[BUG]Claude Code VS Code Extension Fails to Detect Git Bash on Windows Despite Correct Configuration

[GoldKingai]

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?

[BUG] Claude Code VS Code Extension Fails to Detect Git Bash on Windows Despite Correct Configuration

Environment

• Platform: Anthropic API
• Claude Code Extension Version: 2.0.2 (released 2025-10-01)
• Operating System: Windows 11
• VS Code Version: [Please fill in your version from Help → About]
• Terminal: PowerShell 5.x with Python virtual environment
• Git Version: 2.50.0.windows.2

Bug Description

The Claude Code VS Code extension consistently fails to detect Git Bash installation on Windows, displaying the error:

Error: Claude Code on Windows requires git-bash (https://git-scm.com/downloads/win). If installed but not in PATH, set environment variable pointing to your bash.exe, similar to: CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH=C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe

This occurs despite:

1. Git Bash being properly installed and functional
2. Correct environment variable configuration
3. Bash executable being accessible and working
4. Multiple troubleshooting attempts including path modifications

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Git for Windows with Git Bash
2. Install Claude Code VS Code extension (version 2.0.2)
3. Verify Git Bash works: & "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe" --version
4. Set environment variable: $env:CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH = "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe"
5. Attempt to use Claude Code extension in VS Code
6. Observe the git-bash error despite correct configuration

Expected Behavior

The extension should detect Git Bash either through:

• Automatic detection from system PATH
• Environment variable CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH
• VS Code terminal environment settings

Actual Behavior

Extension displays git-bash error and refuses to function, blocking all productivity workflows.

Troubleshooting Attempts Made

Environment Variable Configuration

• Set both user and system environment variables
• Tried both C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe and space-free symbolic link C:\GitBash\bin\bash.exe
• Verified variables are visible in VS Code terminal sessions
• Added to VS Code settings.json terminal.integrated.env.windows

PATH Configuration

• Added C:\Program Files\Git\bin to system PATH
• Added C:\Program Files\Git\cmd to system PATH
• Verified git --version works (showing PATH is functional)
• Created symbolic link without spaces: C:\GitBash → C:\Program Files\Git

Extension Troubleshooting

• Downgraded from version 2.0.2 to 2.0.1 (same error)
• Completely uninstalled and reinstalled extension
• Reloaded VS Code window multiple times
• Restarted VS Code completely
• Cleared VS Code settings and reconfigured

Terminal Configuration

• Tested with PowerShell, Command Prompt, and Git Bash terminals
• Changed VS Code default terminal profile
• Verified bash works in all terminal types

Verification Commands That Work

All of these commands execute successfully, proving the installation is correct:

# Direct execution
& "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe" --version
# Output: GNU bash, version 5.2.37(1)-release (x86_64-pc-msys)

# Environment variable execution  
& $env:CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH --version
# Output: GNU bash, version 5.2.37(1)-release (x86_64-pc-msys)

# Git command works
git --version
# Output: git version 2.50.0.windows.2

# Environment variable is set
echo $env:CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH  
# Output: C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe

Related Issues

This appears related to known issues with Git Bash path detection:

• Issue [BUG] Claude Code fails to resolve Git Bash path with space in Windows (Program Files) #4507: Git Bash path with spaces in "Program Files"
• Issue [BUG] CLI fails on Windows with Git Bash: "No suitable shell found" #3461: CLI fails with "No suitable shell found"
• Issue [BUG] Git Bash path conversion issue - Windows paths not properly converted #2602: Git Bash path conversion issues

Impact

This bug completely blocks the use of Claude Code VS Code extension, preventing:

• Integrated AI-assisted coding workflows
• Real-time code editing and suggestions
• File management through the extension
• All productivity features that require the extension

The CLI version works but lacks the integrated VS Code experience needed for effective development workflow.

