Remote session fails with 'Claude GitHub app must be installed' despite app being installed

Status Closed — not planned
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 13 comments · opened Jan 28, 2026 · closed Apr 9, 2026

Description

Remote/background task execution fails with the error:

Cannot launch remote Claude Code session.

The Claude GitHub app must be installed on this repository first.
https://github.com/apps/claude/installations/new

However, the Claude GitHub app is installed and configured correctly.

Environment

  • Claude Code CLI (latest)
  • macOS (Darwin 25.3.0)
  • Repository: private repo with SSH remote (git@github.com:owner/repo.git)

Configuration verified

  1. Claude GitHub app installed 25+ minutes ago
  2. Repository access set to "All repositories"
  3. Permissions include:
  • Read access to actions, checks, and metadata
  • Read and write access to code, discussions, issues, pull requests, and workflows
  1. Git remote correctly points to GitHub

Screenshot

App installation settings show:

  • "All repositories" selected
  • Installed 25 minutes prior to error

Expected behavior

Remote session should launch successfully since the app is installed with proper permissions.

Actual behavior

CLI reports the app is not installed despite it being configured correctly.

View original on GitHub ↗

13 Comments

github-actions[bot] · 7 months ago

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

  1. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/16256
  2. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/18409
  3. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/16831

This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.

  • If your issue is a duplicate, please close it and 👍 the existing issue instead
  • To prevent auto-closure, add a comment or 👎 this comment

🤖 Generated with Claude Code

anners · 7 months ago

Update: Partial resolution + additional finding

The remote feature now works when invoked directly from the terminal:

claude --remote "do something"  # ✓ works

However, it still fails when attempting to launch a remote session from within an active Claude Code session:

Cannot launch remote Claude Code session.

The Claude GitHub app must be installed on this repository first.
https://github.com/apps/claude/installations/new

This suggests:

  1. The original issue may have been a propagation delay (resolved after ~30 min)
  2. There's a separate issue where in-session remote task launching uses a different code path that doesn't properly detect the GitHub app installation

Workaround: Use claude --remote directly from the shell rather than triggering remote tasks from within an active session.

cding91 · 6 months ago

Same problem here on Windows.

  • Delegating to web using & command in Claude Code CLI report error "Cannot launch remote Claude Code session." despite claude github app has already been installed on the repo
  • claude --remote works
  • Directly prompting on Claude Code web works.
rkj · 6 months ago

Same issue through both mobile and web app, it used to work two weeks ago, the claude code app is definitely installed and has access to the repo.

thubamamba · 6 months ago

I am facing the same issue and the claude app is installed and Github access is properly set up.

naipaka · 6 months ago

Likely the same issue. Not sure if it's the same root cause as the original issue, but sharing in case it helps.

I encountered a similar symptom on Claude Code web and mobile app.
The dialog showed "GitHub app is not installed" even though the app was already installed and had access to the repo. It was working fine until last night.

Environment:

  • Claude Code on the web and mobile app
  • Private repository with "Only select repositories" access

Workaround:

  • Uninstalling the Claude GitHub App from GitHub Settings > Applications, then reinstalling it resolved the issue. This is not a root cause fix, but it works as a temporary workaround.
rkj · 6 months ago

Is fixed today

sonasingh46 · 6 months ago

I am facing the same issue. I already have the claude app installed on github.
My claude CLI version is 2.1.38

crieggalder · 6 months ago

Same issue on 2.1.42

cfoust · 6 months ago

Same issue. I only gave access to a few repositories. Have tried reinstalling.

zazao · 5 months ago

Same problem here, need to fix asap as it seems quite esay to

github-actions[bot] · 4 months ago

Closing for now — inactive for too long. Please open a new issue if this is still relevant.

github-actions[bot] · 4 months ago

This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.