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Remote & Mobile Development

While Claude Code currently lacks an official mobile app, you can run it remotely from your phone or tablet. This guide covers various methods from simple to advanced.

Overview​

The core concept is to keep Claude running on a host machine (desktop, laptop, or server) and connect to it through secure channels from your mobile device.

Method 1: SSH + Tailscale + Termius (Recommended)​

This professional setup offers security and reliability.

Setup Steps​

1. Host Machine Configuration​

Install required software:

# Install Claude Code
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Install Tailscale
# macOS
brew install tailscale

# Linux
curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh

# Start Tailscale
sudo tailscale up

2. Mobile Device Setup​

  1. Install apps:

    • Tailscale (VPN)
    • Termius (SSH client)

  2. Configure Tailscale:

    • Log in with the same account as your host
    • Your devices will automatically connect

  3. Configure Termius:

    • Add new host
    • Use Tailscale IP (e.g., 100.x.x.x)
    • Enter your host username/password
    • Save and connect

3. Using Claude Mobile​

# In Termius terminal
cd /your/project
claude

Pro Tips​

  • Use SSH keys for passwordless login
  • Enable Tailscale MagicDNS for friendly hostnames
  • Configure Termius snippets for quick commands

Method 2: GitHub Mobile Integration​

Perfect for delegating tasks without direct terminal access.

Setup​

  1. Install GitHub App:

    claude
    /install-github-app

  2. Configure webhook (follow the prompts)

  3. From GitHub Mobile:

    • Create issues with @claude mention
    • Claude will process and respond
    • Review and merge PRs on the go

Example Workflow​

Create an issue:

@claude Please add input validation to the contact form:
- Email format validation
- Required fields check
- Show error messages

Claude will:

  1. Create a branch
  2. Implement changes
  3. Open a PR
  4. Respond in the issue

Method 3: Quick Access via Remote Desktop​

For occasional use with minimal setup.

Chrome Remote Desktop​

  1. Host Setup:

    • Install Chrome Remote Desktop
    • Enable remote access
    • Set PIN

  2. Mobile Access:

    • Install Chrome Remote Desktop app
    • Connect to your host
    • Use pinch/zoom for terminal

Pros & Cons​

✅ Quick setup ✅ Full desktop access ❌ Not optimized for mobile ❌ Can be laggy

Method 4: Professional Mobile Solution​

Get CodeRemote

CodeRemote Features​

CodeRemote is a purpose-built mobile interface for Claude Code:

  • Mobile-First Design: Touch gestures, responsive layout
  • Real-Time Output: Stream build logs and command output
  • Live Preview: View and interact with web apps
  • Smart Notifications: Get alerts when tasks complete
  • Session Management: Reconnect if connection drops
  • Self-Hosted: Runs on your machine via Tailscale

Installation​

# After purchasing, install via private npm
npm install -g @claudefast/coderemote

# Start the server
coderemote start

# Access via your Tailscale network
# https://your-machine:3000

Method 5: Cloud Development Environments​

Using GitHub Codespaces​

  1. Enable Codespaces for your repository

  2. Install Claude Code:

    npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

  3. Access from mobile:

    • Use GitHub mobile app
    • Open Codespace in browser
    • Run Claude in terminal

Using Gitpod​

Similar setup with Gitpod:

# .gitpod.yml
tasks:
  - init: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
    command: claude

Mobile Coding Best Practices​

1. Use External Keyboard​

Bluetooth keyboards dramatically improve the experience:

  • Faster typing
  • Keyboard shortcuts work
  • Less screen obstruction

2. Optimize Tasks for Mobile​

Good mobile tasks:

  • Bug fixes
  • Code reviews
  • Small features
  • Documentation updates

Avoid on mobile:

  • Large refactoring
  • Complex debugging
  • Multi-file operations

3. Leverage Claude's Strengths​

Let Claude do the heavy lifting:

Fix all ESLint errors in the project
Update all import statements to use the new module structure

4. Use Git Effectively​

Commit frequently:

Commit the current changes with a descriptive message

Create PRs for review:

Push this branch and create a pull request

5. Session Management​

Save your place:

Create a TODO.md file with remaining tasks for this feature

Resume easily:

Read TODO.md and continue where we left off

Security Considerations​

VPN Best Practices​

  • Always use VPN (Tailscale recommended)
  • Avoid public WiFi without VPN
  • Use strong authentication

Access Control​

  • Limit permissions when on mobile
  • Use read-only access when possible
  • Regular security audits

Data Protection​

  • Enable device encryption
  • Use secure SSH keys
  • Log out when done

Troubleshooting​

Connection Issues​

# Test Tailscale connection
tailscale ping hostname

# Check SSH
ssh -v user@host

Performance Problems​

  • Reduce terminal scrollback
  • Use lighter shells (sh vs zsh)
  • Close unused sessions

Display Issues​

  • Adjust font size in terminal
  • Use landscape orientation
  • External display via USB-C

Advanced Setups​

iPad Pro as Development Machine​

With iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard:

  1. Use Termius or Prompt 3
  2. External monitor support
  3. Nearly laptop-like experience

Android Tablets​

  • Termux for local development
  • JuiceSSH for remote access
  • Samsung DeX for desktop mode

Emergency Access​

Keep a backup method:

# Simple web terminal
gotty -w claude

Next Steps​