Quick start: Claude Cowork runs in the Claude desktop app for macOS and Windows. You need a paid Claude plan: Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise. Open Claude Desktop, switch from Chat to Cowork, describe the task, review Claude's approach, and keep the desktop app open while it works.
- Claude Cowork is available on Claude Desktop for macOS and Windows.
- Cowork requires a paid Claude plan: Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise.
- Cowork is not a web-only feature. It requires the desktop app.
- The desktop app must stay open, and the computer must stay awake, while tasks run.
- Cowork can read and write local files in folders you connect.
- Code and shell commands run in an isolated virtual machine on the device.
- Scheduled tasks only run while the computer is awake and Claude Desktop is open.
- Cowork activity is not captured in audit logs, Compliance API, or data exports.
This guide was rewritten after checking Anthropic's official Cowork docs. The old Mac-only setup advice is no longer correct. Cowork now works through Claude Desktop on both macOS and Windows, and it has more explicit guidance for projects, scheduling, permissions, and enterprise use.
What changed in the official docs
The important corrections before you follow any old setup guide.
| Old advice | Current official guidance |
|---|---|
| Cowork is macOS only | Cowork is available on Claude Desktop for macOS and Windows. |
| Only Pro and Max users can use it | Anthropic lists Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise as supported paid plans. |
| Claude only works in a remote workspace | Cowork can read and write local files in connected folders. Code execution runs in an isolated VM on the device. |
| Closing the app is just a minor interruption | Anthropic says the desktop app must stay open while Claude is working. |
| Use it like normal chat | Cowork is for multi-step work where Claude may use files, browser access, tools, plugins, and scheduled tasks. |
Do not use old screenshots as truth
Cowork has been changing quickly. If a guide still says Mac-only, Pro/Max-only, or gives exact task runtimes, treat it as stale unless it cites the current Claude Help Center.
Requirements
What you need before starting.
| Requirement | Official guidance |
|---|---|
| App | Claude Desktop for macOS or the latest Claude Desktop for Windows. |
| Plan | Claude Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise. |
| Internet | An active connection throughout the session. |
| App state | Claude Desktop must remain open while Claude works. |
| Computer state | The computer must stay awake for active and scheduled tasks. |
| File access | Claude can only work with local folders you connect, but those files can be changed. |
Start by installing Claude Desktop from Anthropic's download page. On Windows, use the latest Claude for Windows app. Anthropic's help docs also link to readiness checkers for macOS, Windows arm64, and Windows x64 if you want to confirm the computer supports Cowork before you begin.
How to start a Cowork task
The setup flow from Anthropic's current help doc.
- Open Claude Desktop.
- Sign in with a paid Claude plan.
- Find the mode selector that includes Chat and Cowork.
- Click Cowork to switch to Tasks.
- Describe the task you want Claude to complete.
- Review Claude's approach before letting it run.
- Keep Claude Desktop open until the task finishes.
A good Cowork prompt says what finished work should look like. For example: "Use the receipts in this folder to create an expense spreadsheet with vendor, date, category, subtotal, tax, and total. Flag anything unreadable in a separate sheet." That is better than "organize my receipts" because it gives Claude an output shape and a way to handle uncertainty.
Use the safest permission mode first
Anthropic describes two permission modes: "Ask before acting" and "Act without asking." Start with "Ask before acting" when you are using new tools, unfamiliar files, or anything sensitive.
Not sure which AI model fits your workflow? Take the free quiz.
12 models · Personalized picks · 60 seconds
How Cowork runs your task
What is happening behind the interface.
Cowork behaves more like a task runner than a longer chat. Anthropic says it can plan the work, split complex jobs into subtasks, run code and shell commands in an isolated VM on your computer, coordinate parallel work when useful, and deliver finished outputs to your file system.
The desktop architecture matters. Claude's agent loop runs natively on the device for conversation handling, file reads and writes in connected folders, web fetches, and local plugin MCP servers. Code execution runs in a dedicated Linux VM isolated from the host operating system through Apple Virtualization.framework on macOS or Hyper-V on Windows.
| Part | What it means |
|---|---|
| Connected folders | Claude can read and write files there. Do not connect broad folders unless the task really needs them. |
| Code execution | Shell commands and code run in an isolated VM, not directly in your main operating system. |
| Progress view | Claude shows what it is doing so you can steer the task. |
| Deletion protection | Anthropic says Cowork requires explicit permission before permanently deleting files. |
| Desktop dependency | If Claude Desktop closes or the computer sleeps, active tasks can stop. |
Projects, plugins, and scheduled tasks
Where Cowork is more than a one-off task runner.
