Claude now not loading models

Type: Bug

Window: Agents

I've already reported these 2 issues where Claude isn't working correctly

https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/332905
https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/332896

but after updating to the latest version it's got even worse now the models don't load I get no models available.

If select an imported session I get Provider claude could not describe claude:/

and in the output logs I have errors like

```
2026-09-02 18:57:51.562 [error] [ProtocolServer] Request 'subscribe' failed Provider claude could not describe claude:/cc0e7559-5548-493b-a0f7-ed3d9e1562ce yet
2026-09-02 18:57:51.775 [info] [Claude] SDK not downloaded yet; deferring chat metadata until a session triggers the download
2026-09-02 18:57:51.776 [info] [Claude] SDK not downloaded yet; deferring chat metadata until a session triggers the download
2026-09-02 18:57:51.776 [error] [AgentService] async dispatchAction failed: Provider claude could not describe claude:/
```

I've followed the instructions on https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/agents/run/agent-harnesses although they are wrong as the suggested github.copilot.chat.claudeAgent.enabled setting that doesn't exist.

There does seem to be some sort of connection to claude as the plugins section does list the plugins I have installed in Claude.

It doesn't really help that the settings options keep changing as any issues that sound like they might be related refer to settings that don't exist anymore.

Is there anything other than chat.agentHost.claudeAgent.enabled and the Claude extension required to get it working?

VS Code version: Code 1.136.0 (Universal) (520fb30b2d3d324b4cb2342f6e88e2cd93751de1, 2026-09-02T09:13:42Z)
OS version: Darwin arm64 25.6.0
Modes:

System Info

|Item|Value|
|---|---|
|CPUs|Apple M2 Max (12 x 2400)|
|GPU Status|2d_canvas: enabled
GPU0: VENDOR= 0x106b [Google Inc. (Apple)], DEVICE=0x0000 [ANGLE (Apple, ANGLE Metal Renderer: Apple M2 Max, Version 26.6.2 (Build 25G83))], DRIVER_VENDOR=Apple, DRIVER_VERSION=26.6.2 *ACTIVE*
Machine model name: Mac
Machine model version: 14.5
direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok
gpu_compositing: enabled
multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on
opengl: enabled_on
rasterization: enabled
raw_draw: disabled_off_ok
skia_graphite: enabled_on
trees_in_viz: disabled_off
video_decode: enabled
video_encode: enabled
webgl: enabled
webgpu: enabled
webnn: disabled_off|
|Load (avg)|5, 6, 6|
|Memory (System)|32.00GB (0.15GB free)|
|Process Argv|--crash-reporter-id f3c72f05-ff72-490d-bc24-1b3d01df450e|
|Screen Reader|no|
|VM|0%|
Extensions (7)

Name|Identifier|Author|Version
---|---|---|---
Tailwind CSS IntelliSense|bradlc.vscode-tailwindcss|bradlc|0.16.0
ESLint|dbaeumer.vscode-eslint|dbaeumer|3.0.34
ES7+ React/Redux/React-Native snippets|dsznajder.es7-react-js-snippets|dsznajder|4.4.3
Prettier - Code formatter|esbenp.prettier-vscode|esbenp|12.4.0
Auto Rename Tag|formulahendry.auto-rename-tag|formulahendry|0.1.10
GraphQL: Syntax Highlighting|graphql.vscode-graphql-syntax|GraphQL|1.3.10
XML|redhat.vscode-xml|redhat|0.29.3

A/B Experiments

```
vsliv368:30146709
vswsl492:30256859
pythonvspyt551cf:31249601
binariesv615:30325510
nativeloc1:31344060
dwcopilot:31170013
dwoutputs:31242946
copilot_t_ci:31333650
e5gg6876:31282496
pythonrdcb7:31342333
6518g693:31463988
aj953862:31281341
envsactivate1:31551504
478i5457:31544283
cloudbuttont:31379625
3efgi100_wstrepl:31403338
ec5jj548:31422691
diffpatch-lysithea-0014-prod-ctrl:31577084
cp_cls_t_966_ss:31526232
4je02754:31572277
8hhj4413:31478653
ge8j1254_inline_auto_hint_haiku:31490510
cp_cls_c_1081:31454833
conptydll_true:31498968
e9c30283:31461165
c9b86496:31447327
ei9d7968:31496641
nes-extended-on:31455476
chat:31457767
8hig5102:31480529
89g7j272:31518289
i2gc6536:31499202
52612955:31516516
23c7c724:31520045
ddid_c:31478207
hmra_i5g22:31518061
7df3h592:31512476
cp_cls_t_1082:31535311
logging_enabled_new:31498466
db5d2638:31499441
jb_cp_cls_t_632:31543129
56dj4588:31512888
32d76977:31512328
ha629193:31508444
jh5f2457_c:31540921
jbcp_cls_pctr_t:31531130
61138546:31518536
cp_intellij_t_nes:31548657
jf4hg949:31526829
ahp-both-windows:31556933
ihg5j128:31534457
f412h606:31551416
7g2b5551:31542111
sandbox-ui-on-2:31543161
enable_editor_pane_layout:31569726
allow-none:31555437
36h42362:31564511
c7c27ce7:31554789
1h923230:31564177
0dg73464:31554319
treatment-23-1:31555779
unuse_dynamic_mcp:31555281
0d8dfbc3:31570291
switchtoauto:31559321
0c1h4866:31566224
vrbsty_tr:31561058
session-archive:31558132
5b8j3302:31564601
mangle-name-control:31572633
artifacts_tool_on:31573135
39a5d156:31574986
2bfb8b39:31576696
permission_prompt_control:1332567
ccr_pr_nudge_adoption:1319471
vsc_wsm_c:1340633
eh853263:1370294
auto_mode_control:1367906

```