Get notified when Claude Code needs your input

Claude Code often runs for a while - exploring code, making edits, running builds. You switch to another task, forget to check back, and waste time waiting when it was already done.

The fix: desktop notifications that pop up the moment Claude Code is ready for input or needs your permission to continue.

iTerm2 Built-in Notifications

If you use iTerm2, there’s a built-in option. No hooks required.

1. Open Preferences (Cmd+,)
2. Go to Profiles → Terminal
3. Check Silence bell
4. Under Notifications, select Send Growl/Notification Center alerts

That’s it. iTerm2 will notify you when Claude Code is waiting for input.

For more details, see the official terminal configuration docs.

Custom Hook with terminal-notifier

Not using iTerm2? Or want more control over the notifications? Use a Notification hook.

First, install terminal-notifier:

brew install terminal-notifier

Then add this to your ~/.claude/settings.json:

{
  "hooks": {
    "Notification": [
      {
        "matcher": "idle_prompt",
        "hooks": [
          {
            "type": "command",
            "command": "terminal-notifier -title 'Claude Code' -message 'Ready for input'"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "matcher": "permission_prompt",
        "hooks": [
          {
            "type": "command",
            "command": "terminal-notifier -title 'Claude Code' -message 'Permission required' -sound default"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Two matchers handle different scenarios:

• idle_prompt - Claude finished working and is waiting for your next instruction
• permission_prompt - Claude needs your approval to run a command or make a change (includes a sound so you don’t miss it)

For the full hooks reference, see the Claude Code hooks documentation.

Which to Choose

iTerm2 users: Use the built-in notifications. Simpler setup, no external dependencies.

Everyone else: Use the terminal-notifier hook. Works in any terminal and lets you customize the message and add sounds.