Projects in Cowork are workspaces for related tasks. Anthropic says they can have their own files, links, instructions, and memory. Use a project when you have recurring work around the same client, report, research topic, or internal process.
Cowork also supports plugins. Anthropic describes plugins as bundles of skills, connectors, and sub-agents that customize how Claude works. For companies, this is where Cowork can become more specific to a role or team, but every plugin also expands what Claude can touch. Install them carefully.
Scheduled tasks are useful for repeat work, but they need more caution than one-off tasks. Anthropic says scheduled tasks only run while your computer is awake and Claude Desktop is open. Do not schedule tasks that use sensitive files, send messages, make purchases, or do anything hard to undo.
Example Cowork tasks
Practical tasks that match the official use cases.
| Use case | Example prompt |
|---|---|
| File organization | Organize this Downloads folder by file type and date. Ask before deleting anything. |
| Expense reporting | Create an expense report from these receipts. Put unreadable receipts in a review tab. |
| Research synthesis | Use these articles and notes to draft a source-linked research summary with open questions at the end. |
| Transcript cleanup | Extract decisions and action items from these meeting notes. Keep uncertain items in a separate section. |
| Spreadsheet work | Create an Excel file with formulas, tabs by category, and a summary sheet. |
| Presentation draft | Turn these rough notes into a PowerPoint outline and deck draft for internal review. |
Use normal Claude chat for simple questions. Use Cowork when the job needs files, apps, multiple steps, a longer run, or a concrete output like a spreadsheet, slide deck, report, or organized folder.
Team and Enterprise notes
What admins should know before enabling Cowork.
Anthropic's Team and Enterprise Cowork page describes Cowork as a research preview for paid plans. It is on by default when the preview launches, but organization owners can disable it from Organization settings. Team plans use an organization-wide toggle. Enterprise admins can use groups and custom roles for more selective enablement.
The compliance limits are the part teams should read twice: Anthropic says Cowork activity is not captured in audit logs, the Compliance API, or data exports. If your organization needs an audit trail for regulated workloads, Anthropic says not to enable Cowork for those workloads.
| Area | Current official note |
|---|---|
| Admin toggle | Owners can enable or disable Cowork in Organization settings. |
| Plugins | Plugins are included with Cowork and controlled by the Cowork admin toggle. |
| Projects | Projects are available to all Cowork users, with no separate project-creation admin control listed for Team plans. |
| Monitoring | OpenTelemetry can stream Cowork events, but it does not replace audit logging. |
| Local storage | Cowork conversation history is stored locally on users' computers. |
| Regulated work | Anthropic says not to use Cowork for regulated workloads that require audit trails. |
Safety checklist
How to use Cowork without giving it too much room.
Cowork can work with local files, browser access, connected services, apps, MCPs, plugins, and scheduled tasks. That is also the risk. Treat it like giving a junior operator access to a workstation: define the work area, watch the first runs, and review outputs before anything leaves your machine.
- Create a dedicated Cowork folder instead of connecting your whole desktop, downloads, or documents folder.
- Keep sensitive files out of connected folders: credentials, financial records, personal records, legal files, and customer data.
- Start with "Ask before acting" for new workflows.
- Use "Act without asking" only when you are supervising and trust the files, sites, and tools involved.
- Do not schedule tasks that can send messages, make purchases, publish content, or change production systems.
- Limit browser and web access to trusted sources.
- Use trusted MCPs and plugins only.
- Review any spreadsheet, deck, report, or file changes before using them.
- Stop the task if Claude opens unexpected files, visits unexpected websites, or expands the task beyond your request.
You are still responsible
Anthropic says you remain responsible for actions Claude takes on your behalf, including published content, messages sent, purchases, data access, data modification, scheduled tasks, and computer use.
Official sources checked
The docs used for this update.
- Claude Help Center: Get started with Claude Cowork
- Claude Help Center: Use Claude Cowork safely
- Claude Help Center: Use Claude Cowork on Team and Enterprise plans
- Claude Help Center: Claude Cowork desktop architecture overview
For the broader product context, read What is Claude Cowork? If your work is mostly code, Claude Code is still the better place to start. For choosing between models and tools, use the AI Model Picker.
Keep Reading
Stay ahead of the AI curve
We test new AI tools every week and share honest results. Join our newsletter.