Claude Code on Desktop
A tutorial by Anthropic. Featured in the OTF curated resource library.
Why the Desktop App?
Claude Code started as a terminal-based tool, and the CLI remains powerful. But the desktop app adds a layer of convenience that transforms the daily experience.
Persistent sessions survive laptop sleep/wake cycles without tmux. Multi-project workspaces let you switch between codebases with a click. Native notifications alert you when long-running tasks complete. And system integration means Claude Code can read your clipboard, open files in your editor, and interact with your OS more seamlessly.
The desktop app doesn't replace the CLI — it wraps it in a better experience. All the same commands, capabilities, and AGENTS.md support work identically. You're getting a nicer interface with zero tradeoffs.
Installation and Setup
Getting the desktop app running takes under 5 minutes.
Download from claude.ai
Visit claude.ai/code and download the desktop app for your platform (macOS, Windows, Linux). The installer includes the Claude Code CLI bundled — no separate installation needed.
Sign in and configure
Launch the app and sign in with your Anthropic account. The app imports your existing CLI configuration, including API keys and custom settings. If you were using the CLI before, everything transfers automatically.
Add your first project
Open a project folder through the app's file picker or drag-and-drop. The app detects your project's AGENTS.md, .cursorrules, or similar configuration files and loads them as context automatically.
Workspace Management
Project Sidebar
The left sidebar shows all your recent projects. Click to switch between them instantly — each project maintains its own Claude Code session, context, and conversation history independently.
Session Persistence
Sessions survive app restarts, laptop sleep, and even reboots. Your conversation history, current context, and pending tasks are all preserved. This eliminates the 'where was I?' problem every morning.
Quick Open
Use Cmd+O (or Ctrl+O) to quickly open any recent project. The app remembers your last 20 projects and shows them in most-recently-used order.
Desktop-Exclusive Features
Native Notifications
Get system notifications when long-running tasks complete. Start a complex refactoring, switch to another app, and get notified when Claude Code finishes. No more tab-checking.
Clipboard Integration
Paste screenshots, error messages, and code snippets directly from your clipboard. The app handles image context natively — paste a screenshot of a bug and ask Claude Code to investigate.
File Preview
View generated or modified files in a built-in preview pane. See diffs, syntax-highlighted code, and markdown rendering without switching to an external editor.
Split View
Run multiple Claude Code sessions side-by-side. One session handles the frontend, another handles the backend — both visible simultaneously.
Tips for Power Users
Keyboard Shortcuts
Learn the key shortcuts: Cmd+K to start a new prompt, Cmd+Enter to submit, Cmd+Shift+C to copy the last response. The shortcuts mirror common IDE patterns for muscle memory transfer.
Custom Themes
The desktop app supports custom color themes. Match your editor's theme for a cohesive visual experience. Settings → Appearance → Theme.
CLI Fallback
You can always drop into the raw CLI from the desktop app's integrated terminal. Use this for scripts, automation, or when you need CLI-specific features.
