Get started with the desktop app changeddesktop-quickstart
Nearest release: v2.1.304, published under an hour after upstream edited the page. Shown because the two are within 24 hours of each other. Nothing here says the release caused the edit.
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 20 Oct 2026 18:37 UTC.
Upstream edited
Recorded here
Lines+51added
Lines−57removed
From line
4
where the diff opens
First seen
14 Aug 2026
this site's first read of the page
Recorded edits13to this page, all time
The whole hunk
from line 4, old and new numbered
/
from line 4
44
55The desktop app gives you Claude Code with a graphical interface, so you can ask Claude to work on the code in a folder on your computer and review its changes without using a terminal. This page walks through installing the app and starting your first session in the **Code** tab. Claude Code requires a [Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise subscription](https://claude.com/pricing?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs\&utm_content=desktop_quickstart_pricing).
66
7<CardGroup cols={3}>
8 <Card title="Download for macOS" icon="apple" href="https://claude.ai/api/desktop/darwin/universal/dmg/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code&utm_medium=docs">
9 Universal build for Intel and Apple Silicon
10 </Card>
7> **[Download for macOS](https://claude.ai/api/desktop/darwin/universal/dmg/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs)**
8>
9> Universal build for Intel and Apple Silicon
1110
12 <Card title="Download for Windows" icon="windows" href="https://claude.ai/api/desktop/win32/x64/setup/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code&utm_medium=docs">
13 For x64 processors
14 </Card>
11> **[Download for Windows](https://claude.ai/api/desktop/win32/x64/setup/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs)**
12>
13> For x64 processors
1514
16 <Card title="Get Claude for Linux (beta)" icon="linux" href="/docs/en/desktop-linux">
17 apt or .deb for Ubuntu and Debian
18 </Card>
19</CardGroup>
15> **[Get Claude for Linux (beta)](/docs/en/desktop-linux)**
16>
17> apt or .deb for Ubuntu and Debian
2018
2119For Windows ARM64, download the [ARM64 installer](https://claude.ai/api/desktop/win32/arm64/setup/latest/redirect?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs). On Linux, install with apt; see [Claude Desktop on Linux](/docs/en/desktop-linux).
2220
23<Note>
24 These cases are covered on other pages:
21> [!NOTE]
22>
23> These cases are covered on other pages:
24>
25> * **Already set up**: see [Use Claude Code Desktop](/docs/en/desktop) for everything the Code tab can do
26> * **Want `claude` in your terminal**: [install the CLI](/docs/en/quickstart) separately
2527
26 * **Already set up**: see [Use Claude Code Desktop](/docs/en/desktop) for everything the Code tab can do
27 * **Want `claude` in your terminal**: [install the CLI](/docs/en/quickstart) separately
28</Note>
29
3028The desktop app has three tabs:
3129
3230* **Chat**: General conversation with no file access, similar to claude.ai.
from line 35
3735
3836## Install
3937
40<Steps>
41 <Step title="Install and sign in">
42 On macOS and Windows, download the installer from the links above and run it. On Linux, follow the install steps in [Claude Desktop on Linux](/docs/en/desktop-linux). Launch Claude from your Applications folder on macOS, the Start menu on Windows, or your application launcher on Linux, then sign in with your Anthropic account.
43 </Step>
38**1. Install and sign in**
4439
45 <Step title="Open the Code tab">
46 Click the **Code** tab at the top center. If clicking Code prompts you to upgrade, you need to [subscribe to a paid plan](https://claude.com/pricing?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs\&utm_content=desktop_quickstart_upgrade) first. If it prompts you to sign in online, complete the sign-in and restart the app. If you see a 403 error, see [authentication troubleshooting](/docs/en/desktop#403-or-authentication-errors-in-the-code-tab).
47 </Step>
48</Steps>
40On macOS and Windows, download the installer from the links above and run it. On Linux, follow the install steps in [Claude Desktop on Linux](/docs/en/desktop-linux). Launch Claude from your Applications folder on macOS, the Start menu on Windows, or your application launcher on Linux, then sign in with your Anthropic account.
4941
42**2. Open the Code tab**
43
44Click the **Code** tab at the top center. If clicking Code prompts you to upgrade, you need to [subscribe to a paid plan](https://claude.com/pricing?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs\&utm_content=desktop_quickstart_upgrade) first. If it prompts you to sign in online, complete the sign-in and restart the app. If you see a 403 error, see [authentication troubleshooting](/docs/en/desktop#403-or-authentication-errors-in-the-code-tab).
45
5046The desktop app includes Claude Code, so you don't need to install Node.js or the CLI to use the Code tab.
5147
5248## Start your first session
from line 49
5349
5450With the Code tab open, choose a project and give Claude something to do.
5551
56<Steps>
57 <Step title="Choose an environment and folder">
58 In the [row under the prompt box](/docs/en/desktop#start-a-session), click the first control, the environment selector, and select the top entry in the **Local** group. Then click the project folder control beside the environment selector, select **Open folder…**, and choose your project's directory.
