The short version: In the new Claude experience, Cowork and chat share one conversation. Describe the task without choosing a mode, and Claude can work through the steps and create finished files. Cloud tasks keep running after you close your laptop. The rollout starts with Pro and Max, so some accounts still show separate Chat and Cowork options. Local file or app access needs Claude Desktop open and the computer awake.
- Claude Cowork is available on Claude Desktop for macOS and Windows.
- Cowork currently supports Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise; the merged experience starts with Pro and Max.
- The new Claude experience merges Cowork and chat on web, desktop, and mobile, with no Cowork switch.
- Cloud tasks can continue with the laptop closed; local file or app access needs Desktop open and the computer awake.
- Claude can read and write local files in folders you connect.
- Cloud tasks run on Anthropic's servers; existing local sessions run on the device with code in an isolated virtual machine (VM).
- Projects in Cowork can store related tasks, files, links, instructions, and memory.
- The Compliance API lets eligible organizations retrieve Cowork activity and conversation records; check current help for separate audit logs and exports.
Claude Cowork lets Claude carry out a task, such as turning source files into a report or spreadsheet. Anthropic announced on September 16, 2026 that Cowork and chat are becoming one Claude. In the new experience, you ask for the work in a conversation and Claude chooses the tools it needs.
The merged experience is rolling out to Pro and Max first on web, desktop, and mobile. Team and Free are due to follow, and Enterprise admins get at least 30 days' notice. Even accounts on the same plan can move at different times. If your message box still shows Chat and Cowork, keep using that older selector. Claude Desktop on macOS or Windows is still needed for access to files and apps on your computer.
What is Claude Cowork?
How Claude carries out a task.
Claude Cowork lets you describe an outcome and have Claude work through the steps. In the new experience, any conversation can become a task. Anthropic's examples include formatted documents, organized files, research summaries, spreadsheets, presentations, scheduled tasks, and project workspaces.
Claude can take actions as well as answer questions. It can organize files in a folder you connect or create a spreadsheet with formulas. On accounts with the older interface, choose Cowork for this work. In the merged experience, describe it in the conversation you already have open.
Plain-English definition
Cowork is Claude doing work over several steps. Cloud tasks run on Anthropic's servers. Claude Desktop connects those tasks to local folders and apps when you allow access.
How Cowork works
The architecture in Anthropic's current docs.
Cloud sessions run on Anthropic's servers in an isolated temporary workspace. Both task coordination and code execution happen there. When a cloud task needs a connected local file or app, it reaches your computer through Claude Desktop. Closing Desktop removes that access, but the cloud session can keep running.
Existing local desktop sessions use two environments on your device. The agent loop, which coordinates the task and its tools, handles connected-folder access and local plugins. Code runs in a separate Linux virtual machine (VM), isolated from your main operating system by Apple Virtualization.framework on macOS or Hyper-V on Windows. This describes local sessions, rather than every Cowork task.
| Part | What Anthropic says it does |
|---|---|
| Cloud sessions | Task coordination and code run in an isolated workspace on Anthropic's servers. |
| Existing local sessions | The agent loop runs on the device, with code in an isolated Linux VM. |
| Permissions | Uses connected-folder rules, network egress settings, MCP permissions, and Cowork permission modes. |
| Deletion protection | Requires explicit permission before permanently deleting files. |
| Desktop dependency | Local sessions and access to local files or apps need Desktop open and the computer awake. Cloud work can continue without the device. |
This matters because Cowork can touch local files you connect, and cloud tasks process the files they open on Anthropic's servers. It can also use browser access, connected services, apps, and plugins, depending on what you enable. MCP (Model Context Protocol) is the standard some of these tools use to connect to Claude.
What Cowork can do
Current capabilities from the official docs.
| Capability | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Direct local file access | Claude can read from and write to connected local folders without manual uploads and downloads. |
| Sub-agent coordination | Claude can split complex work into smaller tasks and coordinate parallel workstreams. |
| Professional outputs | Claude can generate documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, reports, and charts. |
| Long-running tasks | Cowork can work on extended tasks without the usual chat rhythm of one reply at a time. |
| Scheduled tasks | Cloud schedules can run with no device online. Work that needs local resources still depends on your computer. |
| Projects | Related tasks can live in workspaces with their own files, links, instructions, and memory. |
| Plugins | Plugins can bundle skills, connectors, and sub-agents for specific work. |
| Mobile handoff | Cloud sessions follow your account across web, desktop, and mobile. Access to your computer still depends on Desktop. |
Cowork vs Claude Chat
The separate modes that some accounts still show.
