Claude Code /desktop: Continue Terminal Work in the Desktop App

After working in the terminal (the black command-input window) with Claude Code for a while, the screen gets dense and your eyes get tired. There are times you think, "I'd like to continue somewhere easier to look at." /desktop is a command that hands the work you're doing right now over to the desktop app to continue.

Definition (what it is)

/desktop is a command that lets you continue your in-progress work in the desktop app (a dedicated Claude PC program). There's also an alias (a different name for the same feature), /app.

It works when you're subscribed on macOS and Windows. Because the work carries over to the app intact without disappearing, you can keep doing what you were doing just by switching the environment.

How to use it (by difficulty)

Basic — hand off to the app

/desktop

Entering this continues your current work in the desktop app. You can also enter it using the alias as below and it works the same.

/app

Common pitfalls (only when applicable)

• The desktop app must be installed for the handoff to work. If you don't have the app, install it first.
• This feature works in a macOS/Windows subscription environment. If your environment differs, it may not work.

Real-world example

When terminal work drags on and the screen feels cramped, enter /desktop to move to the app. You can continue the same conversation on a wider, more comfortable screen, which is especially handy when wrapping up long tasks.

Taking it further

The key point is that you can change your work environment to fit the situation. When quickly typing commands, work in the terminal; when slowly reviewing results or continuing a long task, work in the app — pick whichever is more comfortable at the moment.

Summary

/desktop (alias /app) is a command that lets you continue work you were doing in the terminal in the desktop app intact. When the screen feels overwhelming or you want to work in a more comfortable environment, one line does it.

Based on Claude Code v2.1.154 (2026.05)