Tom Osman
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Claude Cowork: The Complete Setup Guide

// January 20, 2026

When Anthropic released Claude Code, they expected developers to use it for coding. Instead, people started using it for almost everything else.

This prompted Anthropic to build Cowork: the same agentic power, but accessible within Claude Desktop for non-developers. No terminal required. No coding skills needed. Just describe what you want, step away, and come back to finished work.

I've been using Cowork for a week now. Here's everything you need to get started.

What Is Claude Cowork?

Cowork brings Claude Code's agentic capabilities to Claude Desktop. Instead of back-and-forth prompting, you describe an outcome and Claude:

  • Makes a plan
  • Executes multi-step tasks
  • Creates, edits, or organizes files
  • Reports progress as it works

Key difference from regular Claude:

  • Regular chat: You prompt, Claude responds, you prompt again
  • Cowork: You queue tasks, Claude works through them in parallel

You can queue up work and let Claude run independently. It feels less like a conversation and more like leaving tasks for a capable coworker.

What Cowork Can Do

File and Document Management

  • Reorganize downloads by sorting and renaming files
  • Create spreadsheets from receipts or screenshots
  • Consolidate scattered notes into structured documents

Research and Analysis

  • Synthesize research from multiple sources
  • Summarize documents and extract key insights
  • Compile findings into reports

Document Creation

  • Draft reports, proposals, or presentations from scattered notes
  • Create structured documents from rough outlines
  • Generate first drafts that you refine

Data and Analysis

  • Parse and organize data from various formats
  • Create summaries from spreadsheets
  • Build structured datasets from unstructured sources

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  • Claude Max subscription — Cowork is currently a research preview for Max users
  • macOS — Currently available on Mac; Windows coming soon
  • Claude Desktop app — Download from claude.com/download

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Install Claude Desktop

Download and install the Claude Desktop macOS app:

# Or download directly from https://claude.com/download

Step 2: Access Cowork

  1. Open the Claude Desktop app
  2. Click on "Cowork" in the sidebar
  3. You'll see the Cowork interface with file access controls

Step 3: Grant File Access

Cowork runs directly on your computer with access to folders you choose:

  1. Click "Choose Folder" to select what Claude can access
  2. For first use, create a dedicated folder for Cowork tasks: 
    mkdir ~/cowork-tasks
  3. Grant access to this folder in Claude Desktop

Security note: Claude can only access files in folders you explicitly grant. Nothing is accessible by default.

Step 4: Configure Connectors (Optional)

You can enhance Cowork's capabilities by connecting external data:

  1. Click "Connectors" in the settings
  2. Enable connectors you want Claude to access:
    • Gmail
    • Google Drive
    • Notion
    • Slack

These let Claude incorporate external information into its work.

Step 5: Add Skills (Optional)

For enhanced document creation, add skills:

  1. In Cowork, click "Skills"
  2. Browse available skills:
    • Document creation
    • Presentation generation
    • Spreadsheet formatting
  3. Enable skills relevant to your workflow

Your First Cowork Task

Start with something simple to build confidence.

Example 1: Organize Downloads

"Sort my downloads folder into subfolders: Images, Documents, PDFs, and Others. Rename files to remove timestamps."

Claude will:

  1. Scan the folder
  2. Categorize each file
  3. Create folders as needed
  4. Move and rename files
  5. Report what was done

Example 2: Create a Spreadsheet from Receipts

"Look through these screenshots of receipts and create an expenses spreadsheet with columns for Date, Merchant, Amount, and Category."

Claude will:

  1. Read each image
  2. Extract relevant data
  3. Create a properly formatted spreadsheet

Example 3: Draft a Report from Notes

"Read all the files in my project-notes folder and create a summary report that organizes the key findings by topic."

Claude will:

  1. Read each file
  2. Synthesize the information
  3. Structure it into a coherent report

Watch: How Cowork Works

Claude Cowork: From Beginner to Expert (18 min)

A comprehensive walkthrough from basics to advanced workflows.

