diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/main.ts b/ui/desktop/src/main.ts
index f154ef0d511e..cb77c82d2edd 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/main.ts
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/main.ts
@@ -953,9 +953,7 @@ const buildRecentFilesMenu = () => {
   }));
 };
 
-const openDirectoryDialog = async (
-  replaceWindow: boolean = false
-): Promise<OpenDialogReturnValue> => {
+const openDirectoryDialog = async (): Promise<OpenDialogReturnValue> => {
   // Get the current working directory from the focused window
   let defaultPath: string | undefined;
   const currentWindow = BrowserWindow.getFocusedWindow();
@@ -1033,45 +1031,8 @@ const openDirectoryDialog = async (
     }
 
     addRecentDir(dirToAdd);
-    const currentWindow = BrowserWindow.getFocusedWindow();
-
-    if (replaceWindow && currentWindow) {
-      // Replace current window with new one
-      await createChat(app, undefined, dirToAdd);
-      currentWindow.close();
-    } else {
-      // Update the working directory in the current window's localStorage
-      if (currentWindow) {
-        try {
-          const updateConfigScript = `
-            try {
-              const currentConfig = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('gooseConfig') || '{}');
-              const updatedConfig = {
-                ...currentConfig,
-                GOOSE_WORKING_DIR: '${dirToAdd.replace(/'/g, "\\'")}',
-              };
-              localStorage.setItem('gooseConfig', JSON.stringify(updatedConfig));
-              
-              // Trigger a config update event so the UI can refresh
-              window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('goose-config-updated', { 
-                detail: { GOOSE_WORKING_DIR: '${dirToAdd.replace(/'/g, "\\'")}' } 
-              }));
-            } catch (e) {
-              console.error('Failed to update working directory in localStorage:', e);
-            }
-          `;
-          await currentWindow.webContents.executeJavaScript(updateConfigScript);
-          console.log(`Updated working directory to: ${dirToAdd}`);
-        } catch (error) {
-          console.error('Failed to update working directory:', error);
-          // Fallback: create new window
-          await createChat(app, undefined, dirToAdd);
-        }
-      } else {
-        // No current window, create new one
-        await createChat(app, undefined, dirToAdd);
-      }
-    }
+    // Create a new window with the selected directory
+    await createChat(app, undefined, dirToAdd);
   }
   return result;
 };
@@ -1110,8 +1071,8 @@ ipcMain.on('react-ready', () => {
 });
 
 // Handle directory chooser
-ipcMain.handle('directory-chooser', (_event, replace: boolean = false) => {
-  return openDirectoryDialog(replace);
+ipcMain.handle('directory-chooser', (_event) => {
+  return openDirectoryDialog();
 });
 
 // Handle scheduling engine settings
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/preload.ts b/ui/desktop/src/preload.ts
index 8de1613fce1d..8baac961f293 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/preload.ts
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/preload.ts
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ const electronAPI: ElectronAPI = {
     return config;
   },
   hideWindow: () => ipcRenderer.send('hide-window'),
-  directoryChooser: (replace?: boolean) => ipcRenderer.invoke('directory-chooser', replace),
+  directoryChooser: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('directory-chooser'),
   createChatWindow: (
     query?: string,
     dir?: string,