# Getting Started with Cowork

🌐 **Languages**: [English](01-getting-started.md) | [Français](01-getting-started.fr.md)

> **Reading time**: ~10 minutes
>
> **Goal**: Go from zero to your first successful Cowork workflow

---

## Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

| Requirement | How to Check |
|-------------|--------------|
| **Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise subscription** | claude.ai → Settings → Subscription shows your plan name |
| **macOS or Windows** | macOS: Apple menu → About This Mac; Windows: Settings → System → About |
| **Claude Desktop app** | Applications folder or Spotlight search |
| **Latest app version** | See verification steps below ⚠️ |

### ⚠️ Verify You Have the Latest Claude Desktop Version

**Critical**: Cowork requires the latest version of Claude Desktop. Since July 7, 2026, Anthropic merged Chat and Cowork into a single view on web and desktop, so what you see at the top of the app depends on which build you're running.

**How to verify:**

1. Open Claude Desktop app
2. Look at the top of the sidebar.
   - **Build from July 2026 or later**: Chat and Cowork share one combined view instead of separate tabs, so there is no "Cowork" entry to look for.
   - **Older build**: you should see three separate modes:
     ```
     Chat    Cowork    Code
     ```
     If "Cowork" isn't listed, your version predates the feature.
3. Either way, if Cowork isn't available, update your app:
   - Go to Claude Desktop menu → **Check for Updates**
   - Or download the latest version from [claude.ai/download](https://claude.ai/download)

> **Official Documentation**: For additional help, see [Anthropic's Getting Started with Cowork guide](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/13345190-getting-started-with-cowork)

### Subscription Tiers

| Tier | Cost | Cowork Usage |
|------|------|--------------|
| **Pro** | $20/mo | Light use (~1-1.5h intensive before reset) |
| **Max** | $100-200/mo | Heavy use (5x-20x Pro's limit) |
| **Team** | Per seat | Full Cowork access, admin controls |
| **Enterprise** | Custom pricing | Full Cowork access, SSO, admin controls |

### Don't Have Access?

| Situation | Action |
|-----------|--------|
| Free tier | Upgrade to Pro ($20) or Max ($100+) |
| Linux | Wait for platform expansion (Linux not announced) |

---

## Step 1: Enable Cowork

### 1.1 Open Settings

1. Launch **Claude Desktop** app
2. Click your **profile icon** (top right)
3. Select **Settings**

### 1.2 Enable the Feature

1. Navigate to **Features** section
2. Find **Cowork** toggle
3. Enable it

> **Note**: The exact location may vary slightly as the app is updated.

### 1.3 Verify Activation

After enabling, you should see:
- Cowork's capabilities reachable from the combined Chat and Cowork view (builds from July 2026 or later)
- Or a new "Cowork" option in a separate mode selector, on older builds

---

## Step 2: Create Your Workspace

**Critical**: Never grant Cowork access to Documents, Desktop, or home folder directly.

### 2.1 Create Dedicated Folder

Open Terminal and run:

```bash
mkdir -p ~/Cowork-Workspace/{input,output}
```

This creates:
```
~/Cowork-Workspace/
├── input/    # Files you want processed
└── output/   # Where Cowork puts results
```

### 2.2 Grant Folder Access

1. Start a new Cowork conversation
2. When prompted for folder access, navigate to `~/Cowork-Workspace/`
3. Grant access **only** to this folder

### 2.3 Verify Access

Ask Cowork:
```
List the contents of my workspace folder
```

Expected response: Shows `input/` and `output/` directories.

---

## Step 3: Your First Workflow

Let's do a simple but complete workflow to verify everything works.

### 3.1 Prepare Test Files

Create some test files in your input folder:

```bash
cd ~/Cowork-Workspace/input

# Create sample files
echo "Meeting notes from Monday" > meeting-monday.txt
echo "Meeting notes from Wednesday" > meeting-wednesday.txt
echo "Project status update" > project-status.txt
echo "Random thoughts" > misc-notes.txt
```

### 3.2 Run Your First Task

In Cowork, enter:

```
Organize the files in ~/Cowork-Workspace/input/ into subfolders
by category. Create a summary of what you organized in the output folder.
```

### 3.3 What Should Happen

1. **Plan display**: Cowork shows its intended actions
2. **Your approval**: You review and approve the plan
3. **Execution**: Cowork reorganizes files
4. **Report**: Creates summary in output folder

### 3.4 Verify Results

Check the result:

```bash
ls -la ~/Cowork-Workspace/input/
ls -la ~/Cowork-Workspace/output/
```

You should see:
- Organized subfolders in `input/`
- A summary file in `output/`

---

## Step 4: Understanding the Workflow

### The Cowork Cycle

Every Cowork task follows this pattern:

