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To use Claude Cowork with files on your computer, start in the Claude desktop app, sign in, then connect only the folder Cowork needs for the task. If the guided setup is available, /setup-claude can help configure a role, a matching plugin, and relevant tools. Begin with a small test request, and back up important files before asking Cowork to change or reorganize them.
Use the desktop app when Cowork needs local files
Claude Cowork is accessed through Claude. For work involving files stored on your computer, the Claude desktop app is the practical starting point: Anthropic’s Get started with Claude Cowork guidance describes the app as the bridge between a Cowork session and selected local folders.
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The web experience may suit tasks that do not need files on your computer. The key distinction for this walkthrough is local-file access: connect the relevant folder through the desktop app rather than assuming Cowork can browse your entire computer. Claude’s interface can change, so labels and entry points may vary.
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Set up Cowork and connect a folder
- Open Claude Desktop and sign in. Look for a Cowork tab on the home screen. If it is not there, start a new conversation and follow the Cowork setup route offered in the interface.
- Start the guided setup if it is offered. In a new Cowork conversation, enter
/setup-claude. Claude Academy describes this flow as helping you choose a role, install a matching plugin, and connect tools used for that role. You may instead see a “Set up Cowork” banner; follow the available prompts. - Connect the folder for the work. When prompted, choose a dedicated project or working folder, or the narrowest folder containing the task materials. Folder instructions can add relevant context for the work.
- Test with a small request. Ask Cowork to list or summarize files in the connected folder. Check that it finds the expected material and saves any output in the location you requested.
- Back up important files before changes. Do this before asking Cowork to edit, create, or reorganize files. Review proposed actions and provide only the access needed for the task.
Choose a folder scope that fits the task
| Access scope | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| One dedicated project folder | A task with materials gathered in one place | Limits access to a clearly defined working area; files elsewhere are not in that folder. |
| A broader folder containing the materials | A task that genuinely spans several subfolders | Convenient when the work is distributed, but exposes more material than a single project folder. |
| A broad home-directory grant | Usually not necessary for a focused task | Gives a much wider access boundary than a dedicated working folder. |
Anthropic’s Claude Help Center advises: “Consider creating a dedicated working folder for Claude rather than granting broad access, and keep backups of important files.” The safest practical choice is the smallest folder that contains everything needed.
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Understand how Cowork reaches local files
Anthropic says Cowork sessions run in an isolated environment on its servers. When a cloud session needs a local file, it reaches the computer through Claude Desktop. Access is limited to folders the user connected, and actions are checked against the user’s permissions. In other words, the desktop app provides a bridge to selected local files; Cowork is not described as automatically seeing the whole computer.
That boundary is useful, but it does not replace careful folder selection or backups. Connect only what the task needs, and treat requests that modify or move files as changes worth reviewing.
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Try a low-risk first task
A simple first check is: “List the files in this folder and summarize what each one contains. Do not move or edit anything.” Confirm that the list reflects the folder you connected before moving on to work that changes files. For a later organizing task, make the requested scope explicit—for example, Anthropic’s help material uses “Organize my Downloads folder by type and date”—and review the proposed actions before allowing changes.
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