Claude Code on the web is in research preview for Pro, Max, and Team users, and for Enterprise users with premium seats or Chat + Claude Code seats.
- Parallel tasks: run several independent tasks at once, each in its own session and branch, without managing multiple worktrees
- Repos you don’t have locally: Claude clones the repo fresh every session, so you don’t need it checked out
- Tasks that don’t need frequent steering: submit a well-defined task, do something else, and review the result when Claude is done
- Code questions and exploration: understand a codebase or trace how a feature is implemented without a local checkout
How sessions run
When you submit a task:- Clone and prepare: your repository is cloned to an Anthropic-managed VM, and your setup script runs if configured.
- Configure network: internet access is set based on your environment’s access level.
- Work: Claude analyzes code, makes changes, runs tests, and checks its work. You can watch and steer throughout, or step away and come back when it’s done.
- Push the branch: when Claude reaches a stopping point, it pushes its branch to GitHub. You review the diff, leave inline comments, create a PR, or send another message to keep going.
Compare ways to run Claude Code
Claude Code behaves the same everywhere. What changes is where code executes and whether your local config is available. The Desktop app offers both local and cloud sessions, so its answers below depend on which you choose:| On the web | Remote Control | Terminal CLI | Desktop app | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code runs on | Anthropic cloud VM | Your machine | Your machine | Your machine or cloud VM |
| You chat from | claude.ai or mobile app | claude.ai or mobile app | Your terminal | The Desktop UI |
| Uses your local config | No, repo only | Yes | Yes | Yes for local, no for cloud |
| Requires GitHub | Yes, or bundle a local repo via --remote | No | No | Only for cloud sessions |
| Keeps running if you disconnect | Yes | While terminal stays open | No | Depends on session type |
| Permission modes | Auto accept edits, Plan | Ask, Auto accept edits, Plan | All modes | Depends on session type |
| Network access | Configurable per environment | Your machine’s network | Your machine’s network | Depends on session type |
Connect GitHub and create an environment
Setup is a one-time process. If you already use the GitHub CLI, you can do this from your terminal instead of the browser.Visit claude.ai/code
Go to claude.ai/code and sign in with your Anthropic account.
Install the Claude GitHub App
After signing in, claude.ai/code prompts you to connect GitHub. Follow the prompt to install the Claude GitHub App and grant it access to your repositories. Cloud sessions work with existing GitHub repositories, so to start a new project, create an empty repository on GitHub first.
Create your environment
After connecting GitHub, you’ll be prompted to create a cloud environment. The environment controls what network access Claude has during sessions and what runs when a new session is created. See Installed tools for what’s available without any configuration.The form has these fields:
- Name: a display label. Useful when you have multiple environments for different projects or access levels.
- Network access: controls what the session can reach on the internet. The default,
Trusted, allows connections to common package registries like npm, PyPI, and RubyGems while blocking general internet access. - Environment variables: optional variables available in every session, in
.envformat. Don’t wrap values in quotes, since quotes are stored as part of the value. These are visible to anyone who can edit this environment. - Setup script: an optional Bash script that runs before Claude Code launches when a new session is created. Use it to install system tools the cloud VM doesn’t include, like
apt install -y gh, or to start services your project needs. See Setup scripts for examples and debugging tips.
Connect from your terminal
If you already use the GitHub CLI (gh), you can set up Claude Code on the web without opening a browser. This requires the Claude Code CLI. /web-setup reads your local gh token, links it to your Claude account, and creates a default cloud environment if you don’t have one.
Organizations with Zero Data Retention enabled cannot use
/web-setup or other cloud session features. If the GitHub CLI isn’t installed or authenticated, /web-setup opens the browser onboarding flow instead.Sign in to Claude
In the Claude Code CLI, run
/login to sign in with your claude.ai account. Skip this step if you’re already signed in.Run /web-setup
In the Claude Code CLI, run:This syncs your
gh token to your Claude account. If you don’t have a cloud environment yet, /web-setup creates one with Trusted network access and no setup script. You can edit the environment or add variables afterward. Once /web-setup completes, you can start cloud sessions from your terminal with --remote or set up recurring tasks with /schedule.Start a task
With GitHub connected and an environment created, you’re ready to submit tasks.Select a repository and branch
From claude.ai/code or the Code tab in the Claude mobile app, click the repository selector below the input box and choose a repository for Claude to work in. Each repository shows a branch selector. Change it to start Claude from a feature branch instead of the default. You can add multiple repositories to work across them in one session.
