Control Claude Code from your Phone using Telegram

2025-04-17 · Source: unwind ai · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Software Development & Engineering, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Intermediate, medium

Summary

Claude Code now offers "Claude Code Channels," a new feature enabling users to control their running Claude Code sessions directly from Telegram or Discord. This two-way bridge, built on MCP, allows users to send messages from their phone, which the MCP server pushes to the active session, with Claude processing the work in the local environment and replying via the same chat. The feature, currently in research preview (requiring Claude Code v2.1.80+), includes official plugins for both platforms and supports community-built connectors. Key highlights include Claude's ability to reply, react, edit messages, and fetch channel history, a quick setup process, built-in access control via sender allowlists, and an extensible open protocol for custom channel plugins.

Key takeaway

For AI Engineers and developers managing Claude Code environments, integrating "Claude Code Channels" allows for seamless remote control and interaction with active coding sessions via Telegram or Discord. This capability enhances workflow flexibility, enabling you to monitor and steer AI agents from your mobile device, reducing reliance on a local machine. Consider implementing this feature to improve your team's responsiveness and operational efficiency.

Key insights

Claude Code Channels enable remote control of AI coding sessions via messaging apps like Telegram and Discord.

Principles

• Two-way communication enhances agent utility.
• Open protocols foster platform extensibility.

Method

Utilize MCP as a two-way bridge, sending mobile messages to an active Claude Code session for execution, with replies routed back to the chat platform.

In practice

• Control Claude Code sessions from Telegram.
• Develop custom channel plugins for other platforms.

Topics

• Claude Code Channels
• Autonomous AI Agents
• AI-powered Software Engineering
• LLM Skill Optimization
• AI Design Tools

Code references

• langchain-ai/open-swe
• pingdotgg/t3code
• Shubhamsaboo/awesome-llm-apps

Best for: AI Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Software Engineer

Related on AIssential

• I hated making this video... — Claude Code innovates AI agent interaction and capability through script execution, modular configuration, and parallel processing.
• Anthropic just shipped an OpenClaw killer called Claude Code Channels, letting you message it over Telegram and Discord — Anthropic's Claude Code Channels offers asynchronous AI agent interaction via messaging apps, challenging open-source alternatives.
• This Claude Code Feature Is A Huge Improvement — Claude Code's new remote control feature enables mobile approval for terminal commands, improving workflow continuity.
• Claude Code + OpenRouter = Free UNLIMITED AI Coding (No Local Setup) — Open Router enables free, cloud-powered AI model inference within Claude Code, overcoming local hardware limitations.
• Is Claude Dispatch the End of OpenClaw? — Claude Dispatch enables remote, agentic AI task execution on a desktop computer via a mobile phone.
• Claude Tag embeds Anthropic's AI in Slack, already writes 65 percent of internal code, company says — Claude Tag integrates Anthropic's AI into Slack, automating tasks and code generation with channel-specific memory and access controls.

Open in AIssential →

Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by unwind ai.