Claude Code v2.1.285 · 29 Sep 2026
New --desktop flag, and background commands now accept options in front of them
--desktop
Use it now Tier: how much it should matter to you
5 Useful: my rating, 1 to 5
2 Signal: worth watching, 1 to 5
Desktop App Area: what it touches
New Features Kind: in v2.1.285, 29 Sep 26
What probably matters to you Section of the release
What
A flag is an option you add to the claude command. The new --desktop
The background commands logs attach stop kill, respawn rm used to be recognized only as the first word after claude. They are now also recognized after general options, as in claude --settings x logs. Any --settings --managed-settings given before them is applied first.
Why
You can put general options before background commands, and those settings take effect. The clear errors keep --desktop
How sure we are
Two sources agree Two things we can check say the same as this entry.
Anthropic's release notes agree Added claude --desktop to open the Claude desktop app on the current directory, or on a session with --continue / --resume <id>
The name it cites is new in this build New in this build: --desktop
See this entry in the whole of v2.1.285 →
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Names in this entry
cli --desktop --desktop opens the Claude Desktop app and now errors when combined with background or worktree options
cli --bg Start the session as a background agent and return immediately. Prints the session ID and management commands. Combine with --exec to run a shell command as a background job instead of a Claude session, or with --agent to run a specific subagent. Checks workspace trust for the directory before it starts. Can't be combined with -p/--print; see the error reference
cli --background Start the session as a background agent and return immediately. Prints the session ID and management commands. Combine with --exec to run a shell command as a background job instead of a Claude session, or with --agent to run a specific subagent. Checks workspace trust for the directory before it starts. Can't be combined with -p/--print; see the error reference
cli --worktree Start Claude in an isolated git worktree at <repo>/.claude/worktrees/<name>. If you don't give a name, Claude Code generates one. Pass #<number>, a GitHub pull request URL, or a GitLab merge request URL to fetch that PR or MR from origin and branch the worktree from it . Branching from a GitLab merge request requires Claude Code v2.1.233 or later
cli --tmux Create a tmux session for the worktree. Requires --worktree. Uses iTerm2 native panes when available; pass --tmux=classic for traditional tmux
cli logs Memory recall no longer feeds a session its own transcript notes back to itself.
cli attach Attaching to a background session now times how long it takes to paint and reach an idle prompt.
cli stop When claude rm is blocked, it names the session holding the directory and how to stop it.
cli respawn Reopening a cleaned-up background session now points you at claude rm and claude respawn.
cli --settings Path to a settings JSON file or an inline JSON string. Values you set here override the same keys in your settings.json files for this session. Keys you omit keep their file-based values. The file must be a regular file no larger than 2 MiB. See settings precedence
Anthropic's note
Upstream's own release notes for v2.1.285 name something this entry names, so the two are probably about the same change. Probably: the pairing is made on a shared name rather than on the words around it.
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What's wrong with this entry?
Hard to understand Too vague Looks wrong Not relevant to me Too long Missing the detail I wanted Duplicate of another card
Clear Learned something new I can act on this Good catch
Related
Other releases about the same thing. Found by shared names or similar wording; neither means one caused the other.
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