52**1. Choose an environment and folder**
5953
60 If no environment selector appears under your prompt box, you have the earlier layout. See [Check which layout you have](/docs/en/desktop#check-which-layout-you-have).
54In the [row under the prompt box](/docs/en/desktop#start-a-session), click the first control, the environment selector, and select the top entry in the **Local** group. Then click the project folder control beside the environment selector, select **Open folder…**, and choose your project's directory.
6155
62 <Tip>
63 Start with a small project you know well. It's the fastest way to see what Claude Code can do.
64 </Tip>
56If no environment selector appears under your prompt box, you have the earlier layout. See [Check which layout you have](/docs/en/desktop#check-which-layout-you-have).
6557
66 You can also select:
58> [!TIP]
59>
60> Start with a small project you know well. It's the fastest way to see what Claude Code can do.
6761
68 * **Cloud**: Run sessions in the cloud that continue even if you close the app. See [Use Claude Code in the cloud](/docs/en/claude-code-on-the-web) for how cloud sessions work.
69 * **SSH**: Connect to a remote machine over SSH, such as your own servers, cloud VMs, or dev containers. [Add a connection](/docs/en/desktop#ssh-sessions) first. Desktop installs Claude Code on the remote machine automatically the first time you connect. A running task can [keep going while Desktop is disconnected](/docs/en/desktop#keep-a-task-running-while-desktop-is-disconnected), but with a Claude account it can stop when its sign-in expires.
70 * **WSL** (Windows): Run the session inside a [WSL 2 distribution](/docs/en/desktop-wsl); Claude Code, tools, and git execute on the Linux side with native paths.
71 </Step>
62You can also select:
7263
73 <Step title="Choose a model">
74 Select a model from the model picker toward the right end of the row under the prompt box. See [models](/docs/en/model-config#available-models) for a comparison of the available models. You can change the model later from the model picker.
75 </Step>
64* **Cloud**: Run sessions in the cloud that continue even if you close the app. See [Use Claude Code in the cloud](/docs/en/claude-code-on-the-web) for how cloud sessions work.
65* **SSH**: Connect to a remote machine over SSH, such as your own servers, cloud VMs, or dev containers. [Add a connection](/docs/en/desktop#ssh-sessions) first. Desktop installs Claude Code on the remote machine automatically the first time you connect. A running task can [keep going while Desktop is disconnected](/docs/en/desktop#keep-a-task-running-while-desktop-is-disconnected), but with a Claude account it can stop when its sign-in expires.
66* **WSL** (Windows): Run the session inside a [WSL 2 distribution](/docs/en/desktop-wsl); Claude Code, tools, and git execute on the Linux side with native paths.
7667
77 <Step title="Tell Claude what to do">
78 Type what you want Claude to do:
68**2. Choose a model**
7969
80 * `Find a TODO comment and fix it`
81 * `Add tests for the main function`
82 * `Create a CLAUDE.md with instructions for this codebase`
70Select a model from the model picker toward the right end of the row under the prompt box. See [models](/docs/en/model-config#available-models) for a comparison of the available models. You can change the model later from the model picker.
8371
84 A [session](/docs/en/desktop#work-in-parallel-with-sessions) is a conversation with Claude about your code. Each session tracks its own context and changes.
85 </Step>
72**3. Tell Claude what to do**
8673
87 <Step title="Review and accept changes">
88 Check your [permission mode](/docs/en/desktop#choose-a-permission-mode) in the row under the prompt box to see whether Claude waits for your approval:
74Type what you want Claude to do:
8975
90 * **Auto or Accept edits**: Claude applies its file changes, and an indicator such as `+12 -1` appears so you can review them in the diff view
91 * **Manual**: Claude proposes each change and waits for your approval before applying it
76* `Find a TODO comment and fix it`
77* `Add tests for the main function`
78* `Create a CLAUDE.md with instructions for this codebase`
9279
93 In Manual mode, you'll see:
80A [session](/docs/en/desktop#work-in-parallel-with-sessions) is a conversation with Claude about your code. Each session tracks its own context and changes.
9481
95 1. A [diff view](/docs/en/desktop#review-changes-with-diff-view) showing exactly what will change in each file
96 2. Accept/Reject buttons to approve or decline each change
97 3. Real-time updates as Claude works through your request
98 </Step>
99</Steps>
82**4. Review and accept changes**
83
84Check your [permission mode](/docs/en/desktop#choose-a-permission-mode) in the row under the prompt box to see whether Claude waits for your approval:
85
86* **Auto or Accept edits**: Claude applies its file changes, and an indicator such as `+12 -1` appears so you can review them in the diff view
87* **Manual**: Claude proposes each change and waits for your approval before applying it
88
89In Manual mode, you'll see:
90
911. A [diff view](/docs/en/desktop#review-changes-with-diff-view) showing exactly what will change in each file
922. Accept/Reject buttons to approve or decline each change
933. Real-time updates as Claude works through your request
10094
10195## Now what?
10296
No line in this hunk matches that.