The story behind Cowork
In mid 2025, Anthropic released Claude Code, a command line tool that lets Claude autonomously write, edit, and manage code on your computer. It quickly became one of the most popular developer tools in the AI space. But Claude Code requires technical knowledge: you need a terminal, an API key, and familiarity with the command line.
Cowork brings that same autonomous capability to everyone through a visual interface inside the Claude desktop app. Instead of typing terminal commands, you simply chat with Claude and point it at a folder on your computer. Claude then reads your files, works through tasks step by step, and creates or modifies documents on its own. Think of it as Claude Code for people who do not code.
Requires the Claude desktop app
Cowork is only available in the Claude desktop app for macOS and Windows. It is not available on the web (claude.ai), on mobile (iOS/Android), or through the API. You need to download the app from claude.com/download and sign in with a Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise plan.
What Cowork can do
File ManagementRead, create, modify, reorganize, and rename files within your designated folder.
Document CreationGenerate PowerPoint presentations, formatted documents, and reports from scattered notes.
Data ProcessingCreate spreadsheets with working formulas from receipt screenshots or raw data.
Multi Step WorkflowsBreak complex work into smaller tasks and coordinate parallel workstreams automatically.
Connected ServicesPull data from Google Drive, Slack, and other apps via MCP connectors.
March 2026 Expansion
Projects IntegrationCowork now works within Projects, inheriting files, context, and custom instructions automatically.
Persistent ThreadsSessions maintain continuity, remembering what was done previously across multiple interactions.
Scheduled TasksSet up recurring tasks that Cowork executes on a schedule, such as daily reports or weekly file organization.
PluginsExtend Cowork with plugins that add new file types, processing pipelines, and workflow integrations.
Security: sandboxed by design
Cowork runs inside a virtual machine isolated from your main operating system. Claude can only access folders you explicitly mount and requires your approval before permanently deleting any files. Each session runs in a sandboxed environment with defined boundaries and human in the loop controls for high impact actions.
| Cowork | Computer Use | |
|---|---|---|
| Target user | Everyone (no technical setup) | All users (desktop app) and developers (API) |
| What it controls | Files in a mounted folder | Full desktop (screen, mouse, keyboard) |
| Availability | Desktop app, Pro+ plans | macOS desktop app, Claude Code, and API |
| Security model | Sandboxed VM, folder scoped | Full system access (your responsibility) |
| Memory across sessions | Yes (persistent threads) | No (stateless by default) |
Good to know
- Cowork conversations are stored locally on your computer, not on Anthropic's servers.
- Activity is not captured in Audit Logs, Compliance API, or Data Exports. Do not use Cowork for regulated workloads.
- The March 2026 expansion added Projects integration, persistent threads, scheduled tasks, and plugins.
- Available on macOS and Windows desktop apps for Pro plan and above.