GitHub integration for Claude Desktop / Web UI is experiencing an issue where subdirectories are no longer visible (January 2026)
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Many users of Claude Desktop and Claude.ai Web UI may be using GitHub repository integration for code review and development support. I'm one of them, managing my pet's weight data in a GitHub repository and consulting AI using that data as context.
However, since around January 13, 2026, there has been an issue with the GitHub integration feature where repository subdirectories are not displayed or accessible.
In this article, I will summarize the symptoms, attempted solutions, and current status of this issue. I hope this will be helpful for those encountering the same problem.
Testing Environment
- Test date: January 14, 2026
- MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021), Apple M1 Pro
- macOS 26.2
- Claude Desktop 1.0.3218 (8679c9)
- Claude.ai Web UI
Symptoms
When trying to add a GitHub repository through integration, the following symptoms occur:
- Only root directory files are displayed
- Subdirectories appear empty when clicked
- All files/folders show "0%" capacity
- Sometimes an error "Claude cannot access that resource" is displayed
This issue is occurring in both Claude Desktop and Claude.ai Web UI, suggesting it affects the entire platform rather than just specific local environments.
Attempted Solutions (Ineffective)
I tried all of the following solutions, but none were effective.
1. Basic Reconnection
- Disconnected and reconnected GitHub integration on Claude's side
- Verified and reset Claude's access permissions on GitHub
2. Reinstalling the GitHub App
# Remove Claude App from GitHub
https://github.com/settings/installations → Uninstall "Claude"
https://github.com/settings/apps/authorizations → Revoke "Claude"
# Reconnect
Re-authorize GitHub Connector on Claude's side
Reinstall GitHub App (Install & Authorize Claude)
This had no effect
3. Testing with a New Project
Suspecting a cache issue with existing projects, I created a new project and added a GitHub repository, but the same symptoms persisted.
4. Verifying GitHub App Permissions
Changed Claude's Repository access to "All repositories" at https://github.com/settings/installations, but the problem remained unresolved.
Cause
I've determined this to be a server-side issue (Anthropic bug) for the following reasons:
- Same symptoms occur in both Claude Desktop and Web UI
- Multiple users reporting the same issue around the same time
- All possible user-side solutions have been ineffective
Related GitHub Issues
Today, I found reports of what appears to be the same issue in the anthropics/claude-code repository on GitHub.
Issue #17807 - Cannot access subdirectories
Using claude on the web with a new project, adding a github repo works, however the subdirectories in that github repo with corresponding files do not load, it is blank.
Issue #17824 - All files showing 0% capacity
GitHub integration in Claude.ai (web interface) is showing 0% capacity for ALL files and folders when trying to add content from a connected repository.
Both issues were reported on January 13, 2026, and are currently Open (unresolved).
Current Workarounds
Unfortunately, there's no solution available on the user side. We need to wait for a fix from Anthropic.
Temporary Workarounds
- Manually upload necessary files to the chat
- Set up a GitHub Server via MCP as an alternative
Contacting Support
If you want to contact Anthropic support:
- Visit support.anthropic.com or support.claude.com
- Click the chat icon in the bottom right
- Inquire with the AI support bot (complex issues will be escalated to a human)
When contacting support, referencing the issue numbers (#17807, #17824) may help expedite the process. However, in my case, the bot claimed there was no issue and did not escalate to a human.
Summary
- A bug preventing access to subdirectories in GitHub integration has been occurring since around January 13, 2026
- Both Claude Desktop and Web UI are affected
- This is a server-side issue that users cannot resolve
- We need to wait for a fix from Anthropic
- You can add 👍 to the relevant issues to help increase their priority
If you're experiencing the same issue, you can help raise the priority by adding a 👍 to the GitHub issues. I hope this article helps those struggling with the same problem.
