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Session
To start a session in the Claude Code Desktop app, open the Code tab
Configure four things in the prompt area before sending your first message:
- Environment — choose where Claude runs: Local (your machine), Remote (Anthropic-hosted cloud, keeps running even if you close the app), or an SSH connection for a remote machine you manage.
- Project folder — pick the folder or repository Claude will work in. For remote sessions, you can attach multiple repos.
- Model — pick from the dropdown next to the send button. Note: the model is locked once the session starts, so choose carefully.
- Permission mode — controls how much autonomy Claude has (Ask permissions, Auto accept edits, Plan mode, Auto, or Bypass). You can change this mid-session.
Then type your task and press Enter. That’s it — the session starts and tracks its own context and changes independently.
A couple of useful extras:
- Click + New session in the sidebar to run more sessions in parallel — Git repos automatically get isolated worktrees so the sessions don’t step on each other.
- The + button next to the prompt box gets you file attachments, skills, connectors, and plugins.
- You can interrupt Claude any time by clicking stop or just typing a correction and pressing Enter.
Source: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop
Want help picking a permission mode, or setting up your first SSH session?