[Windows Version] How to fix the issue where Fable 5 cannot be selected (does not appear) in Claude Code: Troubleshooting

On June 9, 2026, Anthropic’s new top-of-the-line model, “Claude Fable 5,” was released to the public. This /modelarticle is for those who can use it in Claude.ai chat and Claude Design, but are experiencing the issue of “Fable 5 not appearing in the model list in Claude Code ( ).”

table of contents

Reasons why Fable 5 is not showing up in Claude Code

The reasons why Fable 5 is not showing up in the Claude Code can be narrowed down to almost the following four. Checking them in order from top to bottom is the quickest way to resolve the issue.

1. The version of Claude Code is outdated (less than v2.1.170).
2. I thought I had updated, but a corrupted old installation remains.
3. Due to a PATH issue, the new Claude Code is not being launched; the old one is being called.
4. I haven’t received the phased rollout to my account yet.

Prerequisites: Fable 5 is supported from v2.1.170 onwards.

First and foremost, Claude Code only became compatible with Fable 5 starting with version 2.1.170 (released June 9, 2026). In older versions, it will not appear in the model list no matter what you do.

You can check the current version below.

claude --version

If Claude Code is running, /statusyou can also check this using a command. 2.1.170If it is less than [a certain value], update it.

claude update

In a simple case, after updating /model, when you open the app, Fable 5 will appear in the list.

Additionally, in Claude Code on Claude Desktop, Fable 5 will appear in the dropdown list.

Case 1: claude updateThe command is successful, but an error occurs when executing the `claude` command.

Solution: If you previously installed Claude using the npm version, reinstall it using the latest official native installer.

# 1. Uninstall the npm version
npm uninstall -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# 2. Check whether old npm launcher files (claude.ps1 / claude.cmd) still exist
ls $env:APPDATA\npm\claude*
# → If any files remain, delete them manually.

# 3. Reinstall using the latest official native installer
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Note that Git for Windows is required for native installation on Windows .

Settings and history will not be deleted.

Your settings and history will not be deleted. This is because the Claude Code program itself (in the npm folder .local\bin) and the data storage location %USERPROFILE%\.claudeare separate. Session history is located in ~/.claude/projects/the settings ~/.claude/settings.jsonand will be carried over even after reinstallation.

Case 2: “Claude is not recognized” after successful installation.

You may see this warning immediately after a native installation.

⚠ Setup notes:
  ● Native installation exists but C:\Users\xxx\.local\bin is not in your PATH.

The installation was successful, but the PATH is not set correctly .
You can permanently add it to your PATH by running the following command in PowerShell.

$p = "$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin"
$cur = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "User")
if ($cur -notlike "*$p*") {
    [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$cur;$p", "User")
}

After execution, be sure to close and reopen the terminal. PATH changes will only be reflected in the newly opened terminal.

Case 3: Check which version of Claude is running, the old or the new.

If you have a mix of npm and native versions, the older version might be called first depending on the order in your PATH. You can check which file is actually being executed with the following command.

Get-Command claude | Format-List

SourceC:\Users\xxx\.local\bin\claude.exeIf it looks like this , then it’s correct. AppData\Roaming\npmIf the subdirectories are displayed, it means an old file is being called, so delete claude.ps1the / claude.cmd/ in that folder claudeand restart the terminal.

Case 4: The version is correct, but it doesn’t appear in the list (phased rollout)

I’ve cleared all the previous steps, meaning claude --versionI’m using version 2.1.170 or higher and launching from the correct path, /modelyet Fable 5 doesn’t appear in the list. It shows up in chat and Claude Design, but not in Claude Code.

Fable 5 is being rolled out gradually across the Pro/Max/Team/Enterprise plans , and the deployment timing may vary depending on the product. Several sources also indicate that it may not appear in the list immediately after its announcement.

There are two things you can try in this situation.

Launch the application by directly specifying the Model ID. Even if it doesn’t appear in the picker, you may be able to use it by directly specifying the Model ID if your account has the necessary permissions.

claude --model claude-fable-5

Log in again to update your permissions./logout Doing this within Claude Code /loginmay reset your account permissions and make them visible again.

If neither of those methods works, you’ll just have to wait for the update to be rolled out to your account. If Fable 5 is showing up in the chat, your account is affected, so it’s only a matter of time before it’s rolled out to you.

Summary: Troubleshooting Flow

Finally, here’s a summary of the verification process.

1. claude --version→ If less than 2.1.170claude update
2. Errors after updating → Uninstalled the npm version irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iexand switched to the native version.
3. “Not recognized” error → .local\binAdd to PATH and restart terminal
4. Get-Command claudeCheck if the new person has been called.
5. If it still doesn’t appear, claude --model claude-fable-5try specifying it directly → /logout→ /login, and if that still doesn’t work, wait for a phased rollout.

I hope this will be helpful to others who are in a similar situation.

Reference links

• Anthropic Official: Claude Fable 5 / Mythos 5 Announced —
  https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-fable-5-mythos-5
• Claude Code Official Documentation: Installation Troubleshooting — https://code.claude.com/docs/ja/troubleshoot-install
• Claude Code Official Documentation: Settings (settings.json) —
  https://code.claude.com/docs/ja/settings