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How to use Claude Cowork

Cowork lets Claude carry out multi-step work for you, such as sorting a folder, writing a report from your notes or building a spreadsheet, instead of just answering in chat. Here is who has it, how to start a task and how to keep it on a short leash.

Updated 30 October 2026

What Cowork is and who has it

Anthropic describes Cowork as the agent behind Claude Code applied to knowledge work, without any terminal. Instead of a single answer, Claude plans the job, works through the steps and hands back finished output: an organized folder, a formatted document, an Excel file with working formulas or a slide deck.

• Plans: Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise. There is no Cowork on Free.
• Desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux beta): all paid plans.
• Web and mobile: Pro and Max, Team in beta, and Enterprise once an owner switches it on.
• Local files, browser use and computer use need the desktop app open and connected.

As of October 2026, Anthropic is rolling out a combined layout where chat and Cowork share one home. If your message box has no Chat and Cowork options, you have that version and can describe a task in any conversation.

Start a task

1. Open Claude at claude.ai, in the desktop app or in the mobile app.
2. In the message box, select Cowork (skip this if you have the combined layout).
3. Describe the result you want, with the details a colleague would need: which files, what format, who it's for.
4. Read the approach Claude proposes. Correct it now if it misunderstood.
5. Let it run. You'll see each step as it happens, and you can type to steer it mid-task.

Cloud sessions keep running if you close the app or your computer sleeps, and you can check in from another device. Tasks that touch local files, your browser or your computer stop if the desktop app closes.

Give Cowork a folder

In the desktop app, Claude reads and writes your files directly, with no uploading or downloading, but only inside folders you've connected. When you choose a local folder you can also give it folder instructions, extra context for that project, which Claude may update as it works.

Anthropic's safety advice is to make a dedicated working folder, keep backups, and not connect folders with sensitive material such as financial documents. When a task ends, Claude tells you where it saved the output.

Pick a permission mode

Use the mode selector in the message box:

• Manual (formerly "Ask before acting"): Claude asks before acting and you click Allow or Deny each time.
• Auto: Claude decides, but reviews each action for safety problems such as data leaving your account or hidden instructions, and blocks unsafe ones. It's the default on Pro, Max and Team in the combined layout.
• Skip (formerly "Act without asking"): no pauses and no automatic checks. Only for tasks where you trust every file, site and connector involved.

In the combined layout, the selector shows only Auto and Manual; Manual is the default on Enterprise. In every mode, Claude asks for your permission before permanently deleting files.

Tasks to try first

• Files: sort your Downloads folder by type and date, or rename a batch of files with one date format.
• Paperwork: turn a folder of receipts into an expense report.
• Research: combine web sources and your notes into a report, or pull themes and action items out of meeting transcripts.
• Documents: make a slide deck from rough notes, or a multi-tab spreadsheet with formulas.
• Data: clean a dataset, find outliers or chart a trend.

Set standing instructions and schedules

• Global instructions: go to Settings > Cowork, click Edit next to Global instructions, write them and click Save. In the combined layout they live under Instructions for Claude in your settings and apply to every conversation.
• Recurring tasks: type /schedule in a Cowork task, or click Scheduled in the left sidebar. Scheduled tasks run in the cloud, so your computer can be off.

Good to know

• Usage: each step uses tokens, so multi-step tasks use more of your limit than a quick question. Group related work into one task, start a new one for unrelated work, and check Settings > Usage. Our guide to Claude's usage limit explains what to do when you hit it.
• Where it runs: Claude works in an isolated environment on Anthropic's servers. Local files you open through the desktop app are processed there too, not only on your computer.
• Deleting a task removes it from your history at once and from Anthropic's backend storage within 30 days.
• Hidden instructions: web pages, emails and documents can contain instructions meant to hijack Claude. Anthropic says the risk is reduced but not zero: stick to trusted sites, watch for unexpected actions, and stop the task if something looks wrong.
• Don't automate the risky things: Anthropic advises against scheduled tasks that touch sensitive files, send messages, make purchases or do anything hard to undo, and against using the browser for sensitive accounts.

If it doesn't work

• "Setting up Claude's workspace": normal; Cowork is updating itself. Wait a moment.
• The task stopped halfway: local tasks need the desktop app open the whole time. For long jobs, use a cloud session.
• Files aren't where you expected: check that the folder is connected and read the output location Claude gave at the end.
• You run out of usage fast: combine small tasks, and tell Claude when you only want a quick answer.

Sources

• Get started with Claude Cowork (Claude Help Center, checked 2026-10-30)
• Use Claude Cowork safely (Claude Help Center, checked 2026-10-30)

Frequently asked questions