Getting Started with Claude Cowork

A practical guide to set up Claude Cowork, run your first workflow, and understand what's possible. No prior experience needed.

What is Claude Cowork?

Cowork is Claude's agentic mode—a way to work with Claude that's different from chat.

Chat Mode

You ask Claude a question, Claude answers. You manage each step of the conversation.

Cowork Mode

You describe an outcome you want. Claude plans the steps, works with your files and apps, and completes the task. You stay in control and approve important decisions.

Common Cowork Tasks

  • ✓ Organize and rename files in a folder
  • ✓ Pull data from multiple tools and build a report
  • ✓ Draft and format a document, then save it
  • ✓ Summarize a folder of documents
  • ✓ Clean up and standardize data in a spreadsheet
  • ✓ Coordinate tasks across apps (e.g., read from Gmail, write to Google Drive)

What You Need

Three things to get started with Cowork:

Requirements

✓

A Claude App

Desktop app (macOS or Windows), web at claude.ai, or mobile app. Desktop is best if you work with local files.

✓

A Paid Claude Plan

Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise. See our plans and pricing guide for details.

✓

Internet Connection

Cowork runs on Anthropic's servers, so you'll need internet throughout your session.

Setup Steps

Follow these steps to get Cowork running.

1

Choose Where to Use Cowork

Desktop App (Recommended for file work)

Download from claude.com/download

Web (No download needed)

Visit claude.ai

Mobile App

Available on iOS and Android from your app store.

2

Sign In with Your Anthropic Account

Log in with the account that has your paid Claude plan (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise).

3

Switch to Cowork Mode

Look at the top of the app. You should see a mode selector with options like "Chat" and "Cowork". Click on Cowork to switch.

4

Grant Access to a Folder (Desktop Only)

If you're using the desktop app, Cowork will ask for access to a folder on your computer. Create a dedicated folder for Cowork instead of giving access to your entire home directory.

Example: Create a folder called ~/Cowork/Projects/ and grant Cowork access to that.

5

Run Your First Task

Describe a task in natural language. For example: "Create a folder called 'Project A' and write a setup checklist in a text file inside it." Cowork will ask for any missing information and then get started.

Your First Task: A Simple Example

Here's how a simple first task might go:

You ask Cowork:

"Create a new folder called 'Budget' in my Cowork Projects folder. Then create a file called 'Q4 Budget.txt' inside it with a template for quarterly expenses (salary, tools, marketing)."

Cowork asks clarifying questions:

  • • "Should I format the budget template as plain text or as a structured list?"
  • • "Do you want any specific categories beyond salary, tools, and marketing?"

You respond:

"Plain text is fine. Just add lines for each category with a $ sign so I can fill in amounts."

Cowork completes the task:

Creates the Budget folder and Q4 Budget.txt file with a formatted list. You get a notification when it's done.

This shows Cowork's approach: you describe the goal, it asks clarifying questions, you guide it, then it does the work.

Use Cowork Safely

A few important safety practices to follow from the start.

🔒 Protect Your Folder Access

Grant Cowork access only to specific project folders, never your entire home directory. This limits what Claude can see and edit.

🔑 Never Share Secrets

Don't paste passwords, API keys, or sensitive credentials into Cowork. If a task requires authentication, guide Claude verbally instead.

👀 Review Before Sending

Always review what Cowork wrote before it sends an email, publishes a post, or submits a form. You stay in control.

📋 Test on Small Data First

For new workflows, test with a small dataset or limited scope. Once you're confident it works, scale up.

⏸️ Pause and Review Anytime

You can pause a workflow mid-task, review what Cowork has done, and decide what to do next. Cowork will ask before doing something irreversible.

Ready to Go Deeper?

Once you've run your first task, explore these resources:

Browse Workflows

Copy and adapt tested workflows for your own projects.

Explore Connectors

Connect Cowork to Gmail, Google Drive, GitHub, and many other apps.

Prompt Packs

Curated prompts for specific tasks, usable in chat or Cowork.

Full Documentation

Deep dives on features, best practices, and troubleshooting.

Common Questions

Does Cowork cost extra?

No. Cowork is included with Claude's paid plans. You just need Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise—there's no additional fee.

Can I use Cowork without the desktop app?

Yes. You can use Cowork on the web at claude.ai or on mobile. The desktop app is best if you work with files on your computer.

What if Cowork makes a mistake?

You stay in control. Review Cowork's work before it sends, publishes, or saves anything important. You can pause, undo, or redirect a workflow anytime.

Is my data secure?

Anthropic encrypts data in transit and at rest. Limit folder access to specific projects, and never share sensitive credentials. For compliance requirements, Team and Enterprise plans have additional security features.

Where can I get official support?

Contact Anthropic through the Claude app or visit support.claude.com for official documentation and help.