Claude Code Desktop in WSL changeddesktop-wsl
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Upstream edited this page at 19 Oct 2026 19:44 UTC, give or take a minute or two: the time comes from Anthropic’s own sitemap rather than from a commit. This site recorded the change at 19 Oct 2026 20:07 UTC.
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### If the terminal or connectors are unavailable
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1717<Steps>
1818 <Step title="Pick a distribution">
19 Start a new session in the Code tab and open the environment picker. Your installed WSL 2 distributions appear in a **WSL** section. Pick one.
19 Start a new session in the Code tab and open the [environment selector](/docs/en/desktop#start-a-session) under the prompt box, or above it in the [earlier layout](/docs/en/desktop#check-which-layout-you-have). Your installed WSL 2 distributions appear under **WSL**. Pick one.
2020 </Step>
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2222 <Step title="Choose a folder">
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3131The first session in a distribution takes a little longer while Claude sets up inside it. You can also open a `\\wsl.localhost\...` folder from the normal folder picker, and it reopens inside that distribution.
3232
33Folders you've used recently appear in the picker per distribution, so reconnecting to a project is one click.
34
3533## What works in a WSL session
3634
3735Parallel sessions, side chats, visual diff review, branch and pull request status, and worktrees all work, backed by the git and toolchain inside the distribution. "Open in editor" opens VS Code connected to the distribution through [Remote - WSL](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/remote/wsl).
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39A few features aren't available in WSL sessions yet: the integrated terminal, connectors and plugins, session forking, the file browser pane, and file suggestions when you type `@` in the composer.
37If a Desktop feature is unavailable or limited in a WSL session, check whether it's one of these:
38
39* **Terminal and connectors**: your session may lack the [integrated terminal](/docs/en/desktop#run-commands-in-the-terminal), [connectors](/docs/en/desktop#connect-external-tools), or both. See [If the terminal or connectors are unavailable](#check-for-the-terminal-and-connectors).
40* **[Plugins](/docs/en/desktop#install-plugins)**: not available in WSL sessions
41* **File editing**: you can view files in the [file pane](/docs/en/desktop#open-and-edit-files) but can't edit them there, so ask Claude to make the changes
42* **Attachments**: if the **+** menu shows **Add image** in place of **Add files or photos**, you can attach only images. See [Add files and context to prompts](/docs/en/desktop#add-files-and-context-to-prompts).
43
44<a id="check-for-the-terminal-and-connectors" />
45
46### If the terminal or connectors are unavailable
47
48You can't turn on the integrated terminal or connectors for a WSL session yourself:
49
50* **Claude account**: the two features are rolling out separately. Select **Help > Check for Updates…**, and if a feature is still missing after you update, there's nothing to do.
51* **[Third-party provider](/docs/en/third-party-integrations)**: WSL sessions don't get the terminal or connectors, and updating Desktop doesn't change that
4052
4153## Managed devices
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