Claude Code Remote Access

Product Introduction

1. Definition: Claude Code Remote Access is a local session continuation technology enabling developers to securely access and control an active Claude Code session running on their primary machine (desktop/laptop) from any secondary device (phone, tablet, browser on another computer). It falls under the technical category of local development environment remote access solutions.
2. Core Value Proposition: It exists to eliminate workflow disruption by allowing developers to seamlessly transition local Claude Code sessions between devices without migrating the execution environment to the cloud. Its primary value is maintaining uninterrupted access to the full local development context (filesystem, MCP servers, tools, project config) remotely.

Main Features

1. Local Session Persistence: The core Claude Code process continues running entirely on the user's local machine. Secondary devices act purely as remote control interfaces, streaming input/output via the Anthropic API. No code execution, tool access, or filesystem operations occur on the remote device; everything leverages the local development environment.
2. Bi-Directional Session Sync: Real-time synchronization ensures the conversation state, tool outputs, and context are identical across all connected devices (local terminal, remote browser, mobile app). Users can interchangeably send messages or commands from any endpoint, maintaining a unified workflow.
3. Automatic Session Reconnection: Engineered to handle network instability or device sleep. If the local machine loses connectivity or sleeps, the Remote Control session automatically re-establishes the connection once the machine is back online and reachable, preserving session state without manual restart.
4. Secure Outbound-Only Connectivity: Utilizes outbound HTTPS connections exclusively from the local machine to the Anthropic API. It never requires opening inbound firewall ports on the user's local network, enhancing security. All communication is encrypted via TLS (Transport Layer Security) using short-lived, scoped credentials.
5. QR Code & URL Access: Generates a unique session URL and scannable QR code directly in the terminal (claude remote-control or /remote-control command) for rapid connection initiation from mobile devices (via Claude app) or any browser (via claude.ai/code).

Problems Solved

1. Pain Point: Workflow interruption due to device switching. Developers often start complex tasks locally but need to move locations or use a different device, forcing them to abandon context or set up environments repeatedly.
2. Target Audience: Local Development-Focused Engineers & Data Scientists: Developers deeply embedded in local workflows using Claude Code for coding assistance, debugging, or tool interaction (e.g., Python devs, React engineers, ML researchers). Mobile Professionals: Users needing brief context access away from their desk without full setup (e.g., reviewing outputs, sending quick follow-ups).
3. Use Cases: Continuing local debugging sessions from a tablet on the couch; reviewing complex tool outputs generated locally on a phone during a commute; responding to Claude Code prompts from a meeting room computer without interrupting the local process; maintaining access to local-only resources (databases, internal APIs, specific configs) remotely.

Unique Advantages

1. Differentiation: Unlike Claude Code on the web (cloud-executed, no local access) or traditional remote desktop/VNC (high bandwidth, full screen sharing, less efficient), Remote Control provides lightweight, context-specific access solely to the Claude Code session while leveraging the full power and security of the local environment. Competitors lack this deep local integration with a conversational AI dev tool.
2. Key Innovation: The agent-based architecture where the local Claude Code instance acts as a persistent agent, maintaining state and environment access, while securely brokering bidirectional message streaming via Anthropic's infrastructure without cloud execution or data residency shift. The outbound-only connection model enhances security without complex user network configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is Claude Code Remote Access secure for sensitive code? Yes. Session execution and data remain entirely on your local machine. Communication uses TLS encryption with short-lived credentials. No inbound ports are opened, minimizing attack surface compared to traditional remote access tools.
2. What subscriptions support Claude Remote Control? Currently, Remote Control is available only on Max plans as a research preview. Support for Pro plans is coming soon. It is not available on Free, Team, or Enterprise plans. API keys cannot be used.
3. Does Remote Control work if my laptop sleeps or loses internet? Yes, it features automatic reconnection. If your laptop sleeps or has a temporary network drop (under ~10 minutes), the session will reconnect automatically when the machine wakes up and regains connectivity. Prolonged outages (>10 mins) require restarting claude remote-control.
4. Can I run Claude Code Remote Access alongside cloud sessions? Absolutely. Remote Control synchronizes a local session. You can simultaneously run separate, independent Claude Code on the web sessions in the cloud for different tasks, leveraging both deployment models concurrently.
5. How is Remote Control different from Claude Code on the web? The critical difference is execution location and environment access. Remote Control runs locally on your machine, providing full access to your local files, tools, and servers. Claude Code on the web runs in Anthropic's cloud, ideal for quick tasks without local setup but lacking your specific local context.