Claude Cowork

The non-developer counterpart to Claude Code — an agent for file-heavy work (spreadsheets, slide decks, document wrangling), available in the Claude desktop app and, in beta, on the web and mobile.

What it is

Cowork runs Claude as an agent with permission-gated access to your files. It’s aimed at non-coding workflows: editing spreadsheets, generating slide decks, reformatting reports, batching file operations. It started as a sandboxed-VM app inside Claude Desktop; since 2026-07-07 it’s also in beta on the web (claude.ai) and mobile (iOS/Android), where sessions run on Anthropic’s servers and follow you across devices — start a task at your desk, check it from your phone. The full desktop experience (local files, browser, computer use) stays desktop-only.

Cowork supports Plugins — packaged bundles that combine Connectors and workflow templates. Anthropic ships department-specific Cowork plugins (e.g., Claude for Small Business) that pre-wire a set of connectors for a use case.

When to use it

  • File and document automation that doesn’t require coding.
  • Workflows that need a desktop agent with controlled local-folder access.
  • Trying a packaged Cowork plugin (e.g., Claude for Small Business) instead of wiring connectors yourself.

How to install / enable

  • Install Claude Desktop on macOS or Windows. Cowork went generally available on both platforms on 2026-04-09; no Linux desktop client.
  • Open the app and enable Cowork from the sidebar.
  • Available on all paid plans (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise). Max 5x or higher is recommended for daily use; Cowork tasks consume substantially more tokens than chat.
  • Install a Cowork plugin from the Plugins surface in the app, or via the Claude.ai directory (claude.ai/directory).
  • To try the web/mobile beta instead: on Max, start a Cowork session from the claude.ai home screen, or open Cowork from the sidebar in the Claude iOS/Android app.

Common pitfalls

  • Cowork is not Claude Desktop chat and not Claude Code — it’s a distinct surface, now reachable from the desktop app, claude.ai, or mobile.
  • Local-only command-line tools and arbitrary binaries don’t run in Cowork; use Claude Code for that. The desktop app’s computer use toggle gets you screen control instead, not a real shell.
  • Folder access is permission-gated — grant access deliberately, not blanket.
  • Web/mobile Cowork is beta and Max-first; other plans roll out over the following weeks with no fixed date.

See also

Sources