> ## Documentation Index¶
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://code.claude.com/docs/llms.txt¶
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.¶
¶
# Claude Code on desktop¶
¶
> Run Claude Code tasks locally or on secure cloud infrastructure with the Claude desktop app¶
¶
<img src="https://mintcdn.com/claude-code/zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw/images/desktop-interface.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw&q=85&s=c4e9dc9737b437d36ab253b75a1cc595" alt="Claude Code on desktop interface" data-og-width="4132" width="4132" data-og-height="2620" height="2620" data-path="images/desktop-interface.png" data-optimize="true" data-opv="3" srcset="https://mintcdn.com/claude-code/zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw/images/desktop-interface.png?w=280&fit=max&auto=format&n=zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw&q=85&s=b1a8421a544c3e8c78679fa1a7b56190 280w, https://mintcdn.com/claude-code/zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw/images/desktop-interface.png?w=560&fit=max&auto=format&n=zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw&q=85&s=79cf4ea0923098cc429198678ea50903 560w, https://mintcdn.com/claude-code/zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw/images/desktop-interface.png?w=840&fit=max&auto=format&n=zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw&q=85&s=14bcbcd569d179770fe656686ffbf6bf 840w, https://mintcdn.com/claude-code/zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw/images/desktop-interface.png?w=1100&fit=max&auto=format&n=zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw&q=85&s=b873274db1e9ff8585ba545032aa24a5 1100w, https://mintcdn.com/claude-code/zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw/images/desktop-interface.png?w=1650&fit=max&auto=format&n=zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw&q=85&s=25553dced783c3a8c2a1134a53295f7e 1650w, https://mintcdn.com/claude-code/zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw/images/desktop-interface.png?w=2500&fit=max&auto=format&n=zEGbGSbinVtT3BLw&q=85&s=9ad49e6468c2f87b1895093deeea7bb2 2500w" />¶
¶
## Claude Code on desktop (Preview)¶
¶
The Claude desktop app provides a native interface for running multiple Claude Code sessions on your local machine and seamless integration with Claude Code on the web.¶
¶
## Installation¶
¶
Download the Claude desktop app for your platform:¶
¶
<CardGroup cols={2}>¶
<Card title="macOS" icon="apple" href="https://claude.ai/api/desktop/darwin/universal/dmg/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code&utm_medium=docs">¶
Universal build for Intel and Apple Silicon¶
</Card>¶
¶
<Card title="Windows" icon="windows" href="https://claude.ai/api/desktop/win32/x64/exe/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code&utm_medium=docs">¶
For x64 processors¶
</Card>¶
</CardGroup>¶
¶
For Windows ARM64, [download here](https://claude.ai/api/desktop/win32/arm64/exe/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs).¶
¶
<Note>¶
Local sessions are not available on Windows ARM64.¶
</Note>¶
¶
## Features¶
¶
Claude Code on desktop provides:¶
¶
* **Diff view**: Review Claude's changes file by file before creating a pull request, and comment on specific lines to iterate further¶
* **Parallel local sessions with `git` worktrees**: Run multiple Claude Code sessions simultaneously in the same repository, each with its own isolated `git` worktree¶
* **Include files listed in your `.gitignore` in your worktrees**: Automatically copy files in your `.gitignore`, like `.env`, to new worktrees using `.worktreeinclude`¶
* **Launch Claude Code on the web**: Kick off secure cloud sessions directly from the desktop app¶
¶
## Review changes with diff view¶
¶
After Claude makes changes to your code, the diff view lets you review modifications file by file before creating a pull request.¶
¶
When Claude makes changes to files, a diff stats indicator appears showing the number of lines added and removed (for example, `+12 -1`). Click this indicator to open the diff viewer, which displays a file list on the left and the changes for each file on the right.¶
¶
### Comment on specific lines¶
¶
Click on any line in the diff to open a comment box. Type your feedback and press **Enter** to send. In the full diff view, press **Enter** to accept each comment, then **Cmd+Enter** to send them all. Claude reads your comments and makes the requested changes, which appear as a new diff you can review.¶
