Why This Matters
Imagine you are on the couch, at a coffee shop, or out for a walk. You pull out your phone, open Claude, and start building. Claude is working on your computer back home, creating files, running code, doing real work. You are steering it from wherever you are.
That is what /remote-control does. It turns your computer into a remote machine that Claude controls, and you give the instructions from your phone or any other device.
Before You Start
As of February 28th, 2026, you need a few things in place before this will work:
- Claude Max plan ($90/month). Remote control only works on the Max plan. If you are on Pro, you will need to upgrade first. You can do this at claude.ai in your account settings.
- Your computer must stay on and open. Do not close the lid. Do not let it go to sleep. Claude needs your computer awake and running the whole time. Go into your system settings and turn off automatic sleep.
- Claude Code open in your terminal. You need Claude Code running on your computer before you leave.
Step 1: Log Out and Log Back In
Before you activate remote control, make sure your login is fresh. Open your terminal on your computer and start Claude Code. Then type:
/logoutWait for it to finish. Then type:
/loginFollow the steps to log back in. This makes sure your session is connected to your Max plan and everything is up to date.
Step 2: Activate Remote Control
Now that you are logged in, type this in Claude Code on your computer:
/remote-controlClaude will start a remote session. You will see a message confirming it is ready and waiting for a connection. Leave this running. Do not close the terminal. Do not close the lid.
Step 3: Connect from Your Phone
Now pick up your phone (or open any other device). Open the Claude app or go to claude.ai. Open up Claude Code from the menu. You will see the interactive session from your computer waiting for you.
That is it. You are now connected. Anything you type on your phone, Claude does on your computer. You can build, edit files, run things, and check on progress, all from your phone.
Keep Your Computer Awake
This is the most important thing to remember. Your computer must stay on, open, and awake the entire time. If it goes to sleep, the connection drops and you will need to start over.
Here is how to prevent sleep:
- On Mac: Open System Settings, click Display, and set "Turn display off after" to Never. Also check Energy Saver and make sure "Prevent automatic sleeping" is turned on.
- Leave the lid open. Even with sleep turned off, closing the lid can disconnect things. Keep it open.
What You Learned
You now know how to control your computer from anywhere using your phone. Upgrade to Claude Max, log out and back in, run /remote-control, and connect from the Claude app on your phone. Keep your computer awake and you can build from the couch, the park, or anywhere you have your phone.
