---
title: "Claude AI Works on Website but VS Code Extension Says “Login First” — Even After Buying Pro Plan"  
description: "If you’ve purchased a Claude Pro (paid) plan, successfully logged into the VS Code extension, and then suddenly, after a few days, it starts showing logout"  
author: "Amrith Chandran"  
published: 2026-03-19  
updated: 2026-03-19  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/blog/102/claude-ai-works-on-website-but-vs-code-extension-says-login-first-even-after-buying-pro-plan  
category: "artificial-intelligence"  
tags: ["artificial intelligence", "claude ai"]  
reading_time: 4 minutes  

---

# Claude AI Works on Website but VS Code Extension Says “Login First” — Even After Buying Pro Plan

If you’ve purchased a Claude Pro (paid) plan, successfully logged into the VS Code extension, and then suddenly, after a few days, it starts showing:

> *“Signup/Login first to continue”*

…while the same account is still logged in on the Claude website, you’re dealing with a common but confusing issue.

Let’s break down what’s really happening.

![Claude AI Works on Website but VS Code Extension Says “Login First” — Even After Buying Pro Plan](https://answers.mindstick.com/blogs/86bdf4e1-0701-4776-9f11-7ba7f7b2eea5/images/3ac65d36-d0b3-4f4d-9f73-621c25760439.jpg)

#### The Situation

1. You bought a **Claude Pro monthly plan**
2. You logged into the VS Code extension successfully
3. Everything worked initially
4. After 2-3 days, the extension logs you out
5. It asks you to “Login first” again
6. But the Claude website still shows you as logged in
7. This feels like a bug, but it’s usually not exactly that.

#### Why This Happens

## 1. VS Code Session Expires Separately

The Claude website and the VS Code extension **do not share the same session**.

- The website keeps you logged in using browser cookies.
- The VS Code extension uses **its own authentication token**.
- That token can **expire after a few days**.

So even if the website works, the extension may silently log you out.

## 2. Paid Plan ≠ Permanent Authentication

Buying a Pro plan only gives you access—it does **not keep the extension permanently logged in**.

- Your subscription is active and **needs renewal**

## 3. Token Refresh Issues (Common Cause)

Ideally, the extension should refresh your login automatically, but sometimes:

- Token refresh fails
- Network interrupts the session
- VS Code goes idle or sleeps
- Extension bugs prevent re-authentication

**Result:** You get forced back to “Login first”.

## 4. VS Code Environment Limitations

Unlike browsers, VS Code:

- Doesn’t manage sessions as robustly
- May lose stored credentials after restart/update
- Can clear extension state in some cases

## 5. Account Still Valid, Only Session Lost

Important distinction:

- Your **account is still active (Pro plan intact)**
- Only the **extension session has expired or broken**

That’s why the website still works fine.

#### How to Fix It (Step-by-Step)

1. **Re-login to the Extension**

- Open the Claude extension in VS Code
- Click **Login / Sign In**
- Complete the authentication again

This usually resolves it immediately.

## 2. Restart VS Code

After logging in again:

- Close VS Code completely
- Reopen it to stabilize the session

## 3. Update or Reinstall Extension

If the issue repeats frequently:

- Update the extension
- Or uninstall → reinstall it

## 4. Avoid Long Idle Sessions

Try not to:

- Keep VS Code open for days without activity
- Use unstable networks during login

## 5. Check Account Consistency

Make sure:

- The same email/account is used everywhere
- No multiple Claude accounts are causing confusion

#### Is This a Bug?

It’s partly **expected behaviour** (due to session separation), but frequent logouts can also indicate:

- Minor bugs in the extension
- Token refresh issues
- Stability limitations of the current integration

#### Key Takeaway

> Even with a paid Claude Pro plan, the VS Code extension requires **separate and renewable authentication**.

So when you see *“Login first”*, it usually means:

Your session expired, not your subscription.

This can definitely feel frustrating, especially after paying for a plan. But the good news is:

- Your account is safe
- Your subscription is active
- The fix is usually just a quick re-login

If the problem starts happening **every day**, then it may be worth reporting to Claude support, as that points more toward an extension-side issue rather than normal session expiry.

---

Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/blog/102/claude-ai-works-on-website-but-vs-code-extension-says-login-first-even-after-buying-pro-plan

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