Now you can use Telegram to talk to Claude Code, software engineers take note

Anthropic has introduced a new Channels feature to Claude Code that lets developers control their coding session from apps like Telegram and Discord, without sitting at their computer. With Channels, the company is making Claude Code more like an always-running AI assistant that a user can message anytime to run commands, fix bugs, or check progress remotely.

In Short

• Developers can now connect with Claude Code though Telegram using the new Channels feature
• The update lets engineers run commands, fix bugs, and monitor tasks without opening system
• With Channels, Anthropic is making Claude Code more like a persistent AI assistant for coding

Anthropic seems to be on a mission to make its AI model Claude more powerful and accessible. For developers in particular, the company has been rolling out back-to-back updates for the AI agent Claude Code to make coding easier and more productive. Now, the company is making the tool even more accessible with a new feature called Channels. With this update, software engineers can send messages to their Claude Code session using apps like Telegram and Discord, meaning they no longer need to sit in front of their computer to control their coding assistant.

Claude Code is Anthropic’s terminal-based AI agent that can read files, edit code, run commands, and automate development tasks directly on a machine. Until now, for using Claude Code, users need to stay connected to the same system where the session was running. However, the new Channels feature removes that limitation by allowing users to use external apps to send messages into the active session, making the assistant accessible from a phone or another device.

In simple terms, Channels work like a bridge between messaging apps and the Claude Code terminal. Once turned on, messages sent from apps like Telegram go straight into the running session, and Claude can respond by running commands, fixing bugs, checking tests, or replying in the same chat. This means developers can control or monitor their work even when they are away from their computer.

Claude Code Channels availability

The feature is currently in research preview and is mainly aimed at developers who run long tasks in Claude Code. For example, if a build fails or a script breaks, Claude Code will notify the developer through a connected channel. From there on the developer can reply from Telegram asking Claude to check or fix the problem. Since the session stays active, the AI keeps working in the background while the user controls it remotely.

How to set up Channels on Telegram

Setting up Telegram support takes a few steps. Developers need to create a bot using Telegram’s BotFather tool, then link it to Claude Code using a setup command. After pairing the bot with a security code, any message sent to the bot goes directly to the active Claude session. Once connected, developers can run commands, check progress, or ask Claude Code to perform tasks without opening the terminal.

For users who do not want to connect external apps yet, Anthropic has also added a local testing option called Fakechat. This demo plugin sends messages on the same machine, so developers can try the Channels feature safely without linking Telegram or other services.

Do note that the feature works on Claude Code version 2.1.80 or newer and requires a claude.ai login. For continuous use, Anthorpic has asked developers to ensure Claude remains active in the background, as messages are only received during a running session. Team and enterprise users might be required to manually activate this feature, according to the company.

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