How to Run Multiple Claude Instances in VS Code: A Developer's Guide
Z
Zack Saadioui
8/10/2025
So, You Want to Run Two Claude Instances in VS Code? Here's the Lowdown.
Hey there! So you're digging into VS Code & trying to figure out if you can get two instances of Claude running at the same time. It’s a pretty smart question, honestly. When you’re deep in a project, waiting for one AI task to finish before starting the next can feel like a HUGE bottleneck. Turns out, you're onto something big.
The short answer is: YES, you absolutely can run multiple Claude Code instances in VS Code. In fact, a lot of developers are already doing this to seriously boost their productivity. It's one of those "once you try it, you can't go back" kinds of workflow upgrades.
But here’s the thing, there isn't just one way to do it. There are a few different approaches, ranging from super simple to a bit more advanced. We're going to break it all down, so you can figure out the best setup for you.
Why Even Bother with Multiple Claudes?
Before we get into the "how," let's talk about the "why." It might seem a little extra at first, but running multiple Claudes can fundamentally change how you code. I was a bit skeptical too, but it's a game-changer.
Think about it. How often are you waiting for Claude to finish generating a block of code, or running a complex task? A few weeks ago, a developer on Reddit mentioned they found themselves "doing nothing for 1-2 minutes while Claude is working." That's precious time you could be using for something else.
By running multiple instances, you can have one Claude working on a feature, another planning the next steps, & maybe even a third one debugging a separate issue. It's like having a small team of AI assistants working alongside you, each with their own dedicated focus. The folks at Anthropic, the creators of Claude, even recommend "multi-Claude workflows" as a best practice. They suggest things like having one Claude write code while another reviews or tests it, which is a pretty powerful concept.
You can essentially parallelize your development process. While one instance is chugging away on a heavy task, you can be kicking off another one, keeping your momentum going. This is especially useful for larger projects or when you're juggling multiple tasks.
The Easiest Way: Multiple Panes in VS Code
Alright, let's start with the simplest method. You don't need any fancy tools or complex setups for this one. The Claude Code extension for VS Code is designed to support this right out of the box.
One developer on Builder.io shared their workflow, saying you can "run multiple instances in parallel in different panes in your IDE as long as they're working on different parts of your codebase." This is the most straightforward approach.
Here's how you can do it:
Open a new terminal pane: In VS Code, you can easily open multiple terminal panes. Just go to "Terminal" > "New Terminal" (or use the shortcut, usually `Ctrl+Shift+``). You can also split your existing terminal to have them side-by-side.
Start Claude in each pane: In each terminal pane, you can start a new Claude Code session. This will give you separate, independent instances of Claude.
Assign different tasks: Now you can give each Claude a different job. For example, in one pane, you could ask Claude to refactor a file. In the other, you could have it generate unit tests for a different file.
This method is great for quick, parallel tasks within the same project. It's low-friction & doesn't require any extra setup. The main limitation is that all the instances are running on your local machine, sharing the same resources. For most day-to-day tasks, this is perfectly fine.
Leveling Up: Multiple Repo Checkouts
If you want a bit more separation between your Claude instances, a good next step is to use multiple checkouts of your repository. This is another workflow that developers at Anthropic themselves use. [5]
The idea is simple:
Create multiple folders: On your local machine, create a few different folders (e.g.,
1
project-a
,
1
project-b
,
1
project-c
).
Clone your repo in each folder: In each of these folders, clone your Git repository. Now you have multiple, independent copies of your project.
Open each folder in a separate VS Code window: You can open each of these folders in its own VS Code window.
Start a Claude instance in each window: In each VS Code window, open the terminal & start a Claude Code session.
Now you have multiple Claude instances, each working in its own isolated copy of the project. This is a great way to work on different features in parallel without them interfering with each other. You can be working on a big feature in one window, while another Claude is fixing a small bug in another.
The Pro Move:
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git worktrees
If you're a Git power user, you'll love this next method:
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git worktrees
. This is a more advanced Git feature that lets you have multiple working trees connected to the same repository. Essentially, you can have multiple branches checked out at the same time, each in its own directory.
This is a really clean way to run multiple Claude sessions on different parts of your project. [5] Each worktree has its own set of files, but they all share the same Git history.
Here's a quick rundown of how you could use it:
Create a new worktree: From your main project directory, you can create a new worktree for a new feature. For example:
Open the worktree in a new VS Code window: Now you'll have a new folder at
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../my-new-feature-worktree
. You can open this in a new VS Code window.
Start Claude in each worktree: Just like with the multiple checkouts method, you can start a separate Claude instance in each worktree.
The big advantage of
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git worktrees
is that it's more efficient than cloning the entire repository multiple times. It's a cleaner, more streamlined way to work on multiple branches at once, & it's PERFECT for parallelizing your work with multiple Claude instances.
The Ultimate Setup: Isolated Cloud Environments with Gitpod
Now, if you want to get REALLY serious about running multiple Claude instances, you should check out Gitpod. This is a platform that lets you create cloud-based development environments. The folks at Gitpod have a great tutorial on how to run multiple Claude Code instances in parallel using their platform. [2, 3]
Here's the gist of it:
Each Claude gets its own environment: With Gitpod, you can spin up a separate, isolated environment for each Claude instance. This means each one gets its own dedicated CPU, memory, & filesystem. [3]
True parallelism: Because each instance has its own resources, you get true parallelism. You can kick off a heavy task on one Claude & it won't slow down your other instances at all.
Persistent environments: These environments are persistent, so you can close your laptop & your Claude instances will keep on working. [3]
This setup is ideal for really demanding workflows, like running a whole team of AI agents on a large project. It’s like having a CI/CD pipeline for your AI assistants. [2]
What About Other AI Assistants?
The idea of using multiple AI assistants isn't limited to just Claude. The VS Code extension ecosystem is HUGE, & there are tons of other AI coding assistants out there. A recent Reddit thread asked about the best AI assistants for VS Code in 2025, & the list was long, with tools like GitHub Copilot, Tabnine, & Cursor being popular choices.
What's really interesting is that you can even use multiple different AI assistants in your workflow. A developer in a DEV Community article mentioned they use two different assistants for different projects, switching between them as needed within the "Continue" extension. [2] This allows you to use the best tool for the job. Maybe you prefer Claude for complex code understanding, but you like another tool for its autocomplete suggestions. With the right extensions, you can mix & match.
A Note on Automation & Customer Experience
Thinking about all this AI power in your development workflow gets you thinking about how else you can use AI in a business. It's not just about writing code faster. It's about creating better products & experiences.
For example, once you've built your awesome new app with the help of your team of Claudes, you're going to have users with questions. That's where a tool like Arsturn comes in pretty handy. Arsturn helps businesses build no-code AI chatbots trained on their own data. So, you could feed it all your documentation, support articles, & product info, & it can provide instant, personalized customer support 24/7. It's a great way to handle customer questions & engage with visitors on your website, freeing up your human team to focus on the more complex issues. It's another example of how AI can automate tasks & improve the overall customer experience.
So, What's the Best Setup for You?
Honestly, there's no single "best" way to run multiple Claude instances. It really depends on your needs & your personal workflow.
For casual, day-to-day use: The multiple panes method in VS Code is probably all you need. It's quick, easy, & gets the job done.
For more complex projects: If you're working on a larger project with multiple features in flight, the multiple checkouts or
1
git worktrees
methods are a great choice. They provide better isolation & help you stay organized.
For power users & teams: If you want the ultimate in performance & parallelism, Gitpod is the way to go. It's a more advanced setup, but it offers a level of power & flexibility that's hard to beat.
My advice? Start simple. Try the multiple panes method first & see how you like it. As you get more comfortable with the workflow, you can explore the more advanced options.
The key takeaway here is that you don't have to be limited to a single, linear workflow when using AI assistants. By running multiple instances of Claude, you can unlock a new level of productivity & change the way you code for the better.
Hope this was helpful! Let me know what you think, & if you have any other cool setups for running multiple AI assistants, I'd love to hear about them.