Choose a permission mode
The mode dropdown next to the input defaults to Auto accept edits, where Claude makes changes and pushes a branch without stopping for approval. Switch to Plan mode if you want Claude to propose an approach and wait for your go-ahead before editing files. Cloud sessions don’t offer Ask permissions, Auto mode, or Bypass permissions. See Permission modes for the full list.
Describe the task and submit
Type a description of what you want and press Enter. Be specific:
- Name the file or function: “Add a README with setup instructions” or “Fix the failing auth test in
tests/test_auth.py” is better than “fix tests” - Paste error output if you have it
- Describe the expected behavior, not just the symptom
Review and iterate
When Claude finishes, review the changes, leave feedback on specific lines, and keep going until the diff looks right.Open the diff view
A diff indicator shows lines added and removed across the session, for example
+42 -18. Select it to open the diff view, with a file list on the left and changes on the right.Leave inline comments
Select any line in the diff, type your feedback, and press Enter. Comments queue up until you send your next message, then they’re bundled with it. Claude sees “at
src/auth.ts:47, don’t catch the error here” alongside your main instruction, so you don’t have to describe where the problem is.Create a pull request
When the diff looks right, select Create PR at the top of the diff view. You can open it as a full PR, a draft, or jump to GitHub’s compose page with a generated title and description.
Keep iterating after the PR
The session stays live after the PR is created. Paste CI failure output or reviewer comments into the chat and ask Claude to address them. To have Claude monitor the PR automatically, see Auto-fix pull requests.
Troubleshoot setup
No repositories appear after connecting GitHub
The Claude GitHub App needs explicit access to each repository you want to use. On github.com, open Settings → Applications → Claude → Configure and verify your repo is listed under Repository access. Private repositories need the same authorization as public ones.The page only shows a GitHub login button
Cloud sessions require a connected GitHub account. Connect via the browser flow above, or run/web-setup from your terminal if you use the GitHub CLI. If you’d rather not connect GitHub at all, see Remote Control to run Claude Code on your own machine and monitor it from the web.
”Not available for the selected organization”
Enterprise organizations may need an admin to enable Claude Code on the web. Contact your Anthropic account team./web-setup returns “Unknown command”
/web-setup runs inside the Claude Code CLI, not your shell. Launch claude first, then type /web-setup at the prompt.
If you typed it inside Claude Code and still see the error, your CLI is older than v2.1.80 or you’re authenticated with an API key or third-party provider instead of a claude.ai subscription. Run claude update, then /login to sign in with your claude.ai account.
”No cloud environment available” when using --remote
You haven’t created a cloud environment yet. Run /web-setup in the Claude Code CLI to create one, or visit claude.ai/code and follow the Create your environment step above.
Setup script failed
The setup script exited with a non-zero status, which blocks the session from starting. Common causes:- A package install failed because the registry isn’t in your network access level.
Trustedcovers most package managers;Noneblocks them all. - The script references a file or path that doesn’t exist in a fresh clone.
- A command that works locally needs a different invocation on Ubuntu.
set -x at the top of the script to see which command failed. For non-critical commands, append || true so they don’t block session start.
Session keeps running after closing the tab
This is by design. Closing the tab or navigating away doesn’t stop the session. It continues running in the background until Claude finishes the current task, then idles. From the sidebar, you can archive a session to hide it from your list, or delete it to remove it permanently.Next steps
Now that you can submit and review tasks, these pages cover what comes next: starting cloud sessions from your terminal, scheduling recurring work, and giving Claude standing instructions.- Use Claude Code on the web: the full reference, including teleporting sessions to your terminal, setup scripts, environment variables, and network config
- Schedule tasks on the web: automate recurring work like daily PR reviews and dependency audits
- CLAUDE.md: give Claude persistent instructions and context that load at the start of every session
- Install the Claude mobile app for iOS or Android to monitor sessions from your phone. From the Claude Code CLI,
/mobileshows a QR code.