claude://desktop
alpha · v0.1.0-alpha//rough edges ahead
linux only//x86_64

ClaudeDesktop

built for linux · linux only

Claude Desktop for Linux — a proper Linux-native desktop window for Claude AI. Drives the official claude CLI under the hood. Attach folders, chat in Cowork mode, sandboxed by default via bubblewrap on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Gentoo, and every other modern Linux distribution.

unofficial · community build · not affiliated with anthropic

Download AppImagev0.1.0-alpha

Linux · x86_64 · AppImage · v0.1.0-alpha  ·  all releases →

~ / downloads
chmod +x Claude-Desktop-0.1.0.AppImage
./Claude-Desktop-0.1.0.AppImage
→ backend listening on 127.0.0.1:54891
→ claude CLI: ready · signed in as you@example.com
→ sandbox: bwrap 0.8.0 ok
ready_|

what you get

◉

Chat + Cowork

Two modes per chat. Chat for pure Claude conversation, Cowork for agentic work — attach folders and Claude can read, edit, and run code inside them.

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▣

Sandboxed by default

Bubblewrap wraps every Cowork turn. Only the folders you attach are visible to Claude; the rest of $HOME stays hidden. Fail-closed: refuses to start if bwrap isn't installed.

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⌘

Local-first chat history

SQLite-backed chats and per-chat sandboxes under your user-data dir. Close the app, re-open — your conversations are right where you left them.

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↺

Resumable sessions

Each chat maps to a claude --resume session with a stable working directory, so long-running conversations survive restarts intact.

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⏻

Guided first launch

Missing the claude CLI? The app installs it for you via the official installer and walks you through OAuth sign-in — no terminal required.

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⎆

Three execution modes

Default sandboxed (bwrap), Docker shell, or fully unrestricted. Switch per-install in Settings → Security.

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· alpha notice ·

expect rough edges

  • — No automatic recovery from unexpected CLI exits. If claude crashes mid-turn, resend the prompt.
  • — Tool-call UI is minimal. Timeline rendering only, no per-tool detail view.
  • — aarch64 Linux builds from source but is untested in this alpha.
  • — No test suite yet. Bug reports with distro + Node version are gold.

runs on linux

x86_64 · appimage · no install

The AppImage is self-contained — no package manager, no root, no dependencies to chase. The only thing the app asks of your system is bubblewrap for the Default sandbox mode, and it will print the exact command for your distro if it isn't installed.

Ubuntu / Debian / Mint
sudo apt install bubblewrap
Fedora / RHEL / CentOS
sudo dnf install bubblewrap
Arch / Manjaro
sudo pacman -S bubblewrap
openSUSE
sudo zypper install bubblewrap
Gentoo
sudo emerge --ask sys-apps/bubblewrap
Alpine
sudo apk add bubblewrap
Void
sudo xbps-install -S bubblewrap

not on this list? chances are it works — open an issue on github if it doesn't.

frequently asked

Is Claude Desktop available for Linux?+

Yes — this is Claude Desktop for Linux, a community-built Electron app that wraps the official claude CLI. Download the AppImage for x86_64 and run it on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Gentoo, openSUSE, Alpine, Void, or any other modern Linux distribution.

Is there a macOS or Windows version?+

No. This build is Linux-only by design. The whole point of the project is to be a proper Linux-native desktop window for Claude, with real bubblewrap sandboxing. If you are on macOS or Windows, use the official claude CLI or Claude web app instead.

How do I install Claude Desktop on Linux?+

Download the AppImage from the Releases page, mark it executable with chmod +x Claude-Desktop-0.1.0.AppImage, and double-click it. No package manager, no sudo, no build tools. On first launch the app will install the claude CLI for you and walk you through OAuth sign-in.

Is Claude Desktop sandboxed on Linux?+

Yes, by default. Cowork-mode turns run inside a bubblewrap sandbox that hides $HOME and only exposes the folders you explicitly attach plus ~/.claude for credentials. Docker and fully unrestricted (“jailbroken”) modes are available in Settings → Security.

Is this the official Anthropic Claude Desktop app?+

No. This is an unofficial community build. It is not affiliated with Anthropic. The app drives the real claude CLI, so your account, billing, and rate limits are identical to using claude in a terminal.

Which Linux distributions are supported?+

x86_64 Linux is the primary target. Tested on Gentoo; reported to work on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Manjaro, openSUSE, Alpine, and Void. aarch64 Linux should build from source but is untested in this alpha.

What is Cowork mode?+

Cowork is the agentic mode. Attach one or more folders to a chat and Claude can read, edit, and run code inside them — while the rest of your home directory stays hidden behind the bubblewrap sandbox.

Do I need to install the claude CLI first?+

No. If claude is not on your PATH the app will offer to install it for you on first launch via the official one-liner from claude.ai/install.sh. No terminal window pops up; the install log streams inside the app.

Where are my chats stored?+

Locally. Chats, messages, and per-chat sandboxes live in a SQLite database under the OS user-data directory (~/.config/Cowork on Linux). Nothing is uploaded anywhere other than the API calls the claude CLI already makes.