[BUG] Dispatch visible in Desktop app sidebar but not activatable via CLI or UI

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Dispatch appears in the left-hand side menu of the Claude Desktop app, but there is no way to activate it. The CLI does not recognise any remote-control related commands or flags, and the sidebar entry does not appear to do anything.

I tried all of the following — none are recognised:

• claude --remote-control "session name" → unrecognised flag
• claude remote-control → unrecognised subcommand
• /remote-control inside an interactive session → "Unknown skill: remote-control"
• /rc inside an interactive session → "Unknown skill: rc"

Running claude --help confirms no remote-control flag or subcommand exists.

Additionally, Claude Code's own built-in assistant (claude-code-guide subagent) confidently describes the feature as available in v2.1.51+, including specific commands (claude remote-control, /remote-control) and flags (--name, --spawn, --capacity, --verbose). None of these exist in v2.1.84's --help output. This means the assistant actively misleads users into repeatedly trying commands that don't work.

What Should Happen?

Dispatch/Remote Control should either:

• Preferably, be activatable from the CLI and/or the Desktop app sidebar, generating a session URL/QR code for mobile access, or
• Not be shown in the UI if the feature is unavailable in the current version

Error Messages/Logs

$ claude --remote-control "Auth hardening"
error: unknown option '--remote-control'

> /remote-control
Unknown skill: remote-control

> /rc
Unknown skill: rc

Steps to Reproduce

1. Update Claude Code to latest version (v2.1.84)
2. Open the Claude Desktop app — "Dispatch" is visible in the left sidebar
3. Try to activate dispatch via any of the methods above
4. Run claude --help to confirm the flag/subcommand does not exist
5. (Optional) Ask the Claude Code assistant how to enable remote control — it will describe commands that don't exist

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.84 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

The disconnect between the UI showing Dispatch, the assistant describing the feature in detail, and the CLI not supporting it creates a very frustrating user experience. I spent a significant portion of a session going back and forth with the assistant before it finally checked claude --help and confirmed the feature doesn't exist.