Start Here: Your Claude Cowork Guide
New to Cowork? Learn what it is, how it works, and get your first workflows running safely.
How to get Claude Cowork
Cowork is a mode inside the Claude Desktop app. Here is what you need and how to set it up.
Requirements
- ✓ macOS or Windows (x64) — Cowork runs inside the Claude Desktop app. No web or mobile version.
- ✓ Paid Claude plan — Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise. Not available on the free tier.
- ✓ Internet connection — Required throughout your session.
Download Claude Desktop
Get the app from claude.com/download. Install it and sign in with your Anthropic account.
Open Cowork mode
Launch the app and click the Cowork tab in the mode selector at the top.
Select a folder
Grant Cowork access to a specific folder on your computer. Avoid sharing your entire home directory—create a dedicated project folder instead, like ~/Cowork/Projects/.
Describe your task
Type what you want done in plain language. Claude will propose an approach and wait for your approval before making any changes.
Tips for your first session
- • Start with a read-only task—ask Claude to summarize a folder without modifying anything.
- • Keep the app open while Claude works. Closing it ends the session.
- • Review Claude’s plan before approving. You stay in control at every step.
Cowork vs. Claude Code: What's the difference?
Claude Cowork
Claude Desktop in agentic mode. Works with your local files and approved connectors.
- ✓ Access and modify local files and folders
- ✓ Connect to Gmail, Google Drive, Slack, and more
- ✓ Automate repetitive tasks across your tools
- ✓ Get results emailed, filed, or saved automatically
- ✓ Control permissions—only access what you approve
Claude Code
Claude in your terminal. Agentic coding directly from the command line.
- ✓ Write and debug code from your terminal
- ✓ Agentic coding—Claude reads, edits, and runs code autonomously
- ✓ Works with your existing codebase and dev tools
- ✓ Git-aware with built-in safety checks
- ✓ Perfect for refactoring, debugging, and building features
In short: Use Cowork to automate work in your actual files and tools. Use Claude Code to build and test new code.
Your first 3 Cowork tasks
Analyze a folder of files (read-only)
Give Cowork access to a folder and ask it to read and summarize the contents. No file changes—perfect for low-risk practice.
View read-only analyzer workflow →Organize a downloads folder safely
Ask Cowork to sort files by type and ask for confirmation before moving anything. Build confidence with a supervised task.
View folder organization workflow →Extract and reformat data from documents
Use a prompt pack to pull data from files and output it in a new format. See Cowork’s strength in data transformation.
View data extraction prompt pack →How to scope access safely
Cowork is powerful because it can access your files and tools. Keep it safe by following these principles:
1. Start with specific folders
Don’t give Cowork access to your entire home directory. Instead, create a dedicated folder for each task. Example: ~/Cowork/Projects/Q1-Reports/
2. Use read-only when possible
If Cowork only needs to read files, tell it explicitly: “You have read-only access. Do not delete, move, or modify any files.” This is your failsafe.
3. Ask for verification steps
Before Cowork takes any action (especially delete, move, or overwrite), instruct it to summarize what it plans to do and wait for your approval.
4. Test on a copy first
For any task involving file modifications, duplicate the folder and test your workflow on the copy before running on the real thing.
5. Review permissions regularly
Check what connectors and folders Cowork has access to. Revoke access when you’re done with a task. Don’t leave standing permissions.