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   YOUR REQUEST                       │
│     "Organize my files by category"                 │
└─────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
                      ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   ANALYSIS                           │
│     Cowork examines your files                      │
│     Identifies patterns and categories              │
└─────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
                      ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   PLAN PROPOSAL                      │
│     "I will create 3 folders and move X files..."   │
│     ⚠️ YOU REVIEW THIS BEFORE EXECUTION              │
└─────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
                      ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│               YOUR APPROVAL                          │
│     "Yes, proceed" or "No, modify the plan"         │
└─────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
                      ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   EXECUTION                          │
│     Cowork performs the approved actions            │
└─────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┘
                      ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   REPORT                             │
│     Summary of what was done                        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### Key Points

1. **Always review the plan** : This is your safety checkpoint
2. **Be specific** : Vague requests lead to unexpected results
3. **Start small** : Test with few files before large batches
4. **Check results** : Verify output before proceeding

---

## Step 5: The CTOC Framework

Power users structure every Cowork prompt with four components:

```
CONTEXT → TASK → OUTPUT → CONSTRAINTS
```

### The Framework

| Component | What it is | Example |
|-----------|------------|---------|
| **C**ontext | Background, files, situation | "I have 50 receipts from a business trip to Paris..." |
| **T**ask | Clear single objective | "Extract all expenses into a spreadsheet" |
| **O**utput | Exact format and location | "Save as ~/Cowork-Workspace/output/paris-expenses.xlsx" |
| **C**onstraints | Rules, limits, preferences | "Use EUR currency, semicolon formulas, categorize by type" |

### CTOC Example

```
CONTEXT: I have meeting notes from the past month in ~/Cowork-Workspace/input/notes/.
They're from different team members with inconsistent formatting.

TASK: Create a consolidated status report from these notes.

OUTPUT: Save as ~/Cowork-Workspace/output/team-status-january.docx
with sections: Executive Summary, Progress by Project, Blockers, Next Steps.

CONSTRAINTS: Keep under 3 pages. Focus on actionable items.
Highlight any risks mentioned.
```

### Quick Patterns

| Pattern | Example |
|---------|---------|
| **Be explicit** | ✅ "files in ~/Cowork-Workspace/input/" not ❌ "my files" |
| **Specify output** | ✅ "save to ~/output/report.docx" not ❌ "create a report" |
| **Describe format** | ✅ "columns: Date, Amount, Category" not ❌ "make a spreadsheet" |
| **Add constraints** | ✅ "use European formula syntax" |

### Break Down Complex Tasks

Instead of:
```
❌ "Process all my receipts, create expense reports, and organize by month"
```

Do this:
```
✅ Step 1: "List all receipt files in ~/Cowork-Workspace/input/"
✅ Step 2: "Extract expense data from these receipts into a single Excel file"
✅ Step 3: "Add monthly summary sheets to the Excel file"
```

This batching approach also optimizes token usage (see [Cheatsheet](../reference/cheatsheet.md) for token budgets).

---

## Step 6: Personalize Your Profile (Optional)

Create a personal profile file so Cowork knows your preferences and communication style.

### 6.1 Create Your Profile File

In your workspace, create `my-profile.md`:

```markdown
# My Communication Profile

## Tone & Style
- Formal (use "vous" with clients) / Casual (use "tu")
- Concise bullet points preferred
- No jargon or anglicisms

## Things I NEVER Do
- Use exclamation marks in emails
- Promise specific deadlines
- Skip the greeting

## Default Signature
Best regards,
[Your Name] - [Company]
```

### 6.2 Use Your Profile

Start each conversation with:
```
Read my-profile.md first. Then [your actual request]
```

**Example**:
```
Read my-profile.md first. Then draft a follow-up email to a client
who hasn't responded to our quote in 2 weeks.
```

### 6.3 Benefits

| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---------|----------------|
| **Consistent voice** | All outputs match your style |
| **Time savings** | No need to repeat preferences |
| **Team alignment** | Share the file with colleagues |
| **Portable** | Same file works with other AI tools |

> **Tip**: 80% of an effective profile is what you *don't* want. Focus on constraints and anti-patterns.

---

## Step 7: Chrome Integration (Optional)

Cowork can use Chrome for web research tasks.

### Enable Chrome Access

1. When Cowork requests Chrome permission, review carefully
2. Grant only for specific research tasks
3. Revoke after task completion

### Example Web Research Task

```
Research the top 5 project management tools for small teams.
Save your findings to ~/Cowork-Workspace/output/pm-tools-research.md
with a comparison table.
```

### Security Note

- Review each web action Cowork proposes
- Don't let Cowork fill forms or make purchases
- Revoke Chrome access when not needed

---

## Step 8: Install Desktop Commander (Recommended)

Desktop Commander is a free official extension that expands what Cowork can do. Most users benefit from it, especially for recurring work.

### What Desktop Commander Enables

| Capability | Without Desktop Commander | With Desktop Commander |
|-----------|--------------------------|----------------------|
| **File access** | Workspace folder only | Any folder you authorize |
| **Memory between sessions** | None (starts fresh each time) | Persistent via memory.md |
| **MCP server setup** | Manual, technical | One-click install |

### Installation

1. Open Claude Desktop → **Customize** tab (or Settings → Extensions)
2. Find **Desktop Commander** in the list
3. Click **Install**
4. Restart Claude Desktop when prompted

Takes under 2 minutes. No technical knowledge required.

