> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cisco-ea52c096.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# IDE integration

> Connect Claude Code to VS Code or JetBrains for inline assistance, diff views, and context from your open files.

Claude Code connects to your IDE through a bidirectional bridge. Once connected, Claude has access to the files you have open, your editor's context, and can display diffs directly in the IDE rather than the terminal.

## Supported IDEs

* **VS Code** (including Cursor and Windsurf)
* **JetBrains IDEs** (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand, and others)

## Installing the extension or plugin

### VS Code

Run `/ide` inside a Claude Code session. If Claude Code detects that VS Code is running but the extension is not installed, it will install the extension automatically.

```text theme={null}
> /ide
```

Alternatively, install the **Claude Code** extension from the VS Code Marketplace and restart VS Code.

### JetBrains

Run `/ide` inside a Claude Code session. If a supported JetBrains IDE is running, Claude Code will install the plugin. After installation, **restart your IDE completely** for the plugin to take effect.

```text theme={null}
> /ide
```

You can also install the **Claude Code** plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace.

<Note>
  After installing the JetBrains plugin, a full IDE restart is required — not just closing and reopening the project. The plugin will not load until the IDE process itself restarts.
</Note>

## Connecting to an IDE

Once the extension or plugin is installed and your IDE is running, use `/ide` to connect:

```text theme={null}
> /ide
```

Claude Code detects running IDE instances and shows a list. Select the IDE you want to connect to.

<Tip>
  You can enable auto-connect so Claude Code connects to your IDE automatically on startup. Set this in `/config` or use the `--ide` flag when launching Claude Code.
</Tip>

**What happens after connecting:**

* Claude Code establishes a local connection to the IDE
* Claude can now read context from your open files and editor state
* Diffs and file edits can be shown directly in the IDE's diff viewer

<Warning>
  Only one Claude Code instance can be connected to VS Code at a time. If you have multiple terminal windows running Claude Code, only one can be connected to the IDE at once.
</Warning>

## What IDE integration adds

Once connected, Claude Code gains additional capabilities:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Open file context" icon="file-code">
    Claude can see which files you have open in the IDE, providing relevant context without you needing to specify file paths explicitly.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Diff view in IDE" icon="code-compare">
    File changes Claude makes are shown in the IDE's built-in diff viewer, so you can review and accept or reject edits inline.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Editor state awareness" icon="eye">
    Claude is aware of your current workspace folders, making it easier to understand multi-root workspaces.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Seamless switching" icon="arrow-left-right">
    Start in the terminal, switch to the IDE to review changes, then return to the terminal — the session stays connected throughout.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Disconnecting from an IDE

Run `/ide` and select **None** from the list to disconnect. Claude Code will close the connection and stop receiving context from the IDE.

## Opening the project in an IDE from Claude Code

If you want to open the current project (or a worktree) in a connected IDE, use the `open` argument:

```text theme={null}
> /ide open
```

Claude Code will show a list of connected IDEs and open the project directory in the one you select.

For VS Code-based IDEs (VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf), this uses the `code` CLI command. For JetBrains IDEs, Claude Code will prompt you to open the path manually.

## `/desktop` — hand off to Claude desktop app

If you want to continue your current terminal session in the Claude desktop app, use `/desktop`:

```text theme={null}
> /desktop
```

This command is available on macOS and Windows (x64). It transfers the current session to Claude Desktop so you can continue the conversation there.

<Note>
  `/desktop` is only available when you are signed in via claude.ai. It is not shown when logged in through the Anthropic API.
</Note>

## Syncing between terminal and IDE

Claude Code and the IDE stay in sync through the bridge connection. Here is how the typical workflow looks:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start in the terminal">
    Open a Claude Code session in your project directory.

    ```bash theme={null}
    claude
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect to the IDE">
    Run `/ide` and select your IDE from the list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Work in the terminal">
    Give Claude tasks as normal. File edits are written to disk and reflected in the IDE immediately.

    ```text theme={null}
    > Refactor the UserService class to use dependency injection.
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review changes in the IDE">
    Switch to your IDE to review the diff in the built-in viewer. Accept, reject, or manually adjust the changes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Continue in the terminal">
    Return to the terminal and continue the session. Claude retains the full conversation context.
  </Step>
</Steps>


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