Claude Desktop for Linux

This project provides build scripts to run Claude Desktop natively on Linux systems. It repackages the official Windows application for Linux distributions, producing .deb packages (Debian/Ubuntu), .rpm packages (Fedora/RHEL), distribution-agnostic AppImages, an AUR package for Arch Linux, and a Nix flake for NixOS.

Note: This is an unofficial build script. For official support, please visit Anthropic's website. For issues with the build script or Linux implementation, please open an issue in this repository.

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⚠️ EXPERIMENTAL: Cowork Mode Support Cowork mode is enabled by default in this build with a pluggable isolation backend:

Backend	Isolation	Requirements
bubblewrap (default)	Namespace sandbox	bwrap installed and functional
host (fallback)	None — runs directly on host	No additional requirements

The best available backend is auto-detected at startup. Run claude-desktop --doctor to check which backend will be used and which dependencies are missing.

Note: The bubblewrap backend mounts your home directory as read-only (only the project working directory is writable). The host backend provides no isolation — use it only if you understand the security implications.

KVM status: The KVM/QEMU backend code exists but is non-functional — VM file downloads are disabled on Linux to prevent a checksum loop (#337). The backend code remains for potential future use.

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Features

• Native Linux Support: Run Claude Desktop without virtualization or Wine
• MCP Support: Full Model Context Protocol integration Configuration file location: ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• System Integration:
  • Global hotkey support (Ctrl+Alt+Space) - works on X11 and Wayland (via XWayland)
  • System tray integration
  • Desktop environment integration

Screenshots

Installation

Using APT Repository (Debian/Ubuntu - Recommended)

Add the repository for automatic updates via apt:

# Add the GPG key
curl -fsSL https://aaddrick.github.io/claude-desktop-debian/KEY.gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop.gpg

# Add the repository
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop.gpg arch=amd64,arm64] https://aaddrick.github.io/claude-desktop-debian stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/claude-desktop.list

# Update and install
sudo apt update
sudo apt install claude-desktop

Future updates will be installed automatically with your regular system updates (sudo apt upgrade).

Using DNF Repository (Fedora/RHEL - Recommended)

Add the repository for automatic updates via dnf:

# Add the repository
sudo curl -fsSL https://aaddrick.github.io/claude-desktop-debian/rpm/claude-desktop.repo -o /etc/yum.repos.d/claude-desktop.repo

# Install
sudo dnf install claude-desktop

Future updates will be installed automatically with your regular system updates (sudo dnf upgrade).

Using AUR (Arch Linux)

The claude-desktop-appimage package is available on the AUR and is automatically updated with each release.

# Using yay
yay -S claude-desktop-appimage

# Or using paru
paru -S claude-desktop-appimage

The AUR package installs the AppImage build of Claude Desktop.

Using Nix Flake (NixOS)

Install directly from the flake:

# Basic install
nix profile install github:aaddrick/claude-desktop-debian

# With MCP server support (FHS environment)
nix profile install github:aaddrick/claude-desktop-debian#claude-desktop-fhs

Or add to your NixOS configuration:

# flake.nix
{
  inputs.claude-desktop.url = "github:aaddrick/claude-desktop-debian";

  outputs = { nixpkgs, claude-desktop, ... }: {
    nixosConfigurations.myhost = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem {
      modules = [
        ({ pkgs, ... }: {
          nixpkgs.overlays = [ claude-desktop.overlays.default ];
          environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.claude-desktop ];
        })
      ];
    };
  };
}

Using Pre-built Releases

Download the latest .deb, .rpm, or .AppImage from the Releases page.

Building from Source

See docs/BUILDING.md for detailed build instructions.

Configuration

Model Context Protocol settings are stored in:

~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

For additional configuration options including environment variables and Wayland support, see docs/CONFIGURATION.md.

Troubleshooting

Run claude-desktop --doctor for built-in diagnostics that check common issues (display server, sandbox permissions, MCP config, stale locks, and more). It also reports cowork mode readiness — which isolation backend will be used, and which dependencies (KVM, QEMU, vsock, socat, virtiofsd, bubblewrap) are installed or missing.

For additional troubleshooting, uninstallation instructions, and log locations, see docs/TROUBLESHOOTING.md.

Acknowledgments

This project was inspired by k3d3's claude-desktop-linux-flake and their Reddit post about running Claude Desktop natively on Linux.

