“Mastering Claude Code Channels: A Complete Local Setup Guide”

# Introduction

Claude Code Channels is rapidly emerging as a practical alternative to OpenClaw for those looking to connect Claude to chat platforms without the complexity of a full agent framework. It’s easier to set up, works directly with a Claude subscription, and provides a simple way to interact with a local Claude Code session via Discord.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up Claude Code Channels on your local machine and link it to your Discord server. The most important thing to keep in mind from the beginning is that this setup relies on an active local Claude Code session. The bot will only function while that session is running on your computer.

# Prerequisites

Before diving into the setup, ensure you have the following ready:

You should also be aware that Channels requires a Claude.ai login and does not support API-key-only authentication.

Note: This tutorial uses Windows 11 for all setup steps and commands, but the same overall process applies to Linux and macOS as well.

# Installing Claude Code and Signing In

Start by installing Claude Code using PowerShell:

irm  | iex

Next, create a project folder, navigate into it, and launch Claude Code:

mkdir my-channels
cd my-channels
claude

Once Claude Code launches, sign in with your Claude.ai account:

This login step is essential before Channels can work.

# Installing Bun and Adding the Discord Plugin

Claude Code’s official Channels plugins rely on Bun, so install it next:

irm bun.sh/install.ps1 | iex

You can verify the installation by running:

After that, inside Claude Code, execute the following commands one at a time in the exact order shown. Each command sets up the next step, so skipping the sequence is not recommended.

First, register the official plugin marketplace:

/plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-official

Next, refresh the marketplace so Claude Code can pull the latest available plugins:

/plugin marketplace update claude-plugins-official

Then install the official Discord plugin:

/plugin install discord@claude-plugins-official

Finally, reload all plugins so the newly installed Discord integration becomes active in your current Claude Code session:

At this stage, Claude Code is fully prepared to use the Discord channel integration.

# Creating and Configuring Your Discord Bot

Head over to the Discord Developer Portal and create a new application. Within that application, navigate to the Bot section, reset the token, and save it in a secure location.

You’ll also need to enable Message Content Intent, as the bot won’t be able to read messages sent by users without it.

After that, generate a bot invite link using the OAuth2 URL Generator. Assign it the necessary permissions, including:

• View Channels
• Send Messages
• Send Messages in Threads
• Read Message History
• Attach Files
• Add Reactions
• Send Voice Messages

Then use the generated link to invite the bot into your Discord server.

# Connecting Claude Code to Discord

Return to Claude Code and configure the Discord plugin with your bot token:

/discord:configure YOUR_DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN

Claude Code typically saves this token automatically in its Channels config directory.

Once the token is configured, restart Claude Code with Channels enabled:

claude --channels plugin:discord@claude-plugins-official

This launches Claude Code with the Discord Channels plugin activated.

If you’d prefer Claude Code not to prompt for permission every time it needs to use a tool or perform an action, you can start it with the auto-approve flag instead:

claude --dangerously-skip-permissions --channels plugin:discord@claude-plugins-official

This makes the session more hands-off, which can lead to a smoother Discord experience. However, you should only enable this if you trust the environment and understand that Claude Code will act without requesting confirmation each time.

# Pairing Your Discord Account and Getting Started

With Claude Code running and Channels enabled, send your bot a direct message on Discord. It should respond with a pairing code.

Copy that code and enter it inside Claude Code:

/discord:access pair YOUR_PAIRING_CODE

Then restrict access to approved users only:

/discord:access policy allowlist

After completing these steps, you can message the bot on Discord and Claude Code will respond through your local session.