ClaireDesktop companion setup
Set up the Claire Desktop companion for connection flows that require a computer.
Some chat networks require a desktop companion, because their connection is tied to a computer or to an app-owned desktop browser session. Once connected, Claire synchronizes the messages you approved for cloud sync, so the inbox and AI features work on your other clients.
At a glance#
| Network | Companion required | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| No | Your primary WhatsApp phone, for the normal linked-device flow. | |
| Telegram | No | Your phone number and a Telegram verification code. |
| Yes | Claire Desktop on a Mac or Windows computer. | |
| iMessage | Yes, macOS only | A Mac that stays signed in to Messages with your Apple Account. |
Instagram#
Instagram uses the companion rather than a form in the mobile or web app. The companion owns the browser session the bridge needs, so Claire never asks you to open developer tools or paste a browser cookie.
Sign in to Claire Desktop
Use the same Claire account as your phone or the web app.
Open Settings → Connected platforms → Instagram → Connect
Complete Instagram's own sign-in
Finish any challenge or two-factor prompt inside the companion window.
Wait for Connected
Keep the companion running through the first sync.
Refresh Connected platforms on any client
Your Instagram conversations appear as the companion syncs them.
iMessage#
iMessage requires a Mac companion. iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and web clients cannot read or send through Apple’s Messages database directly.
Use a Mac signed in to the owning Apple Account
Keep Messages enabled and grant the requested permissions
Claire Desktop needs to read local message history and automate sending.
Connect from Settings → Connected platforms → iMessage
Leave the Mac powered on and online
It is the source of new iMessage events for the rest of Claire.
The companion uses the normal macOS security model and will not ask you to disable System Integrity Protection. That supports basic bridging; some advanced bridge capabilities may remain unavailable on a stock Mac.
Privacy and reliability#
- The session stays on your computer
- The companion keeps the upstream network session locally, not on Claire servers.
- Sync starts only after you connect
- Synced text and captions power the unified inbox, Ask Claire, reply suggestions, and loop tracking.
- Disconnecting revokes the connection
- Deleting already-imported message history is a separate account-data action.
- A companion must be online to receive new messages
- Claire always shows a last-sync timestamp, so it never implies a disconnected computer is live.
Troubleshooting#
| Symptom | What to do |
|---|---|
| Instagram sign-in is challenged | Approve the login in Instagram, finish two-factor, then retry from Claire Desktop. |
| Instagram connected but chats are missing | Leave the companion open through the initial sync, then refresh after the last-sync time advances. |
| iMessage is unavailable | Confirm the Mac is signed in to Messages, awake, online, and that Claire Desktop has the required permissions. |
| Companion is offline | Already-synced messages still show everywhere; new messages cannot arrive until it reconnects. |