System Configuration Details

# Working Git installation
PS> git --version
git version 2.50.0.windows.2

# Working Bash installation  
PS> & "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe" --version
GNU bash, version 5.2.37(1)-release (x86_64-pc-msys)

# Correct environment variable
PS> $env:CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH
C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe

# PATH includes Git
PS> $env:PATH -split ';' | Where-Object { $_ -like "*Git*" }
C:\Program Files\Git\cmd

Request

This issue is blocking productive use of Claude Code for software development. Please prioritize fixing the VS Code extension's Git Bash detection mechanism on Windows, particularly:

1. Proper handling of paths with spaces (Program Files)
2. Reliable environment variable detection
3. Fallback detection methods when automatic detection fails

Additional Information

Available for testing any proposed fixes or providing additional diagnostic information as needed.

What Should Happen?

Error: Claude Code on Windows requires git-bash (https://git-scm.com/downloads/win). If installed but not in PATH, set environment variable pointing to your bash.exe, similar to: CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH=C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe

Error Messages/Logs

Error: Claude Code on Windows requires git-bash (https://git-scm.com/downloads/win). If installed but not in PATH, set environment variable pointing to your bash.exe, similar to: CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH=C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe

Steps to Reproduce

Error: Claude Code on Windows requires git-bash (https://git-scm.com/downloads/win). If installed but not in PATH, set environment variable pointing to your bash.exe, similar to: CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH=C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

2.0.2

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

No response

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. [BUG] CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH required #7420
2. [BUG] Claude Code can not connect to vs code extension in windows 11/git bash #5887
3. [BUG] Windows: spawnSync bash ENOENT error after recent update - regression from working state #7470

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

[silviapolizzi]

I have the same error

[Luminlight]

Same issue here.
I checked my environment variables, and there were quite a few no longer present.

• System32\WindowsPowerShell\V1.0\
• Git\cmd\
• Git\bin\
• etc

A Windows update may have modified these, but not sure.

I added the system environment variables and restarted. The Claude extension still displays the error, and any prompts made through the extension indefinitely hang. The Claude CLI works fine, however.

The Claude extension has been updated twice since discovering this bug report: 2.0.2 -> 2.0.3 & 2.0.5
Installing specific versions doesn't seem to modify this behavior, with each version displaying the same error: "Error: Claude Code on Windows requires git-bash".

I did not go through the entire version list. Specific version installs I have tried:

• 2.0.5
• 2.0.3
• 2.0.2
• 2.0.0

Update:
Installing an older version, as suggested by @GoldKingai, has worked.

Update v2:
Adding C:\Windows\System32\ to the system PATH has resolved my issue. Both the CLI and VSCode extension work as intended.

[freshmediaro]

Same error here! 😢

[LukasdeSouza]

Same here. Now i'm only using Claude Code in my terminal because I can't use the extension from Visual Studio Code

[GoldKingai]

@Luminlight @silviapolizzi @LukasdeSouza @freshmediaro Try going back to an older version, because the older versions seem to work, it's the newer versions that's giving problems

[seoflyyy]

Same issue! Fix it, Claude!

[Light-Bobine]

Same issue here. The older extension version works for me, thanks to @GoldKingai for his workaround.

[YomarFerreira]

Same issue! Fix it, Claude!

[avnmurthy]

I had the same error for last 3 days.
I reverted to version 1.0.117 and it worked

[lchabin]

1.0.126 may be the last one working when it comes to the bash problem.
cherry on top : does not work for me due to exec policies that are not properly set...... shame
I am supposed to do that myself ?????
If i start bash in the terminal of the extension, then i can call claude, but its 2.0.9..... what a mess. I bet it won't make use of the IDE.
I just started my subscription, bad experience. Can I be not charged until it works in vscode ?

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Modification de la stratégie d'exécution
La stratégie d’exécution permet de vous prémunir contre les scripts que vous jugez non fiables. En modifiant la
stratégie d’exécution, vous vous exposez aux risques de sécurité décrits dans la rubrique d’aide
about_Execution_Policies à l’adresse https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170. Voulez-vous modifier la stratégie
d’exécution ?

So essentially, i need to make my machine unsecure