🎉 Welcome, new Coworker!
This guide is designed for absolute beginners. No technical knowledge required. If you can use a computer, you can use Cowork mode.
What Is Cowork Mode?
Claude's Cowork mode is a special feature inside the Claude desktop application that turns Claude into your personal AI assistant — one that can actually do things on your computer, not just answer questions.
Think of it this way: instead of Claude telling you how to write a report, it simply writes the report, saves it as a Word document, and hands it to you ready to use. Instead of explaining how to research a topic, it searches the web, reads the results, and compiles a summary for you.
✅ What Cowork Mode CAN Do
Create Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint decks, PDFs · Search the web and summarise results · Read and analyse files you upload · Connect to apps like Slack, Notion, and Asana · Run scheduled automated tasks · Execute code and scripts · Browse websites on your behalf.
Before You Begin: Requirements
Operating System
macOS or Windows. The Claude desktop app supports both major platforms.
Claude Account
A free or paid Claude account from claude.ai. Cowork mode may require a Pro or Team plan.
Claude Desktop App
The desktop application — not just the browser version. Download from the Claude website.
Internet Connection
Required for Claude to function. Web search features obviously need connectivity too.
Step 1 — Download & Install Claude Desktop
The first step is downloading the Claude desktop application.
- Visit claude.ai and sign in to your account (or create one for free).
- Look for the "Download" or "Get the app" link — typically in the navigation or on your dashboard.
- Download the installer for your operating system (Mac .dmg or Windows .exe).
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen setup instructions.
- Launch the Claude desktop app and sign in with your account credentials.
⚠️ Important Note
The browser version of Claude does not support Cowork mode. You must use the dedicated desktop application to access Cowork mode features.
Step 2 — Switch to Cowork Mode
Once you have the desktop app open and are signed in:
- Look for a mode selector or sidebar icon in the Claude desktop interface.
- Select Cowork from the available modes (you may also see Chat mode, Projects, etc.).
- The interface will update to show the Cowork-specific layout, including a file output area.
- You'll see a note that Cowork mode is currently in Research Preview — this is expected.
Step 3 — Select a Workspace Folder
Cowork mode saves all the files it creates to a dedicated folder on your computer. Before your first task, you should select (or confirm) a folder:
- In the Cowork interface, look for a "Select folder" or "Choose workspace" option.
- Pick a folder on your computer where you'd like Claude to save its output (e.g., a "CoworkOutput" folder on your Desktop).
- Claude will only have access to files in the folder you choose — this keeps things organised and secure.
💡 Pro Tip
Create a dedicated folder like Claude-Outputs on your Desktop. It keeps all of Claude's work in one tidy place and makes it easy to find later.
Step 4 — Run Your First Task
Now for the fun part. Let's run your very first Cowork task. Here are some great beginner prompts to try:
📄 Create a Document
"Write a one-page introduction letter for a small business called 'Sunrise Bakery' and save it as a Word document."
🔍 Research Something
"Search the web for the top 5 benefits of remote working and give me a brief summary."
📊 Make a Spreadsheet
"Create an Excel spreadsheet with a simple monthly budget tracker for personal use."
🎯 Build a Presentation
"Make a 5-slide PowerPoint presentation introducing AI tools for small businesses."
Just type one of these (or your own idea!) into the chat box and press Enter. Watch as Claude gets to work, and check your output folder when it's done.
Step 5 — Understanding the Output
When Claude completes a task, it will:
- Tell you what it has done in the chat window.
- Provide a clickable link to the file it created.
- Save the file to your selected workspace folder.
- Show you a summary or preview of the content.
You can then open the file directly from the link, or navigate to your workspace folder to find it.
What's Next?
Now that you've got the basics down, here's where to explore next: