondary

Claude Code appears to be resolving the authenticated GitHub account username as a local Windows file path (C:\<github-username>), which does not exist on the machine.

What Should Happen?

Expected Behavior
Claude Code sidebar loads normally, or gracefully handles remote repository connections without attempting to resolve the GitHub username as a local file path.

Actual Behavior
Claude Code tries to lstat a path using the GitHub username as a Windows directory (C:\<github-username>), fails with ENOENT, and the sidebar does not load.

Error Messages/Logs

A system error occurred (ENOENT: no such file or directory, lstat 'C:\<github-username>')
An error occurred while loading view: claudeVSCodeSidebarSecondary

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to Reproduce

1. Authenticate VS Code with a GitHub account
2. Open a remote GitHub repository via VS Code remote connection (not cloned locally)
3. Open the Claude Code sidebar
4. Error appears immediately on load

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

=

Claude Code Version

2.1.83 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

Additional Context

• Claude Code works correctly when launched from PowerShell locally (claude command runs fine)
• The error only occurs when using the VS Code extension with a remote GitHub repository connection
• The local Windows username is different from the GitHub username, which may be contributing to the mismatch
• Workaround: run Claude Code in a separate PowerShell window instead of the VS Code integrated sidebar

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. [BUG] ENOENT error when opening repo — GitHub remote owner parsed as filesystem path #35700
2. [BUG] Cannot load "Claude Code for VS Code" extension when open project with "Remote Repositories" #31390
3. [BUG] ENOENT: /home/<redacted> not found on local machine when using Claude Code extension in UI mode over SSH #34628

This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.

• If your issue is a duplicate, please close it and 👍 the existing issue instead
• To prevent auto-closure, add a comment or 👎 this comment

🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[entfy]

Up!

[Tsukidy]

up!

[alanrochford1]

I found downloading the github desktop app fixed it for me. I had a mismatch of windows username to github account.

[github-actions]

Closing for now — inactive for too long. Please open a new issue if this is still relevant.