Special thanks to:

• k3d3
  • Original NixOS implementation
  • Native bindings insights
• emsi
  • Title bar fix
  • Alternative implementation approach
• leobuskin for the Playwright-based URL resolution approach
• yarikoptic
  • Codespell support
  • Shellcheck compliance
• IamGianluca for build dependency check improvements
• ing03201 for IBus/Fcitx5 input method support
• ajescudero for pinning @electron/asar for Node compatibility
• delorenj for Wayland compatibility support
• Regen-forest for suggesting Gear Lever as AppImageLauncher replacement
• niekvugteveen for fixing Debian packaging permissions
• speleoalex for native window decorations support
• imaginalnika for moving logs to ~/.cache/
• richardspicer for the menu bar visibility fix on Linux
• jacobfrantz1
  • Claude Desktop code preview support
  • Quick window submit fix
• janfrederik for the --exe flag to use a local installer
• MrEdwards007 for discovering the OAuth token cache fix
• lizthegrey for version update contributions
• mathys-lopinto
  • AUR package
  • Automated deployment
• pkuijpers for root cause analysis of the RPM repo GPG signing issue
• dlepold for identifying the tray icon variable name bug with a working fix
• Voork1144
  • Detailed analysis of the tray icon minifier bug
  • Root-cause analysis of the Chromium layout cache bug
  • Direct child setBounds() fix approach
• sabiut
  • --doctor diagnostic command
  • SHA-256 checksum validation for downloads
  • Post-build integration tests for deb, rpm, and AppImage artifacts
• milog1994
  • Popup detection
  • Functional stubs
  • Wayland compositor support
• jarrodcolburn
  • Passwordless sudo support in container/CI environments
  • Identifying the gh-pages 4GB bloat fix
  • Identifying the virtiofsd PATH detection issue on Debian
  • Detailed analysis of the CI release pipeline failure caused by runner kills during compare-releases
  • Diagnosing the session-start hook sudo blocking issue with three solution approaches
• chukfinley for experimental Cowork mode support on Linux
• CyPack for orphaned cowork daemon cleanup on startup
• IliyaBrook for fixing the platform patch for Claude Desktop >= 1.1.3541 arm64 refactor
• MichaelMKenny
  • Diagnosing the $-prefixed electron variable bug
  • Root cause analysis and workaround
• daa25209 for detailed root cause analysis of the cowork platform gate crash and patch script
• noctuum
  • CLAUDE_MENU_BAR env var with configurable menu bar visibility
  • Boolean alias support
• typedrat
  • NixOS flake integration with build.sh
  • node-pty derivation
  • CI auto-update
  • Fixing the flake package scoping regression
• cbonnissent
  • Reverse-engineering the Cowork VM guest RPC protocol
  • Fixing the KVM startup blocker
  • Fixing RPC response id echoing for persistent connections
  • Configurable bwrap mount points via a dedicated Linux config file
• joekale-pp for adding --doctor support to the RPM launcher
• ecrevisseMiroir for the bwrap backend sandbox isolation with tmpfs-based minimal root
• arauhala for detailed root cause analysis of the NixOS isPackaged regression
• cromagnone for confirming the VM download loop on bwrap installs with detailed logs that disproved the initial triage
• aHk-coder for diagnosing the hardcoded minified variable crash in the cowork smol-bin patch
• RayCharlizard
  • Detailed analysis of the self-referential .mcpb-cache symlink ELOOP bug
  • Fixing auto-memory path translation on HostBackend
• reinthal for fixing the NixOS build breakage caused by the nixpkgs nodePackages removal
• gianluca-peri
  • Reporting the GNOME quit accessibility issue
  • Confirming tray behavior with AppIndicator
• martin152 for detailed diagnosis and a complete patch for three launcher cleanup bugs: cleanup_orphaned_cowork_daemon self-match, cleanup_stale_cowork_socket socat dependency no-op, and the same self-match in --doctor
• hfyeh for diagnosing the Ubuntu 24.04 AppArmor unprivileged-userns block on Cowork bwrap and contributing the AppArmor profile workaround

Sponsorship

If this project is useful to you, consider sponsoring on GitHub.

License

The build scripts in this repository are dual-licensed under:

• MIT License (see LICENSE-MIT)
• Apache License 2.0 (see LICENSE-APACHE)

The Claude Desktop application itself is subject to Anthropic's Consumer Terms.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! By submitting a contribution, you agree to license it under the same dual-license terms as this project.