Each feature lets you interact with Claude from somewhere other than where it's running. Here's what they are, what they connect to, and when to use which.
First: Claude Code vs. Cowork
Before the remote features make sense, you need to understand the two products they connect to. Both are powerful — the difference is access level and safety model, not what kind of work you can do.
Claude Code
Terminal · IDE (VS Code, Cursor) · Claude Desktop app (Code tab)
Direct access to your system. Reads your files, runs terminal commands, manages git, connects to MCP tools. Maximum capability — you manage the guardrails.
Full system access
Terminal + filesystem + git
You control permissions
More powerful, more risk
Cowork
Claude Desktop app (Cowork tab)
Runs in a sandboxed virtual machine. Can open and use your desktop apps via Computer Use and connectors. Safer by default — Anthropic manages the guardrails. Uses more tokens due to screenshot processing.
Sandboxed environment
Desktop app interaction
Anthropic controls guardrails
Safer, higher token cost
Both can do the same kinds of work— coding, writing, research, analysis, business tasks. They share the same underlying engine. The difference is how much direct system access you want and who's managing the safety boundaries.
Claude Code
Channels & Remote Control
Two ways to reach your Claude Code session from a phone or another device
💬 Channels
Connect to Claude Code via Telegram. Message your Claude bot from your phone — it talks directly to your Claude Code session, so you get the same capabilities you'd have in the terminal.
How it starts
Claude Code must be running on your computer with the Telegram MCP server configured (ask Claude Code to find and install it for you). Your computer needs to stay on. To start, run:
claude --mcp-config telegram-config.json
How it connects
You — sending a message in Telegram
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message via Telegram Bot API
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Your Claude Bot (MCP server)
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MCP protocol
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Claude Code — running on your computer
Claude Code can access everything it normally does:Your filesTerminalGitMCP toolsCodebase
What it does
Message Claude Code from Telegram — no new app needed
No message history or search (Telegram Bot API limitation)
Stops when Claude Code shuts down or exits
Your computer must be on and Claude Code must be running
🖥️ Remote Control
Control your Claude Code session from any device. Start it on your computer, then pick it up from the Claude mobile app with full Claude Code capabilities.
How it starts
Must start on your computer. Run /remote-control in your terminal or IDE. You cannot start a Remote Control session from the mobile app — it has to be initiated locally first. Also: if you use Claude Code through the Claude Desktop app, you cannot use this command.
How it connects
You — on the Claude mobile app
↕
encrypted via Anthropic API relay
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Anthropic servers (message relay only)
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outbound HTTPS polling
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Claude Code — running in your terminal / IDE
Everything runs locally. Claude Code can access all the same things:Your filesTerminalGitMCP toolsCodebase
What it does
Full Claude Code from your phone — code, debug, deploy, use all tools
Everything runs locally; only chat messages pass through Anthropic
No inbound ports opened — your machine only makes outbound connections
Limitations
Cannot start from the mobile app — must be started on your computer in a terminal or IDE
Cannot be used from the Claude Desktop app — terminal or IDE only
No message history or search
One remote connection per session
Terminal must stay open, computer must stay on
Research Preview — currently Max plan only
Cowork
Dispatch
Talk to Claude Cowork from your phone — it works on your Mac while you're away
📱 Dispatch
Send tasks to Claude Cowork from your phone via the Claude mobile app. Go to the Dispatch area, type what you need, and Cowork handles it on your Mac — emails, docs, browser tasks, desktop apps.
How it starts
Pair your phone to your Mac via QR code in Claude Desktop (one-time setup). After that, just open the Claude mobile app and go to Dispatch.
How it connects
You — in the Claude mobile app (Dispatch)
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persistent conversation thread
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Cowork orchestration layer
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connectors + Computer Use
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Claude Cowork — working on your Mac
Cowork can open and use your desktop apps:GmailNotionSlackExcelBrowsersAny app
What it does
Send tasks from anywhere — Cowork works on your Mac right away
Cowork opens and navigates desktop apps on your behalf
Can run multiple tasks in parallel, each with independent context
One continuous chat feed — no sidebar navigation or chat history list
Limitations
Mac must stay awake with Claude Desktop open
One continuous chat feed — no searchable history of past dispatches
Requires a paid plan: Pro ($20/mo) or Max ($100+/mo)
Mac only
Which one do I use?
Channels
Remote Control
Dispatch
Pick this when…
You want to message Claude Code from Telegram without opening a terminal
You need full Claude Code — coding, debugging, deploying — from your phone
You need Cowork to do things in your desktop apps while you're away