Getting Started with Claude on Mobile
The Claude app for iOS and Android puts the same conversational assistant in your pocket, with conversations that stay in sync with the web and desktop apps.
Getting set up takes a couple of minutes: install, sign in, done.
This page walks through that process and what to expect once you're up and running.
Summary
Claude's mobile apps cover the same core conversation experience as claude.ai, built for phone-sized screens and on-the-go use.
Installation goes through the App Store on iOS or Google Play on Android, just like any other app.
You sign in with the same account you already use elsewhere - there's no separate mobile-only registration.
Once signed in, your existing conversations from the web or desktop app are already there, and anything you start on mobile shows up on your other devices too.
Mobile doesn't include the desktop app's Cowork or Code modes, since those are built around local-machine access that a phone doesn't have in the same way.
Recipe
Quick-reference steps - the shortest path from nothing installed to your first conversation on your phone.
1. Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) on your phone.
2. Search for "Claude by Anthropic" and install the app.
3. Open the app once installation finishes.
4. Sign in with the same email, Google, or Apple account you use for Claude elsewhere.
5. Your existing conversations appear automatically - or start a new one right away.When to reach for this:
- You want to check or continue a conversation while away from a computer.
- You'd rather reply to something quickly from your phone than wait until you're at a desk.
- You're setting up a new phone and want your Claude history available immediately.
- You want notifications or quick access alongside your other everyday apps.
Working Example
A complete first-time mobile setup, from install to a synced conversation, looks like this:
Step 1 - Install
- iOS: open the App Store, search "Claude by Anthropic," tap Get/Install.
- Android: open Google Play, search "Claude by Anthropic," tap Install.
Step 2 - Open and sign in
- Launch the app after installation completes.
- Choose your sign-in method: email, Google, or Apple - the same one tied
to your existing Claude account.
- If you don't have an account yet, the same screen offers account creation;
every new account starts on the Free plan.
Step 3 - Confirm sync
- After signing in, check the conversation list - any conversations you've
already had on the web or desktop app should appear there.
- Tap into an existing conversation to confirm it picks up exactly where
you left it, with full context intact.
Step 4 - Start or continue talking
- Tap the compose area to start a new conversation, or continue an
existing one from the list.
- A model picker (where available on your plan) lets you choose between
Claude Sonnet 5, Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Haiku 4.5, and Claude Fable 5.
Step 5 - Check notification settings (optional)
- If you want to be notified when a longer-running conversation or task
finishes, check the app's notification permissions during or after setup.What this demonstrates:
- Mobile install is a standard app-store flow, no different from installing any other app.
- Sign-in reuses your existing account, so there's no separate mobile registration step.
- Sync happens automatically and at the account level, confirmed simply by opening an existing conversation.
- The core conversation experience, including model choice, matches what you already know from the web app.
Deep Dive
How It Works
- The mobile app authenticates against the same account system as claude.ai and the desktop app, which is why sign-in immediately restores your conversation history.
- Sync is continuous in both directions - a message sent from your phone is visible on the web app moments later, and vice versa.
- Mobile intentionally omits Cowork and Code, the desktop app's other two modes, because both are built around access to a local machine's files or terminal in ways a phone doesn't support the same way.
- Push notifications, where enabled, let you know about activity in a conversation without having the app open, similar to messaging apps you already use.
iOS vs. Android at a Glance
| Aspect | iOS | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Install source | App Store | Google Play |
| Sign-in methods | Email, Google, Apple | Email, Google, Apple |
| Core conversation features | Same as web app | Same as web app |
| Cowork / Code modes | Not available (desktop-only) | Not available (desktop-only) |
Account & Plan Notes
- Any plan tier - Free, Pro, Team, or Enterprise - works on mobile; the app itself is free to install regardless of tier.
- Which models you can choose from (Claude Fable 5, Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Sonnet 5, Claude Haiku 4.5) depends on your plan tier, the same as on any other interface.
- Team and Enterprise accounts may show organization-level settings configured by an admin, visible on mobile the same as on other surfaces.
