Open Claude Desktop with a link (original) (raw)

Claude for macOS and Windows respond to the claude:// URL scheme, much like a browser responds to the https:// scheme. You can use these links from a website, a script, or another app to open Claude Desktop and jump straight to a chat, a Cowork session, or a Code session.

This article lists the link formats Claude Desktop supports and the parameters each one accepts.

How deep links work

When your operating system opens a claude:// URL, it hands the URL to Claude. If the app isn't running, both macOS and Windows will launch it first. Claude then reads the path and query parameters and navigates to the right place inside the app.

All parameter values must be URL-encoded. Prompt text passed in q is truncated to roughly 14,000 characters.

Start a new chat

Opens a new chat in Claude Desktop. If you include q, the prompt field is prefilled with that text so you can review and send it.

Open an existing chat or project

Opens a specific chat or project by its ID. The ID is the UUID you see at the end of the chat or project URL in Claude. If the ID is missing or invalid, Claude opens your recent chats or your projects list instead.

Start a Claude Code session

Opens Claude Code in Claude Desktop with the composer prefilled. Use this for "Open in Claude Code" buttons in your own tools.

Start a Claude Cowork session

Opens a new Cowork session with the composer prefilled. Use this for "Open in Claude Cowork" buttons in your own tools.

Test a deep link

On macOS

Open Terminal and run:

On Windows

Open Command Prompt and run:

Install Claude Desktop Deploy Claude Desktop for macOS Enterprise configuration for Claude Desktop Claude Cowork desktop architecture overview Open the Claude mobile app with a link