Option to auto-open the integrated terminal on new desktop sessions
Status Open
Maintainer reply None cached
Activity 0 comments · opened Aug 26, 2026
Problem
In the Claude Code desktop app, the integrated terminal is available (Views menu / <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd></kbd>), but it has to be opened manually for every new session. Users migrating from the terminal CLI expect a terminal to be ready by default, and there's currently no settings.json` toggle or layout persistence to make that happen.
Proposal
Add one of the following:
- A setting such as
desktop.autoOpenTerminal: truethat opens the integrated terminal pane automatically on session start, or - A more general "remember last pane layout" preference, so the terminal (and any other panes) reopen in their previous arrangement when a new session starts.
Alternatives considered
- Pressing <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>`</kbd> at the start of each session — works, but manual and easy to forget.
SessionStarthooks — these are a CLI feature and don't affect desktop panes/layout.
Environment
- Surface: Claude Code desktop app (macOS)