AI Desktop Assistant Guide

Master Claude Cowork

Transform how you work with files. Organize documents, create spreadsheets, and automate tasks with AI.

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Join 1,000+ professionals on the waitlist

100+
Ready-to-use Prompts
Curated for file management
10x
Faster Workflows
Compared to manual tasks
1,000+
Waitlist Members
Growing community
24/7
AI Availability
Always ready to help

Built for professionals who use

Claude
macOS
Developers
Writers
Business

What is Claude Cowork?

A research preview feature that gives Claude direct access to your files.

File Management

Give Claude access to a folder. It can read, organize, rename, and create files like a coworker.

Document Creation

Create spreadsheets from screenshots, generate reports from notes, transform data into documents.

Task Automation

Automate batch renaming, format conversion, and file organization by date or type.

Smart Assistance

Works with Claude's Skills and Connectors for powerful file + web workflows.

How to Use Claude Cowork

Get started in minutes with these simple steps.

1

Open Claude Desktop

Download and open the Claude desktop app on your Mac.

2

Click on Cowork

Find and click the Cowork option in the sidebar.

3

Select a Folder

Choose a folder on your computer to give Claude access to.

4

Give Instructions

Tell Claude what you want to do with your files.

Pro Tips

Be specific about what you want Claude to do
Start with a small folder to test
Review actions before confirming destructive operations
Use clear file naming conventions

Popular Use Cases

See how professionals use Claude Cowork to boost productivity.

For Developers

Streamline your development workflow

  • Organize project files by type
  • Generate README documentation
  • Create boilerplate structures
  • Batch rename with patterns
  • Extract code snippets to files

For Writers

Focus on writing, not file management

  • Organize research materials
  • Create outlines from notes
  • Compile manuscripts
  • Format for publishing
  • Extract quotes and references

For Business

Automate repetitive document tasks

  • Generate reports from data
  • Create spreadsheets from images
  • Organize invoices by date
  • Automate document workflows
  • Extract data from PDFs

For Students

Stay organized throughout the semester

  • Organize notes by subject
  • Create study guides
  • Compile research papers
  • Format citations
  • Archive old coursework

What Users Are Saying

Real feedback from early Cowork adopters.

"Cowork saved me hours of manual file organization. I just describe what I want and it handles everything."

SM
Sarah M.
Product Designer

"The ability to create spreadsheets from screenshots is a game-changer for my data entry workflow."

JK
James K.
Business Analyst

"Finally, an AI that actually understands file management. It's like having a smart assistant on my Mac."

ER
Emily R.
Freelance Writer

Cowork vs Traditional Methods

See how much time you can save with AI-powered file management.

TaskManualWith Cowork
Organize 100+ files2-3 hours2 minutes
Create spreadsheet from image30 minutes30 seconds
Batch rename files15 minutes1 minute
Generate report from notes1 hour5 minutes
Find duplicate filesManual searchAutomatic

* Time estimates based on typical file management tasks. Actual results may vary.

Coming Soon

Tools We're Building

Join the waitlist for early access.

Prompt Generator

Generate optimized prompts for common Cowork tasks instantly.

Prompt Library

Access 100+ ready-to-use prompts for file management and automation.

Video Tutorials

Step-by-step guides to master every Cowork feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know.

  • Claude Cowork is a feature in the Claude desktop app that lets you give Claude access to a folder on your computer. Claude can then read, edit, and create files in that folder, working like a digital coworker. It's currently available as a research preview for Claude Max subscribers on macOS.

  • To access Claude Cowork, you need:

    • A Claude Max subscription ($20/month)
    • The Claude desktop app for macOS
    • macOS 12 (Monterey) or later

    Download the app from claude.com/download and click on "Cowork" in the sidebar.

  • Claude Cowork can help you with many file-related tasks:

    • Organize and rename files in your folders
    • Create spreadsheets from screenshots or images
    • Generate reports from scattered notes
    • Automate repetitive file management tasks
    • Convert files between different formats
    • Extract data from documents
  • Yes, Claude Cowork is designed with safety in mind:

    • Claude can only access folders you explicitly permit
    • It asks before taking significant actions
    • You can revoke access at any time
    • Files are processed locally

    Always review proposed actions before confirming destructive operations.

  • Both are powerful tools, but designed for different use cases:

    • Claude Cowork: Desktop app for general file management, document creation, and everyday productivity tasks. Best for non-developers.
    • Claude Code: Command-line tool specifically for software development. Best for developers working on code projects.

    If you're primarily working with documents and files, Cowork is the better choice.

  • Currently, Claude Cowork is only available on macOS as part of the research preview. Anthropic has not announced plans for Windows or Linux support yet, but we'll update our guides when new platforms become available.

  • Cowork can work with most common file types including:

    • Documents: PDF, DOCX, TXT, MD, RTF
    • Spreadsheets: XLSX, CSV
    • Images: PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP
    • Code files: JS, PY, HTML, CSS, and more
    • Data files: JSON, XML, YAML
  • We're building resources to help you master Claude Cowork:

    • Prompt Generator for common tasks
    • 100+ ready-to-use prompts
    • Step-by-step tutorials
    • Real-world workflow templates

    Join our waitlist for early access.

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