Anthropic has launched Claude Code Channels, enabling users to interact with its coding assistant via Telegram and Discord. The new feature, announced on March 19, 2026, allows developers to send messages and receive updates directly within their existing messaging workflows, extending the accessibility of Claude Code beyond its native interface.
According to Anthropic engineer Thariq Shihipar, the channels allow users to message Claude Code directly from their smartphones. “Claude remains in an open terminal session, but can additionally be reached via selected messengers,” Shihipar posted on X. The channels function by delivering messages, notifications, or other events from external services directly into an active Claude Code session. Examples cited by Anthropic include chat messages, continuous integration (CI) results, and monitoring alerts.
The functionality requires Claude Code version 2.1.80 and a claude.ai account. For Teams and Enterprise users, explicit administrator approval is necessary to activate the channels. These channels operate as MCP (Messaging Communication Protocol) plugins and must be actively integrated when starting a Claude Code session. Responses from Claude then appear directly within the connected application – currently limited to Telegram and Discord – while the terminal itself displays only the tool call and a confirmation message, not the full response text.
The release of Claude Code Channels follows Anthropic’s introduction of Remote Control in late February, a feature designed to facilitate mobile task management within the Claude Code environment. The new channels build upon this capability by extending an active session to include incoming messages from messenger services. This development positions Anthropic in a similar space to OpenClaw, a system that has gained traction for its ability to run locally, be accessed via messenger, and integrate external tools. But, Anthropic’s approach remains more controlled, focusing on enhancing the control of an active session rather than creating a perpetually available agent.
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