Multiple Claude windows on your Mac: every way to do it

Q: Can the official Claude desktop app open multiple windows?

No. The official Claude desktop app runs in a single window: you can switch conversations but not view two side by side. To see multiple Claude conversations at once on macOS, use claude.ai in several browser windows, or Sticky for Claude which opens unlimited independent floating Claude windows.

Q: Can I run multiple Claude Code sessions at the same time?

Yes. Sticky for Claude lets you open one floating window per project folder, each running its own Claude Code session with its own slash commands and permission modes, all visible at once, even over fullscreen apps.

Updated July 2026 · Disclosure: written by the maker of Sticky for Claude, the comparison is factual anyway

It's one of the most common requests from heavy Claude users: "I want several conversations visible at once, one per project, one for code, one for quick questions." If you've searched for Claude multiple windows, Claude multi-tab, or tried to open the desktop app twice, here's the honest state of your options on macOS in 2026.

Two Claude chat windows side by side on a Mac, floating over a fullscreen movie — What "multiple Claude windows" can actually look like: independent conversations, side by side, each with its own context.

Can the official Claude desktop app open multiple windows?

Not side by side. The official Claude desktop app lives in one window: you can switch between conversations, but you can't see two of them at the same time, and there's no "New window" like a browser. Opening the app twice just focuses the existing window. If you want two conversations visible at once, you need one of the approaches below.

Option 1 · Browser tabs and windows (free, works today)

Open claude.ai in several browser windows (not just tabs, tabs hide each other) and arrange them side by side. It works, and it's free.

The limits: each conversation costs you a full browser window with its toolbars; arranging them is manual; nothing stays on top when you click into your editor or document; and everything disappears the moment you enter a fullscreen app. Fine for an occasional second conversation, heavy for a daily workflow.

Option 2 · Split View / window tiling (built into macOS)

macOS window tiling can put the Claude desktop app next to one other app. That gives you exactly one Claude conversation next to one app, not multiple Claude windows, and Claude still occupies half your screen instead of floating over your work.

Option 3 · Sticky for Claude: unlimited independent windows

This is the reason Sticky for Claude exists. It's a native macOS app that opens as many Claude windows as you want, real independent windows, each with its own conversation, its own model settings, and its own place on screen. And they float above your work (even true fullscreen, using the same window layer as Spotlight), instead of competing with it for space.

One window per project, task or topic, every conversation stays visible at the same time
Each window can be a Claude chat, a full Claude Code session pinned to a project folder (slash commands, tools, permission modes), or a real terminal running the Claude Code CLI
Windows remember their position; double-tap ⌘ summons or hides them all; they auto-fade when idle
Runs on your existing Claude subscription (Pro/Max) or API key, no extra account

Three Sticky for Claude windows on a Mac, two chats and a Claude Code terminal, floating over a fullscreen app — Two chats and a Claude Code terminal, each an independent window, floating over a true-fullscreen app.

The options at a glance

	Official desktop app	claude.ai in browser windows	Sticky for Claude
Several conversations visible at once	No, single window	Yes, one per browser window	Yes, unlimited windows
Windows float above your work	No	No	Yes, always on top, even true fullscreen
Claude Code sessions per project	One at a time	Chat only	Yes, one pinned session per window
Screen footprint	Full window	Full browser windows	Compact sticky notes, auto-fade when idle
Price	Free with subscription	Free with subscription	$29 one-time (7-day free trial)

Open as many Claude windows as you need

7-day free trial · all features · no account, no card · macOS 14+, Apple Silicon

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Frequently asked

Can I run multiple Claude Code sessions at the same time?

Yes, that's a core Sticky for Claude use case: one floating window per project folder, each running its own Claude Code session with its own slash commands and permission modes. In terminals you can do the same with tabs or tmux, but they disappear behind fullscreen apps.

Do multiple windows use up more of my Claude subscription?

Each conversation consumes usage when you send messages, exactly like separate conversations on claude.ai. Having windows open costs nothing; you're billed by your own Anthropic plan, not per window.

Does the Claude desktop app have tabs?

It has a conversation list you can switch through, but no tabs or multiple windows you can view simultaneously. To see two conversations at once you need browser windows or Sticky for Claude.