How to Code with Claude from Your Phone

I recently saw a video where Boris Cherny, the creator of Claude Code at Anthropic, said that he primarily starts coding sessions from his phone and I was like OMG.

Wait…hold on.

You mean to tell me I can start a coding session from my phone, go live my life and come back when the work is done?!

I had to try it.

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t tried steering my coding sessions from my phone before. I was even more surprised by how easy it was to set up. The whole thing took me less than 10 minutes.

Now I can kick off a feature or fix a bug while I’m away from my computer. I can check on the session, answer Claude’s questions, redirect it if needed and review the work from my phone.

Wiiiild!

What you need

• The Claude app on your iPhone or Android phone
• A Claude plan that includes Claude Code access, such as Pro or Max
• A GitHub repository connected to your Claude account if you want to start a new cloud session
• An internet connection

The Code tab is different from asking Claude for a code snippet in a regular chat. Claude Code can open your repository, edit files, run commands and work through the task in its own coding environment.

Start a Claude Code session from your phone

First, make sure you have the latest version of the Claude mobile app. Then:

1. Open the Claude app on your phone.
2. Tap the Code tab.
3. Tap New Session.
4. Choose the GitHub repository and branch you want Claude to work in.
5. Describe what you want Claude to build, change, or fix.
6. Start the session and let Claude work.

And that’s it!

You don’t have to sit there and watch it think. You can leave the app and come back later. Claude will continue working in its remote environment, and you can check its progress whenever you want.

For your first session, give Claude a small, clear task. Try something like:

Review this project and add a mobile-friendly dark mode toggle. Run the tests when you’re finished and explain the changes you made.

This gives you a chance to learn how the workflow feels before handing over something larger.

Steer a session running on your computer

You can also use your phone as a remote control for a Claude Code session running on your computer. This is useful when the project depends on local files, tools, or services that are already set up on your machine.

From Claude Code in your terminal, run:

/remote-control

Or start a remote-controlled session with:

claude remote-control

Then open the Claude app on your phone and continue the session from the Code tab.

One thing to remember: your computer needs to stay awake and connected because the work is still happening on your machine. According to Anthropic’s Claude Code tips, Remote Control is available on Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans using Claude Code CLI version 2.1.51 or newer.

Cloud session or Remote Control?

Not sure which option you need?

• Start a new session in the mobile app when your code is already on GitHub and you want Claude to work in the cloud. You can put your phone down, close your laptop, and come back later.
• Use Remote Control when you want to steer a session running on your own computer. This is the better option when Claude needs your local development environment, but your computer must remain online.

In both cases, you can review the work and redirect Claude from your phone. You aren’t squinting at a phone-sized code editor and writing code with your thumbs. The agent is doing the work. You’re steering it.

What can you build from your phone?

Try asking Claude to fix a bug, write tests, update your docs, refactor a messy component or finally start that project you’ve been putting off.

You should still read the diff and run your tests before merging anything. These agents are powerful, but they can absolutely misunderstand your request or change something you didn’t expect. Ask me how I know.

But the freedom this workflow gives you is kinda incredible. I can start building an idea from the couch or even while I’m on vacation. I don’t have to wait until I’m sitting in front of my laptop to make progress.

The same workflow Boris uses took me less than 10 minutes to try, and now I understand the hype.

Now it’s your turn. Open the app and build the thing you’ve been putting off.

Have you tried coding from your phone before? Are you going to start now?

Happy coding!

Kedasha 😊