Getting started

Getting Claude Cowork running is a one-time setup, but the first session is where you start to feel the difference. This section covers what you need installed, how to connect your files and apps, what Claude does (and asks before doing) once a task is underway, and a few starter prompts worth trying in your first ten minutes.

System requirements

• Claude desktop app. Claude Cowork runs in the desktop app for macOS or Windows,
• Paid Claude subscription. Claude Cowork is available on Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.
• Active internet connection throughout the session.

How to install

1. Install the Claude desktop app (opens in new tab).
2. Sign in. If you're on a Team or Enterprise plan, your admin may need to enable Claude Cowork for your org. See the Claude Cowork IT admin guide.
3. Switch into Claude Cowork mode from the desktop app.

Setting up your first task

Here are three things to do the first time you open Claude Cowork:

1. Connect your apps. Authenticate the MCP connectors you use most — Slack, Gmail, Drive, Asana, GitHub, and others. Claude Cowork will also suggest a connector whenever a task implies one.
2. Review the permissions model. You can adjust your preferred permissions model for each chat or in your settings. Even when you are in “Act without asking” mode, Claude Cowork asks for confirmation before sensitive actions like downloads, deletions, and sharing changes. See more guidance here (opens in new tab).
3. [Optional] Grant folder access. Claude Cowork sees no files until you explicitly connect a folder. You'll be prompted the first time you ask it to work with files, and you can connect more later.

What to expect during a task

When Claude is working on something in Claude Cowork, you can watch it work or step away. It walks through what it's doing at each step and surfaces its reasoning so you can follow along. If it's heading in the wrong direction, you can jump in mid-task and course-correct. For complex work, it may spin up multiple sub-agents running in parallel.

Two safeguards worth knowing about: Claude requires your permission to delete files and has strong guidance to require explicit confirmation when solving captchas, making purchases or engaging in financial transactions, handling sensitive data, deleting files, and modifying system files. Tasks can run for a while depending on complexity—monitor them if you want, or close the window and come back when Claude is done.

Global and folder instructions

You can give Claude standing instructions that apply to every Claude Cowork session. Use this for your preferred tone, output format, or background on your role and team.

To set global instructions

1. Go to Settings > Claude Cowork in the Claude desktop app.
2. Click "Edit" next to Global instructions.
3. Type your instructions and save.

Folder instructions, which live in the Customize panel in Claude desktop, add project-specific context whenever you select a local folder. Claude can also update them on its own during a session as it learns more about how you work.

What to try in your first ten minutes

Pick one real task you were about to do yourself and hand it to Claude Cowork. Good starters:

• Point it at a folder of PDFs and ask for a one-page brief.
• Ask it to draft a status update from last week's messages in one Slack channel.
• Give it a messy spreadsheet and ask it to clean the columns and produce a chart.

Don't start with a toy prompt. You'll learn more about Claude Cowork's strengths, weaknesses, and what kind of context it needs from one real task than from ten demos.