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Claude Code Adds claude --desktop to Open the Desktop App on Your Project

Claude CodeView original changelog

Claude Code 2.1.285 added claude --desktop, which opens the Claude desktop app on the current directory. Combined with --continue or --resume <id>, it opens the desktop app on an existing session instead.

Key Takeaways

  • claude --desktop opens the Claude desktop app on the current directory.
  • It works with --continue to reopen the latest session.
  • It also works with --resume <id> to open a specific session.
  • The flag gives a direct terminal-to-desktop handoff without manual navigation.
  • It fits Anthropic's push to keep terminal, desktop and web sessions interchangeable.
  • The change ships in Claude Code 2.1.285.

Jumping from the terminal to the desktop app

Claude Code 2.1.285 adds a --desktop flag to the CLI. Running claude --desktop opens the Claude desktop app on the current directory, so a project started in the terminal can be continued in the graphical app without navigating to it manually.

Continuing an existing session

The flag also works with session resumption. claude --desktop --continue reopens the most recent session in the desktop app, and claude --desktop --resume <id> opens a specific session. This makes it easier to hand a long-running terminal session over to the desktop experience.