Claude Code for VS Code fails to read CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH on Windows"

[Bygiovie]

Bug Description

The Claude Code extension for VS Code fails to launch on Windows with the error "Claude Code on Windows requires git-bash", even though Git Bash is correctly installed, in PATH, and the CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH environment variable is properly configured.

Environment

• OS: Windows 11 (25H2) compilation SO 26200.8037
• VS Code Version: 1.114.0
• Claude Code Extension Version: (check in VS Code extensions panel) Version 2.1.96
• Git Version: 2.53.0.windows.2

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Git for Windows with Git Bash
2. Set environment variable: CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH=C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe (both Machine and User level)
3. Add Git Bash to system PATH
4. Install Claude Code extension in VS Code
5. Attempt to launch Claude Code

Evidence That Configuration is Correct

where bash output:

C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe

Environment variable (Machine level):

[Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH", "Machine")
C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe

Environment variable (User level):

[Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH", "User")
C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe

Git Bash works correctly in VS Code terminal:

$ echo $BASH_VERSION
5.2.37(1)-release

Extension Logs

2026-04-08 01:26:46.077 [info] AuthManager initialized
2026-04-08 01:26:46.077 [info] Claude code extension is now active?
2026-04-08 01:26:46.077 [info] MCP Server running on port 27394 (localhost only)
2026-04-08 01:26:50.865 [info] Getting authentication status
2026-04-08 01:26:50.865 [info] OAuth tokens found in secure storage
2026-04-08 01:26:50.865 [info] AuthManager initialized
2026-04-08 01:26:51.337 [info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"bosq32hxpvc","request":{"type":"init"}}
2026-04-08 01:26:51.346 [info] Getting authentication status
2026-04-08 01:26:51.346 [info] OAuth tokens found in secure storage
2026-04-08 01:26:51.396 [info] Getting authentication status
2026-04-08 01:26:51.396 [info] OAuth tokens found in secure storage
2026-04-08 01:26:51.398 [info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"czckf41cut","request":{"type":"get_claude_state"}}
2026-04-08 01:26:51.399 [info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"9clk2qz6w8d","request":{"type":"get_current_selection"}}
2026-04-08 01:26:51.400 [info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"earejcphzsd","request":{"type":"get_asset_uris"}}
2026-04-08 01:26:51.401 [info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"rwackl4f09","request":{"type":"list_sessions_request"}}
2026-04-08 01:26:51.427 [info] Received message from webview: {"type":"launch_claude","channelId":"xbhcbex4fj","cwd":"c:\Users\winutil10\Documents\NEGO EMPRE","permissionMode":"default","thinkingLevel":"default_on"}
2026-04-08 01:26:51.492 [info] Launching Claude on channel: xbhcbex4fj
2026-04-08 01:26:51.492 [info] Closing Claude on channel: xbhcbex4fj
2026-04-08 01:26:51.492 [error] Error spawning Claude (on channel xbhcbex4fj): 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
2026-04-08 01:26:51.492 [error] Failed to load config cache: 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
2026-04-08 01:26:51.492 [error] Error processing client request: 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
2026-04-08 01:26:51.496 [info] Received message from webview: {"type":"interrupt_claude","channelId":"czckf41cut"}
2026-04-08 01:26:51.496 [warning] Channel not found: czckf41cut
2026-04-08 01:26:57.221 [info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"k9pzq1geu4b","request":{"type":"open_output_panel"}}

Expected Behavior

The extension should detect Git Bash from either:

1. The system PATH (where it exists), or
2. The CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH environment variable (which is correctly set)

Actual Behavior

The extension fails to detect Git Bash and throws an error asking to set the same environment variable that is already configured.

Additional Notes

• The extension worked on another Windows PC with identical Git Bash installation
• Git Bash terminal works perfectly within VS Code itself
• The issue appears to be with how the extension reads environment variables on Windows