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To use Claude Cowork on a Windows computer, install Claude Desktop from Anthropic, sign in with a paid Claude account, then choose Cowork in the app and describe a task. Cowork is available on Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans; on Team or Enterprise, an administrator may need to enable it. For access to files or other resources on your PC, keep Claude Desktop open and connected to the internet.
What you need before setup
- A Windows computer with Claude Desktop installed. Anthropic’s setup guide does not establish Cowork-specific minimum processor, memory, storage, or Windows edition requirements.
- An active internet connection while using the app.
- A paid Claude plan: Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise. Access on Team and Enterprise accounts can depend on organizational settings. Check Anthropic’s plans page for current pricing and usage limits; Cowork can use limits faster than regular chat.
Cowork sessions run remotely in an isolated Anthropic environment. The desktop app is the bridge to local files, browser access, and computer use: those capabilities require Claude Desktop to remain open and connected. A remote task may continue after you close the app, but it will no longer have access to your local computer.
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Install Claude Desktop and open Cowork
- Go to Claude’s downloads page and choose the Windows download.
- Open the downloaded installer and follow its prompts.
- Launch Claude from the Windows Start menu and sign in to your paid account.
- Find Cowork as a mode in the message box and select it. Depending on the current interface, it may not appear as a separate tab.
- If Cowork is missing on a Team or Enterprise account, ask your organization’s administrator whether it is enabled.
For the current guided introduction, see Anthropic’s Cowork getting-started guide. Interface labels can change as the product rolls out.
Run a useful first task
Describe a bounded outcome
Give Cowork a specific deliverable rather than a broad instruction. For example: “Summarize the three PDFs in this folder in a one-page brief, with a separate bullet list of open questions.” You can also ask it to draft a channel status update or clean a spreadsheet and create a chart. State the format, audience, and destination when they matter.
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Grant only the access the task needs
For local files, explicitly connect the relevant folder. As Anthropic puts it in its Claude Cowork product guide, “Claude Cowork sees no files until you explicitly connect a folder.” Connect only the folders needed for the task.
For work in another service, connect the relevant app if an appropriate connector is available. Anthropic documents connectors for services such as Slack, Gmail, Drive, Asana, and GitHub. Review the permissions requested before authenticating. Cowork may suggest a connector when your request implies one.
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Review the plan and the result
Watch the steps Cowork proposes, and correct or steer it while it works. When it finishes, check generated files and any actions it took before sharing or relying on the output.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsChoose the right way for Cowork to access information
| Access route | Best fit | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Connected app | Work in a supported service, such as a connected email or project tool. | Review the connector’s requested permissions. Anthropic says Cowork generally tries connectors first when they are relevant. |
| Browser | Tasks that require visiting web pages. | Browser access is another route after connectors; local browser access requires Claude Desktop open and connected. |
| Direct screen interaction | A fallback when a connector or browser route is not suitable. | Computer use can be slower and more error-prone than an integration. It requires app access approval and is a beta capability for Pro and Max plans on Claude Desktop for Windows and macOS. |
For computer use, Claude may click, type, or open apps after you approve access to each one. Screenshots may expose information visible on screen, and Anthropic warns that safety measures are not perfect. Avoid using this feature around sensitive personal records and review Anthropic’s computer-use safety guidance before enabling it.
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- 4GB DDR4 + 128GB eMMC STORAGE: Equipped with 4GB DDR4 memory and 128GB eMMC storage for everyday basics such as browsing, documents, email, and online learning platforms. The built-in TF card slot supports storage expansion up to 1TB, giving you more flexibility for files, photos, videos, and daily documents. TF card not included.
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Set preferences for recurring work
Global instructions can specify preferences such as tone or output format. Look under Cowork settings; the label has appeared as “Claude Cowork” or simply “Cowork” in Anthropic’s guidance. You can also add folder instructions to provide context for a particular local project folder.
Understand permissions and confirm consequential actions
Cowork’s access depends on what you grant through folders, connectors, and applications. Anthropic says Cowork requires permission before permanently deleting files and seeks explicit confirmation for sensitive actions, including downloads, deletions, sharing changes, purchases, financial transactions, sensitive-data handling, and system-file changes. Treat prompts for approval as a chance to verify the target and consequences rather than approving automatically.
A sensible first run is a low-risk task using a folder that contains only the material needed. That limits the data in scope while you learn how the workflow behaves.
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If Cowork is unavailable or cannot reach a file
- Cowork is not visible: Confirm you are signed in to a paid plan. On Team or Enterprise, ask an administrator to check organizational access. Look for Cowork as a message-box mode rather than assuming it must be a separate tab.
- Claude cannot see a local file: Connect the folder that contains it and keep Claude Desktop open and connected.
- A task needs an app or service: Connect its supported integration and review its permissions. If no suitable connector exists, browser or computer access may be options, with the trade-offs described above.
- Usage runs out sooner than expected: Cowork can consume plan usage faster than regular chat. Current plan allowances may change, so consult Anthropic’s plans page rather than relying on a fixed figure.
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