How to Use Claude Code Without the Terminal

Clear explanation of what Cowork is and how to access it.

Staying in Control

Cowork is designed to keep you informed while it works.

What You Control

  • Folder access — Claude can only see files you grant
  • Approval for significant actions — Claude asks before destructive changes
  • Task queuing — Add multiple tasks and let Claude work through them

Safety Considerations

Since Cowork can make real changes to files:

  • Be clear about destructive actions — If you want files deleted, say so explicitly
  • Start with a test folder — Practice with non-critical files first
  • Review outputs — Check Claude's work before sharing or publishing

These aren't new risks, but agentic tools work differently than conversational AI. Take precautions while learning.

Usage and Limits

Cowork consumes more of your usage allocation than regular chat. Complex, multi-step tasks are compute-intensive.

If you hit limits frequently:

  • Use regular chat for simple queries
  • Reserve Cowork for multi-step work that benefits from file access
  • Break large tasks into smaller pieces

Advanced Configuration

Using Claude in Chrome Together

Pair Cowork with Claude in Chrome for tasks requiring browser access:

  1. Enable Claude in Chrome extension
  2. In Cowork, mention you want browser capabilities
  3. Claude can navigate, research, and create files together

Custom Skills

Create custom skills for repeated workflows:

# Project Kickoff Skill

## Purpose
Create project documentation from a brief.

## Inputs
- Project name
- Key stakeholders
- Deliverables list

## Outputs
- README.md with project overview
- timeline.md with milestones
- tasks.md with action items

MCP Integration

For advanced users, Cowork supports MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers:

# Example: Connect to a database
claude mcp add database-server --command "python" --args "-m database_mcp"

Real-World Workflows I've Built

Daily Briefing Automation

Every morning, Cowork:

  1. Reads my notes from the previous day
  2. Checks my calendar for the day ahead
  3. Creates a daily briefing document with:
    • Yesterday's progress
    • Today's priorities
    • Key deadlines

Content Pipeline

For my newsletter and blog posts:

  1. Cowork reads research notes and drafts
  2. Creates structured outlines
  3. Generates first drafts
  4. Compiles everything into a content calendar

Project Documentation

When starting new projects:

  1. Cowork reads the project brief
  2. Creates folder structure
  3. Generates README with context
  4. Sets up standard templates

Troubleshooting

Claude Stopped Working

Cause: Claude Desktop app was closed or computer went to sleep.

Fix: Keep the app open throughout the task. Tasks can run for extended periods.

Files Aren't Appearing Where Expected

Cause: File permissions or wrong output location.

Fix: Check that you've granted appropriate folder access. Review the output location Claude specified.

Hitting Usage Limits Quickly

Cause: Cowork consumes more usage than standard chat.

Fix: Use standard chat for simple tasks. Reserve Cowork for complex, multi-step work.

What's Coming

Anthropic is iterating rapidly on Cowork based on user feedback. Expected improvements:

  • Cross-device sync — Start on Mac, continue on other devices
  • Windows support — Currently macOS only
  • Enhanced skills — More document and media capabilities
  • Better safety — Ongoing improvements to agent safety

Getting Started

  1. Ensure you have Claude Max — Join the waitlist if not
  2. Download Claude Desktop — claude.com/download
  3. Create a Cowork folder — mkdir ~/cowork-tasks
  4. Start small — Practice with a simple organization task
  5. Iterate — Build more complex workflows as you learn

Cowork represents a shift in how we work with AI. Instead of constant back-and-forth, you describe outcomes and Claude executes. It's not magic—it's having a capable coworker who never gets tired.

Start with one task today. See what breaks, what surprises you, and what becomes possible.

Related Resources:

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VIEW_TOOLS — AI tools for your workflow

Using Cowork for something interesting? Tell me—I'd love to feature your workflow.