GUIDE
Approve Claude Code permissions from the menu bar
Claude Code's PermissionRequest hook exposes a real decision channel. NapCat's opt-in Control Bridge holds that channel locally, puts the choices in your notch, and sends back exactly what you click.
Why this is harder than it sounds
A notification can tell you Claude is blocked, but it cannot decide the permission. The PermissionRequest hook can. It runs when Claude is about to ask, waits for a bounded response, and accepts an allow or deny decision without simulated keystrokes.
Interception pings you for everything
A PreToolUse hook fires for every tool call - including ones your permission settings would auto-approve. Route those to a popup and an autonomous session pings you dozens of times an hour about scripts it was always allowed to run.
The quiet way: answer the decision channel
NapCat listens on PermissionRequest: a genuine ask takes over the notch with Allow, Deny, and any persistent rules Claude offered. Your click is returned as documented hook JSON. Ignore the card and NapCat closes its channel with no opinion, leaving Claude’s original prompt available in the terminal.
Questions
Can you approve Claude Code permissions outside the terminal?
Yes. Claude Code's PermissionRequest hook accepts a documented allow or deny decision. NapCat returns that decision directly; it does not type into your terminal.
Why not just intercept every tool call?
A PreToolUse hook fires for every tool call, including ones your settings would auto-approve. Routing those to a popup means an autonomous session pings you dozens of times an hour about things it was always allowed to do.
How does NapCat approve from the notch?
It listens on the PermissionRequest hook, which fires when Claude is about to ask. The ask takes over the notch, and NapCat returns the Allow, Deny, or remembered-rule decision as hook output.
Can something get approved without me?
No. Nothing is ever answered without your click. Ignore the card and the terminal behaves exactly as it always did.
Related
See how to get Claude Code notifications, monitor multiple Claude Code sessions, or read the full Claude Code support page.
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