Gotchas
- Installing an unofficial or look-alike app. Only install "Claude by Anthropic" from the official App Store or Google Play listing. Fix: search carefully and check the developer name shown in the store listing before installing.
- Signing in with a different account than you use elsewhere. This creates a second, empty account instead of syncing your existing history. Fix: confirm you're using the same email, Google, or Apple sign-in as your existing Claude account before proceeding.
- Expecting Cowork or Code on mobile. These desktop-only modes rely on local-machine access a phone doesn't provide the same way. Fix: use the desktop app for tasks that specifically need Cowork or Code; mobile covers the same conversation experience as Chat mode and the web app.
- Conversations not appearing right after sign-in. Sync can take a few seconds, especially with a large history or a slow connection. Fix: wait a moment and check your connection; conversations should appear shortly.
- Assuming notifications are on by default. Push notification permissions are typically requested separately from app installation and sign-in. Fix: check your phone's notification settings for the app if you're not seeing alerts you expect.
- Losing track of which device sent what. Since sync is continuous, replying from multiple devices in the same conversation can feel disorienting if you're not expecting it. Fix: remember that it's one shared conversation, not separate ones per device - any device shows the full, current thread.
Alternatives
| Alternative | Use When | Don't Use When |
|---|---|---|
| Web app (claude.ai) | You're at a computer and want a larger screen | You're away from a computer entirely |
| Desktop app | You need Cowork or Code, or prefer a dedicated app window | You just need quick access on the go |
| Chrome extension | You want quick help on a webpage without switching tabs | You're on your phone rather than a browser |
FAQs
Do I need a separate account to use Claude on my phone?
- No. Sign in with the same email, Google, or Apple account you already use for Claude, and your existing conversations will sync automatically.
Will conversations I start on my phone show up on my laptop?
- Yes. Sync works in both directions between mobile, the web app, and the desktop app, all under the same account.
Is the mobile app free to download?
- Yes, the app is free to install from the App Store or Google Play. Your plan tier (Free, Pro, Team, or Enterprise) determines usage limits and model access, not whether you can install the app.
Can I use Cowork or Code mode on my phone?
- No, those modes are specific to the desktop app because they rely on access to a local machine's files or terminal, which mobile doesn't offer in the same way.
What happens if I lose my phone or get a new one?
- Sign in with your existing account on the new device, and your conversation history syncs back automatically.
Do I need an internet connection to use the mobile app?
- Yes, Claude's models run in the cloud rather than on your device, so an internet connection is needed to send and receive messages.
Can I choose which Claude model I'm talking to on mobile?
- Where a model picker is available for your plan, yes - the same model lineup (Claude Fable 5, Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Sonnet 5, Claude Haiku 4.5) is offered as on other interfaces.
Will I get notified if I have a new reply while the app is closed?
- If you've enabled notification permissions for the app, yes - similar to how other messaging apps notify you of activity.
Why don't I see my old conversations right after signing in?
- Sync can take a few seconds, particularly with a large conversation history or a slow connection; give it a moment before assuming something's wrong.
Is there anything I can do on the web app that I can't do on mobile?
- The core conversation experience matches, but mobile doesn't include the desktop app's Cowork or Code modes, since both need local-machine access a phone doesn't provide the same way.
Does upgrading my plan change anything about the mobile app itself?
- The app stays the same; a plan upgrade changes usage limits and which models you can access, consistently across every interface, not just mobile.
Related
- Claude's Interfaces: Web, Desktop, Mobile, and Slack - how mobile fits alongside Claude's other surfaces.
- Setting Up the Claude Desktop App - the equivalent setup walkthrough for Mac and Windows.
- Choosing the Right Claude Interface for the Task - a decision guide for picking mobile versus another surface.
- Claude 101 Basics - conversation basics that work the same way on mobile.
Stack versions: Written against the Claude model lineup current as of ~June 2026 - Claude Fable 5, Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Sonnet 5 (the default), and Claude Haiku 4.5. Model names, pricing, and product features move quickly - verify current specifics at platform.claude.com/docs before relying on them.