[FEATURE] Detached session windows are missing the pane buttons (Views menu)
Preflight Checklist
- [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
- [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)
Problem Statement
Summary
When a session is popped out into a detached window, it has no session toolbar so there's no Views menu and no way to open any pane. The same session in the main window shows the full pane layout.
Current behavior
- Main window: session shows Views menu/pane buttons in the session toolbar, including one for the terminal, for the brower, and for the iOS simulator.
<img width="184" height="77" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/87eccc7e-02df-4590-ab35-5d1feda66fb0" />
- Detached window: no pane buttons
<img width="102" height="60" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/4c21def8-c9e9-435f-89b6-8fc5612e32b0" />
You also can't use a hotkey to open Views or side pane. For example, cmd+shift+b successfully opens the integrated browser on the main window but does nothing on a detached conversation.
Expected behavior
Detached windows expose the same Views menu and pane layout as the main window.
Why this matters
Detaching a session from the main window is mostly about viewing it side by side with another claude session.
Related
- #49644 - Similar argument, but for SSH sessions. (This feature/request is for non-ssh local sessions on a conversation detached from the main window.)
- #50963 - original request to detach sessions into their own windows
- #62449 - detached windows ignore zoom / Cmd+/-; same pattern of detached
windows not inheriting main-window capabilities
Environment
- Claude Desktop: Claude 1.24012.9 (03c61d) 2026-07-24T04:59:17.000Z
Proposed Solution
I'd like to be able to see the same side panel buttons on the attached panes that we see on sessions in the main Claude code window:
<img width="184" height="77" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/87eccc7e-02df-4590-ab35-5d1feda66fb0" />
Then, when I click on one of those sidepanel buttons, the terminal, browser, or iOS simulator should open as a sidepanel in the same detached pane.
Alternative Solutions
Currently, I work around this by just not using the features available in the side panel altogether. So instead of using the integrated terminal, I use another terminal. Instead of using the integrated browser, I use Chrome. For work that requires the iOS simulator, I just do it on the main window.
Priority
Low - Nice to have
Feature Category
Other
Use Case Example
_No response_
Additional Context
_No response_