The new experience has no Chat/Cowork switch. Ask a quick question or describe a larger task in the same conversation. The comparison below applies to accounts that still have the older selector.
Older experience with separate Chat and Cowork options
| Area | Claude Chat | Claude Cowork |
|---|---|---|
| Interaction | One prompt and response at a time | Multi-step task execution |
| Files | Manual uploads and downloads | Connected local folders |
| Outputs | Mostly answers and drafts | Documents, spreadsheets, presentations, organized files, and reports |
| Runtime | Shorter chat turns | Extended tasks that can run while you monitor or step away |
| Scheduling | Use Cowork for schedules in this older interface | Scheduled tasks are available |
| Risk | Lower, because it mostly replies | Higher, because it can act on files, apps, web content, and connected tools |
If you still have the selector, use Chat for quick questions and Cowork for multi-step work or repeat tasks. In the new experience, Claude handles both from one conversation.
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Cowork vs Claude Code
Choosing an interface for coding or office work.
Cowork brings Claude's ability to plan and use tools to knowledge work beyond coding. Claude Code is aimed at software work. Cowork's task tools are useful when the output is a spreadsheet, deck, report, folder cleanup, or recurring research task.
| Area | Claude Code | Claude Cowork |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Terminal and developer tooling | Claude on web, desktop, and mobile, depending on account access |
| Best fit | Software engineering work | Knowledge work, files, documents, research, and office outputs |
| User comfort | Better for users comfortable with repos and command lines | Describe the outcome in a conversation |
| File work | Codebase-centered | Cloud files, with local folder access through Desktop |
| Related guide | Read the Claude Code guide for coding work | Read the Cowork setup guide for first-task steps |
If your work is mostly code, read our Claude Code guide. If your work is a mix of documents, data, files, and research, Cowork is the more relevant starting point.
What can you do with Cowork?
Examples that match Anthropic's docs.
| Use case | Example |
|---|---|
| File management | Organize a Downloads folder by type and date, or batch rename files with a consistent pattern. |
| Receipts and expenses | Process receipts into a formatted expense report. |
| Research synthesis | Combine web searches, articles, papers, and notes into a report or summary. |
| Transcript analysis | Extract themes, decisions, and action items from meeting notes or interview transcripts. |
| Spreadsheets | Generate Excel files with formulas, tabs, formatting, and charts. |
| Presentations | Create slide decks from rough notes or meeting transcripts. |
| Data work | Clean, transform, analyze, and visualize datasets. |
| Recurring work | Schedule cloud tasks without leaving a device online. Keep Desktop open for work that needs local resources. |
For the exact setup flow, use our Claude Cowork setup guide.
Requirements
What you need before using Cowork.
| Requirement | Current official guidance |
|---|---|
| Plan | Cowork supports Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise. The merged experience starts with Pro and Max; Team and Free will follow. |
| App | Use web, desktop, or mobile where your account has access. Use Desktop for local files and apps. |
| Windows | Requires the latest Claude for Windows app. |
| Web/mobile | The merged experience is rolling out on both. Separate Cowork is also in beta on these surfaces for supported accounts. |
| Internet | You need a connection to start or steer work; cloud tasks continue when your device goes offline. |
| App state | Local sessions and access to local files or apps need Claude Desktop open. |
| Computer state | Keep the computer awake for local work. Cloud schedules can run with no device online. |
Current limitations
What the docs still warn about.
- The merged experience is still rolling out. Your account may still show separate Chat and Cowork options.
- In the older Cowork experience, session sharing is not available.
- Review your memory settings. Cloud tasks can use chat memory when it is enabled, alongside context kept in Projects.
- Local sessions can stop if Desktop closes or the computer sleeps. Cloud sessions lose local access but can continue other work.
- Cloud schedules do not need an online device; tasks that need local resources still do.
- Cowork is covered by the Compliance API on eligible plans. Check the current help for coverage in separate audit logs and data exports.
- OpenTelemetry can stream Cowork events for Team and Enterprise owners, but it does not replace audit logging.
- Local-session history stays on the computer; Enterprise admins can retrieve it through the Compliance API, but local-session deletion endpoints are not yet available. Cloud sessions and files are saved to the member's Claude account.
