Claude Code Desktop Version Major Update: Multi-tasking, Drag-and-Drop Layout, Three Display Modes + New Shortcuts, Designed for Developers

Anthropic officially releases the new design of Claude Code desktop version, shifting the core from “single conversation” to “multi-agent parallel” work mode. The new version adds a sidebar for unified management of multiple work sessions, Side Chat branching conversations, built-in terminal and Diff Viewer, and supports drag-and-drop layout configuration, suitable for Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise, and API users.
(Background: Claude Code adds cloud scheduled tasks! No need to turn on the computer, AI automatically reviews PRs and upgrades)
(Additional background: Claude Code launches Monitor tool: background listening replaces polling, greatly reducing token consumption)

Table of Contents

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• New Sidebar: Manage Multiple Sessions at a Glance
• Side Chat: Ask Questions Mid-Task Without Disrupting Main Thread
• Built-in Tools: Terminal, Diff Viewer, HTML and PDF Previews
• CLI Plugin Sync, SSH Extension for Mac
• Three Display Modes, New Shortcuts, Usage Overview
• Agentic Coding Changes Development Pace
• Scope of Use and How to Get It Now

Anthropos announced a major update to Claude Code desktop version this morning (15th), clearly declaring a new work mode for agentic coding: developers can start multiple tasks simultaneously, switch between different repos, monitor execution progress, and intervene to correct when results appear. The official describes this as “sitting in the commander’s seat.”

New Sidebar: Manage Multiple Sessions at a Glance

A significant change in this update is the addition of a left sidebar, which consolidates all ongoing and recent sessions. Developers can launch tasks across multiple repos and switch views at any time as results are returned.

The sidebar supports filtering by status, project, or execution environment, and can group sessions by project for quick access and to continue interrupted work. When a session’s associated PR is merged or closed, that session is automatically archived, keeping the sidebar focused on active tasks.

Side Chat: Ask Questions Mid-Task Without Disrupting Main Thread

When developers need to ask Claude a question during a task, the new version offers the “Side Chat” feature (shortcut ⌘ + ; or Ctrl + ;). Side Chat can pull context from the main thread but will not write any responses back to it. The official explains this design as “to prevent temporary questions from misleading the main task’s direction.”

Built-in Tools: Terminal, Diff Viewer, HTML and PDF Previews

Previously, developers often had to switch back to their editor or terminal to verify results when using Claude Code. This update integrates commonly used tools directly into the desktop app, including an integrated terminal and file editor, real-time HTML and PDF previews, and a faster Diff Viewer.

Each panel supports drag-and-drop configuration, allowing developers to freely arrange the layout of terminal, preview windows, Diff Viewer, and chat windows to create a workspace tailored to their workflow.

CLI Plugin Sync, SSH Extension for Mac

The desktop app now matches the functionality of CLI plugins. Whether it’s organizational plugins or locally installed plugins by developers, their operation within the desktop app is identical to that in the terminal.

SSH support has expanded from Linux to include Mac, enabling users to direct work sessions to remote machines directly from Mac or Linux desktop apps.

Three Display Modes, New Shortcuts, Usage Overview

The new version offers three interface display modes: Verbose (full display of Claude’s tool call process), Normal (default mode), and Summary (only show result summaries). Developers can adjust transparency according to their needs.

Multiple new shortcuts are added, covering session switching, creating new sessions, and navigation (press ⌘ + / or Ctrl + / to view the full list). A usage button is added to the top right of the interface, allowing instant viewing of current context window usage and the cumulative usage for the current session.

Agentic Coding Changes Development Pace

This update reflects a substantial shift in the agentic coding workflow over the past year. Developers’ daily routine is no longer just “input a prompt and wait for a complete response,” but involves starting multiple tasks simultaneously, monitoring execution, manually intervening when deviations occur, and reviewing diffs before submission.

Anthropos explicitly states this shift in the official announcement: “The nature of agentic work has changed. You now kick off a refactor, a bug fix, and a test writing task at the same time, confirm each as results come back, correct the course if deviations appear, and finally review the diff before submitting.”

On the same day, Anthropic also announced a new “Routines” feature for Claude Code, allowing developers to set scheduled or trigger-based automation tasks, executed on Claude Code’s cloud infrastructure, with connections to repos and various connectors, further enhancing automation workflows.

Scope of Use and How to Get It Now

The new desktop version is now officially available for Claude Code users subscribed to Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise plans, as well as developers using Claude API, with no additional application or waitlist required.