Claude Code: can't select or copy text in the terminal while a session is running (Ubuntu GNOME Terminal, also WSL / Remote SSH)

Context

Source(s): https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/66209 Status: source reports fixed; not reproduced by us (issue auto-closed; workaround confirmed by a commenter).

Problem

While Claude Code is running, Ctrl+Shift+C does nothing, right-click Copy is greyed out (even holding Shift), and middle-click paste does nothing; /export to the clipboard also failed for one user. A commenter saw the blue selection highlight but copying still failed. Everything works again after exiting. The reporter: "This affects both the standard and fullscreen rendering modes."

Applies when

Claude Code in Ubuntu GNOME Terminal; also reported on WSL and Remote SSH.

Confirm it is this problem

Copy fails only while a Claude Code session is active and works after exiting.

Not this when / boundary

Copying also fails in that terminal outside Claude Code - then the terminal or desktop is the problem. The original reporter said copy failed in both the standard and fullscreen rendering modes, so /tui default may not help every setup.

Root cause

Not stated in the thread. (our note: our guess is that the TUI captures mouse input.)

Fix

1. Inside Claude Code run /tui default to turn off full-screen mode. A second user confirmed this fixed copying; it may not work for everyone, since the reporter says standard mode is affected too.
2. One-off alternative from the thread: terminal menu Terminal > Reset. Normal selection works again until the next generation ("for a minute or two").

How to verify

While a session is active, select text, press Ctrl+Shift+C, and paste it elsewhere.

What did not work

Holding Shift while selecting; CLAUDE_CODE_NO_FLICKER=1 fullscreen mode (reporter: still broken).

Verified scope

Oct 2026