Check controls before using regulated data
Confirm your plan's monitoring, retention, and export controls in Anthropic's current help before using regulated data. Compliance API coverage alone does not confirm that your organization has every record or control it needs.
Announced change for October 6, 2026
Anthropic says new Pro and Max tasks will run in the cloud from October 6, 2026, and the "Only on your computer" option will be removed. Tasks already started locally will stay on the computer. This is an upcoming change as of October 2. Local file or app access will still need Desktop open.
Safety considerations
How to think about the risk.
Cowork is useful because it can act. That is also why it needs more care than chat. Anthropic warns that Cowork has unique risks because of its agentic nature and internet access, and says prompt injection risk is not zero even with safety measures.
Start with a dedicated folder, low-risk files, and Manual permissions so you can review requests. Watch for unexpected file access, unexpected websites, unrelated requests, or task scope creep.
- Avoid connecting folders with financial documents, credentials, personal records, legal files, or customer data.
- Keep backups of important files before letting Cowork edit them.
- Limit browser and web access to trusted sources.
- Use trusted MCPs and plugins only.
- Be careful with Claude in Chrome and computer use, especially around sensitive accounts.
- Do not schedule tasks that send messages, make purchases, publish content, or change production systems.
- Stop the task if Claude accesses unexpected files or websites.
You are still responsible
Anthropic says you remain responsible for actions Claude takes on your behalf, including content published, messages sent, purchases, data accessed or modified, scheduled task actions, and computer use.
Team and Enterprise notes
Admin controls, plugins, and compliance limits.
Team and Enterprise organizations still have separate Chat and Cowork options during this rollout. Owners can disable Cowork in Organization settings, and cloud sessions have a separate control. Team plans have an organization-wide toggle. Enterprise admins can use groups and custom roles for more selective enablement.
| Area | Official note |
|---|---|
| Admin toggle | Owners can enable or disable Cowork in Organization settings. |
| Plugins | Plugins are included with Cowork and controlled by the same admin toggle. |
| Plugin marketplaces | Owners can curate plugins as installed by default, available, required, or not available. |
| Projects | Available to all Cowork users, with no separate org-level project creation control listed for Team plans. |
| Monitoring | Team and Enterprise owners can use OpenTelemetry to stream Cowork events, but it does not replace audit logging. |
| Compliance records | Cowork sessions are covered by the Compliance API on eligible plans. Check current help for separate audit-log and export coverage. |
| Device controls | MDM keys can disable local MCP servers and desktop extensions on managed devices. |
That means Cowork may be fine for internal low-risk productivity work, but it needs a real rollout plan before a company points it at regulated files, customer data, or sensitive systems.
Official sources checked
The Claude and Anthropic docs used for this update.
- Claude Help Center: Get started with Claude Cowork
- Claude: September 16 announcement
- Claude Help Center: Cowork and chat are one Claude
- Claude Help Center: Web, desktop, mobile, and the October 6 change
- Claude Help Center: Schedule recurring tasks
- Claude Help Center: Compliance API coverage
- Claude Help Center: Use Claude Cowork safely
- Claude Help Center: Use Claude Cowork on Team and Enterprise plans
- Claude Help Center: Cowork cloud and local architecture
The closest comparison is still Manus AI. For tool selection beyond Cowork, use the AI Model Picker.
Frequently asked questions
What is Claude Cowork?
Claude Cowork lets Claude carry out multi-step work and create finished files. In the new Claude experience, you describe the task in any conversation without choosing a Cowork mode. Cloud tasks keep running after you close your laptop. Local file or app access still needs Claude Desktop open and the computer awake.
Who can use Claude Cowork?
Cowork is available on Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans. Anthropic announced the merged Claude experience on September 16, 2026, starting with Pro and Max. Team and Free will follow; Enterprise gets at least 30 days' notice. Accounts on the same plan can move at different times.
Is Claude Cowork available on Windows?
Yes. Anthropic's official docs say Claude Cowork is available on Claude Desktop for macOS and Claude Desktop for Windows. Windows users need the latest Claude for Windows app.
Is Claude Cowork safe for regulated workloads?
Anthropic confirms Cowork coverage in the Compliance API, a tool for retrieving activity and conversation records on eligible plans. That does not establish complete coverage in separate audit logs or bulk exports. Check the current help and your plan's controls before using regulated data.
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