### Set Up Your Memory File

Once Desktop Commander is installed, create a persistent memory file so Cowork remembers your context between sessions:

1. Create `~/Cowork-Workspace/memory.md`
2. Add your recurring context, here's a starting template:

```markdown
# My Cowork Memory

## Business Context
- Business type: [your type: consulting, retail, trades, etc.]
- Primary file formats: [Word, Excel, PDF, etc.]

## Client Preferences
- Client Dupont: formal tone, PDF invoices preferred
- Client Martin: needs itemized quotes with separate labor/materials

## Things I Never Do
- Use exclamation marks in client emails
- Promise specific delivery dates without checking first

## Recurring Tasks
- Weekly: [what you compile or report each week]
- Monthly: [what you do at month end]
```

3. Start future sessions with: "Read ~/Cowork-Workspace/memory.md first. Then [your actual request]"

### Why This Matters

Without a memory file, you'd repeat preferences and context at the start of every session. With it, Cowork picks up where you left off, knowing your clients, your style, and your recurring work patterns.

> **Note**: Desktop Commander is available via the Customize tab in Claude Desktop. If you don't see it immediately, check Settings → Extensions.

---

## Step 9: Enable Computer Use (Research Preview, macOS Only)

Computer Use lets Claude control your desktop directly (open apps, click, fill forms, navigate the browser) without any custom integration. Available on Pro and Max plans, macOS only.

> **Note**: Computer Use is a research preview feature available on Pro and Max plans, macOS only. Use it for supervised tasks where you can review each action.

### 9.1 Enable in Claude Desktop

1. Open **Claude Desktop**
2. Go to **Settings → Features → Computer Use**
3. Toggle it **on**
4. Confirm the permission dialog

### 9.2 Grant macOS System Permissions

Claude needs two system permissions to control your screen:

**Screen Recording** (required to see your screen):
1. Open **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording**
2. Find **Claude Desktop** in the list
3. Toggle it on (if it doesn't appear, click `+` and add it manually)

**Accessibility** (required to click and type):
1. Open **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility**
2. Find **Claude Desktop** in the list
3. Toggle it on

### 9.3 (Optional) Pair Your Phone with Dispatch

To send tasks to your desktop from your phone while you're away:

1. Open **Claude for iOS or Android**
2. In the Cowork thread, tap **Pair Desktop**
3. Scan the **QR code** shown in your Claude Desktop app
4. Your phone is now connected. Send tasks remotely from anywhere.

> **Requirements**: Mac must stay awake with Claude Desktop open, since Dispatch pairs your phone to that desktop session to run tasks on your computer while you're away. Since July 2026, the Cowork web and mobile beta (Max plan, gradual rollout) offers an alternative: it runs tasks in the cloud with no desktop connection needed at all.

### Security Notes for Computer Use

- Claude requests **explicit permission per task** before accessing a new application
- Anthropic recommends **not granting access to sensitive apps** (banking, health, legal)
- Claude is trained to **refuse**: stock trading, saving sensitive credentials, scraping facial images
- **Token cost is higher** than standard Cowork: every action cycle requires a screenshot

---

## Troubleshooting First Run

### "Cannot access folder"

1. Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Files and Folders
2. Find Claude Desktop
3. Ensure your workspace folder is listed and enabled

### "Cowork option not visible"

**Most common cause**: Outdated app version.

1. **Verify your version** : See [Prerequisites](#️-verify-you-have-the-latest-claude-desktop-version) above
2. On builds from July 2026 or later, Chat and Cowork share a single view instead of separate tabs; on older builds, if you don't see "Chat | Cowork | Code" at the top, update your app
3. After updating, check Settings → Features → ensure Cowork is enabled
4. Restart the app

### "Plan seems wrong"

1. **Don't approve** the plan
2. Say "Stop. Let me clarify: [your clarification]"
3. Cowork will revise its plan

### "Incomplete results"

1. Check if Cowork showed any errors
2. Try breaking the task into smaller steps
3. Verify folder permissions

---

## Next Steps

You're now ready to:

1. **[Explore Capabilities](02-capabilities.md)** : Learn what Cowork can do
2. **[Review Security](03-security.md)** : Safe usage practices
3. **[Try Workflows](../workflows/)** : Step-by-step tutorials
4. **[Use Ready Prompts](../prompts/)** : Copy-paste templates

---

## Quick Reference Card

| Action | How |
|--------|-----|
| **Start Cowork** | New conversation → Select Cowork mode |
| **Grant access** | Browse to ~/Cowork-Workspace/ when prompted |
| **Review plan** | Read each step before saying "proceed" |
| **Stop execution** | Type "Stop" or close the conversation |
| **Check results** | Always verify output folder after tasks |

---

*[← Overview](00-overview.md) | [Cowork Documentation](../README.md) | [Capabilities →](02-capabilities.md)*