Desktop app always starts sessions in "Accept Edits" mode instead of "Bypass Permissions", even though defaultMode: "bypassPermissions" is set in ~/.claude/settings.json

[Lebedb233]

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?

Desktop app always starts sessions in "Accept Edits" mode instead of "Bypass Permissions", even though defaultMode: "bypassPermissions" is configured in ~/.claude/settings.json

What Should Happen?

Sessions should start in Bypass Permissions mode as configured in settings.json

Error Messages/Logs

Warning: "Bypass Permissions mode isn't enabled. The session started in Accept Edits"
"Permission mode couldn't be changed. You can try again."

Steps to Reproduce

1. Set ~/.claude/settings.json with "permissions": { "defaultMode": "bypassPermissions" }
2. Enable "Allow bypass permissions mode" in Desktop Settings
3. Run CLI with --dangerously-skip-permissions and accept
4. Open desktop app → start new session
5. Send any message

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

2.1.146

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Windows Terminal

Additional Information

CLI works correctly — shows "bypass permissions on".
Desktop GUI ignores the same settings.json.
Mode reverts to "Accept Edits" after sending first message even if manually switched.
skipDangerousModePermissionPrompt: true is also set.

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. [BUG] Desktop: Bypass Permissions mode can't be enabled on macOS — reverts to Accept Edits, "Permission mode couldn't be changed" (2.1.148) #61415
2. [BUG] Permission mode toggle broken on desktop app - "Permission mode couldn't be changed" – AUTO MODE not staying on #60724
3. Desktop app launches claude with --permission-mode default hardcoded; auto mode toggle fails #61304

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

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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[Lebedb233]

👍

[fifatest-cmd]

Confirming this is still broken on the latest desktop build.

Environment

• Claude Code Desktop: 1.8555.2
• Claude Code CLI: 2.1.150
• macOS: 26.4.1 (Darwin 25.4.0, Apple Silicon)

Repro

1. Settings → Claude Code → "Allow bypass permissions mode" toggled ON.
2. ~/.claude/settings.json has "permissions": { "defaultMode": "bypassPermissions" }.
3. Project .claude/settings.json and .claude/settings.local.json also have "permissions": { "defaultMode": "bypassPermissions" }.
4. No managed settings under /Library/Application Support/ClaudeCode/managed-settings.json.
5. No disableBypassPermissionsMode anywhere.
6. skipDangerousModePermissionPrompt: true is set in user settings.

Expected
Session starts in bypass mode (or at least bypass is selectable from the mode picker).

Actual

• Bypass mode does not appear in the in-session permission mode selector.
• Shift+Tab cycles through the other modes only.
• defaultMode: "bypassPermissions" from settings.json appears to be ignored by the desktop app.

Works fine via CLI
Same machine, same settings files — claude --dangerously-skip-permissions and Shift+Tab both work as expected in the terminal. The bug is desktop-only.

Happy to provide logs / a sysdiagnose if helpful.

[github-actions]

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