Well, well, Claude Code is now finally available on the Claude Desktop app. Meaning now you can code, debug, and manage complex projects using Claude’s agentic AI workflows right from your Claude Windows, macOS, or Linux app. Since you’re no longer stuck at the browser and terminal to get the most out of Anthropic’s Claude models, the question is, how do you get the most out of it? Let’s figure it out together in this article.
What Is Claude Code?
Claude Code is an agentic coding tool by Anthropic. It uses Claude AI models (like Sonnet 4.5 and now Opus 4.5) to automate many coding tasks from code generation to testing, refactoring, dependency updates, and multi-project management. Claude Code is unique for its ability to understand and work across massive, multi-file codebases, delivering rapid context-aware changes without manual oversight. Developers use it as a direct collaborator in their terminal, IDE, or via cloud APIs, but from now on, it can also be accessed via the Claude Desktop app.
Claude Code on Desktop Key Features
- Native GUI for running multiple Claude Code sessions at once, each isolated as its own git worktree, making it easy to parallelize tasks across projects or branches.
- Easy launching and switching between local and secure cloud sessions from the same interface.
- Automatic copying of important files (even those typically gitignored) when spawning worktrees.
- Stable, bundled Claude Code version tailored for desktop, auto-managed updates to avoid configuration headaches.
- Full integration with git and CLI tools, extending functionality to code review, automated testing, and scripted workflows.
How to Use Claude Code on Claude Desktop
Getting started is straightforward:
- Install the Claude Desktop app from Anthropic’s official site.
- Log in with your Claude account—Max, Pro, Team, or Enterprise users are currently supported.
- Start a new session. You can run Claude Code with a simple command (often just claude in your terminal or via the Desktop app’s UI) in the folder or git worktree you want to work with.
- Session management: Each project or branch can run its own isolated Claude Code instance. Use terminal tabs, split panes, or native interface controls to track multiple parallel jobs.
- Configure context: Claude Code can read files, accept pasted snippets, or even pull data via custom slash commands or shell pipes. It will often ask clarifying questions upfront and remember context across the session for deep codebase reasoning.
- Automate tasks: Use built-in or custom commands to automate fixes, refactors, documentation, and test generation (/project:fix-github-issue, /project:create-tests, etc.).
- Use agentic workflows: Claude’s agentic system means it can reason about code dependencies, refactor across modules, and coordinate tasks involving multiple agents (for example, debugging while updating documentation elsewhere).
Claude Code on Desktop Tips for Developers
You can speed up development by running multiple Claude sessions at the same time. Use one for debugging, another for refactoring, and a third for updating documentation, each tied to its own branch, worktree, or feature, so nothing gets mixed. Keep your codebase organized with clear naming conventions for branches and worktrees, which helps Claude stay focused on the right context. When IDE extensions are available, use them for one-click session launches and to manage several tasks in parallel without losing track of progress.
For faster troubleshooting, paste errors, logs, or even large datasets directly into Claude, or stream them in from the terminal using commands (cat logs.txt | claude) for immediate analysis. Set up system notifications, especially on macOS, with tools like iTerm2, so you’re alerted the moment Claude needs clarification or human input. This keeps workflows smooth and prevents stalls during long or multi-step operations.
Real-World Advantages
- Handles sprawling enterprise codebases—up to 200,000 tokens of context—so it can reason about your whole application at once.
- Enables cross-project refactors and dependency management without breaking architecture or business logic.
- Reduces bugs with context-aware automated test creation and validation.
- Accelerates coding and code review cycles by up to tenfold, letting developers focus on high-value strategic work while Claude automates routine tasks and issue triage.
Who Should Use Claude Code on Desktop?
Claude Code on Desktop is designed for:
- Professional and enterprise developers juggling multiple codebases, branches, or projects.
- Teams seeking advanced agentic tooling for parallel jobs (like refactoring, bug triage, test suite generation).
- Individual devs who want to automate tedious coding chores, keep context across big projects, and leverage AI for deep code reasoning.
Comparison of Typical Developer Tasks with and without Claude Code on Desktop
The Bottom Line
Claude Code’s availability in the Claude Desktop app simply tightens the loop between development, analysis, and execution. With local multi-session workflows, fast log ingestion, and immediate feedback mechanisms, it removes friction from tasks that normally sprawl across tools. The result isn’t something that’s going to blow you away from its technical depth; it’s a cleaner, faster, more integrated way to work, and for teams already relying on Claude for code-heavy workflows, it’s an upgrade that will be felt immediately.