¶
## Using Git worktrees¶
¶
Claude Code on desktop enables running multiple Claude Code sessions in the same repository using Git worktrees. Each session gets its own isolated worktree, allowing Claude to work on different tasks without conflicts. The default location for worktrees is `~/.claude-worktrees` but this can be configured in your settings on the Claude desktop app.¶
¶
<Note>¶
If you start a local session in a folder that does not have Git initialized, the desktop app will not create a new worktree.¶
</Note>¶
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### Copying files ignored with `.gitignore`¶
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When Claude Code creates a worktree, files ignored via `.gitignore` aren't automatically available. Including a `.worktreeinclude` file solves this by specifying which ignored files should be copied to new worktrees.¶
¶
Create a `.worktreeinclude` file in your repository root:¶
¶
```¶
.env¶
.env.local¶
.env.*¶
**/.claude/settings.local.json¶
```¶
¶
The file uses `.gitignore`-style patterns. When a worktree is created, files matching these patterns that are also in your `.gitignore` will be copied from your main repository to the worktree.¶
¶
<Tip>¶
Only files that are both matched by `.worktreeinclude` AND listed in `.gitignore` are copied. This prevents accidentally duplicating tracked files.¶
</Tip>¶
¶
### Launch Claude Code on the web¶
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From the desktop app, you can kick off Claude Code sessions that run on Anthropic's secure cloud infrastructure.¶
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To start a web session from desktop, select a remote environment when creating a new session.¶
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For more details, see [Claude Code on the web](/en/claude-code-on-the-web).¶
¶
## Bundled Claude Code version¶
¶
Claude Code on desktop includes a bundled, stable version of Claude Code to ensure a consistent experience for all desktop users. The bundled version is required and downloaded on first launch even if a version of Claude Code exists on the computer. Desktop automatically manages version updates and cleans up old versions.¶
¶
<Note>¶
The bundled Claude Code version in Desktop may differ from the latest CLI version. Desktop prioritizes stability while the CLI may have newer features.¶
</Note>¶
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## Environment configuration¶
¶
For local environments, Claude Code on desktop automatically extracts your `$PATH` environment variable from your shell configuration. This allows local sessions to access development tools like `yarn`, `npm`, `node`, and other commands available in your terminal without additional setup.¶
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### Custom environment variables¶
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Select "Local" environment, then to the right, select the settings button. This will open a dialog where you can update local environment variables. This is useful for setting project-specific variables or API keys that your development workflows require. Environment variable values are masked in the UI for security reasons.¶
¶
<Note>¶
Environment variables must be specified as key-value pairs, in [`.env` format](https://www.dotenv.org/). For example:¶
¶
```¶
API_KEY=your_api_key¶
DEBUG=true¶
¶
# Multiline values - wrap in quotes¶
CERT="-----BEGIN CERT-----¶
MIIE...¶
-----END CERT-----"¶
```¶
</Note>¶
¶
## Enterprise configuration¶
¶
Organizations can disable local Claude Code use in the desktop application with the `isClaudeCodeForDesktopEnabled` [enterprise policy option](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12622667-enterprise-configuration#h_003283c7cb). Additionally, Claude Code on the web can be disabled in your [admin settings](https://claude.ai/admin-settings/claude-code).¶
¶
## Related resources¶
¶
* [Claude Code on the web](/en/claude-code-on-the-web)¶
* [Claude Desktop support articles](https://support.claude.com/en/collections/16163169-claude-desktop)¶
* [Enterprise Configuration](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12622667-enterprise-configuration)¶
* [Common workflows](/en/common-workflows)¶
* [Settings reference](/en/settings)¶
¶
¶
---¶
¶
> To find navigation and other pages in this documentation, fetch the llms.txt file at: https://code.claude.com/docs/llms.txt