OAuth session expires every ~8 hours, requires daily /login

[zhurakov]

Description

When using Claude Code with a claude.ai subscription (OAuth login), the session token expires approximately every 8 hours. Claude Code does not automatically refresh the token using the stored refreshToken, so users are forced to manually run /login every day.

Steps to reproduce

1. Run /login and authenticate via claude.ai
2. Wait ~8 hours (or until next day)
3. Claude Code session is expired — must run /login again

Expected behavior

Claude Code should silently refresh the access token using the refreshToken stored in ~/.claude/.credentials.json before it expires, without requiring user interaction.

Actual behavior

The refreshToken field is present in .credentials.json (under claudeAiOauth) but is never used. The expiresAt timestamp is ~8 hours from login time. After expiry, the session is lost and the user must manually re-authenticate.

Environment

• OS: macOS 26.5.1
• Auth method: claude.ai OAuth subscription (no API key)

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. [BUG] OAuth access token expires after ~8 hours and refresh token is not used — requires full re-login every day (Windows 11) #68398
2. [BUG] Claude code requires users to constantly login #1757
3. [BUG] OAuth token expiration disrupts autonomous workflows – refresh token handling needed #12447

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[zhurakov]

Duplicate of #71757