Claude Code v2.1.242 ·
Windows shell surfaces are no longer grantable apps for computer use
On Windows the Start menu, search and Explorer shell can no longer be granted to Claude as apps.
You'll noticeTier: how much it should matter to you
2Useful: my rating, 1 to 5
3Signal: worth watching, 1 to 5
Computer UseArea: what it touches
ImprovementsKind: in v2.1.242,
ImprovementsSection of the release
What
On Windows, the Start menu, search UI and Explorer shell are now treated as OS surfaces rather than applications Claude can be granted control of.
Details
- Excluded process names: startmenuexperiencehost.exe, shellexperiencehost.exe, searchui.exe, searchapp.exe, searchhost.exe.
- Also excludes explorer.exe and anything under systemapps\, resolved from the WINDIR environment variable.
- Windows only; on other platforms nothing changes.
Evidence
startmenuexperiencehost.exe
Strings lifted out of the shipped bundle, so the claim above can be checked against them.
See this entry in the whole of v2.1.242 →
