There's no separate Claude Cowork download: install the Claude desktop app from claude.com/download (opens in a new tab) and Cowork is built in. It runs on Mac (macOS 11 or later) and Windows (Windows 10 or later) on every paid plan. Linux is in beta on Ubuntu 22.04+ and Debian 12+. You can also start and check on Cowork tasks from the web, the iPhone and Android apps, and the Claude in Chrome side panel. The difference between platforms isn't whether Cowork works; it's what Cowork can reach. Files on your computer, your browser, and computer use only work through the desktop app on that machine.
Checked against Anthropic's help center and docs on October 9, 2026.
TL;DR
- Mac: Claude desktop app, macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later, one download for Apple Silicon and Intel.
- Windows: Claude desktop app, Windows 10 or later, x64 and ARM64. Keep it updated; Cowork needs the latest version.
- Linux: beta, Ubuntu 22.04+ or Debian 12+, and Cowork needs hardware virtualization turned on.
- Web and mobile: Pro, Max, and Team (Enterprise if an admin turns it on).
- Chrome side panel: Max and Team, rolling out to Pro.
- Free plan: no Cowork yet. See Claude Cowork pricing.
- Tasks run in the cloud and keep going when your laptop is closed, but anything that touches files on your computer needs the desktop app open.
Download links and install steps are in our Claude download guide. Not sure which version you need? Try the Which Claude do I need? picker.
Something changed in September: Cowork is now just Claude
On September 16, 2026, Anthropic merged Cowork and chat into one Claude (opens in a new tab). Instead of switching into a separate Cowork tab, you ask Claude for what you need and it decides whether that's a quick answer or a longer task. It's rolling out to Pro and Max first, with Team and Free to follow.
Depending on your plan and when the rollout reaches you, you might still see a separate Cowork tab, or just Claude. The platforms and requirements below are the same either way.
Where Claude Cowork runs: platform by platform
| Platform | Cowork? | Plans | Requirements and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop app for Mac | Yes | All paid plans | macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later; Apple Silicon and Intel |
| Desktop app for Windows | Yes | All paid plans | Windows 10 or later; x64 and ARM64; latest app version |
| Desktop app for Linux | Yes, beta | All paid plans | Ubuntu 22.04+ or Debian 12+; x64 or arm64; KVM virtualization |
| Web (claude.ai) | Yes | Pro, Max, Team; Enterprise if enabled | Local files need the desktop app open |
| iPhone and Android apps | Yes | Pro, Max, Team | Latest app version |
| Claude in Chrome side panel | Yes | Max and Team; rolling out to Pro | Part of the Claude in Chrome extension |
Sources: Get started with Claude Cowork (opens in a new tab), Install Claude Desktop (opens in a new tab), Claude Desktop on Linux (opens in a new tab).
What each platform can actually reach
This is the part that trips people up. According to Anthropic, Cowork tasks run on Anthropic's servers, so they keep going when the desktop app is closed or your computer is asleep. But three things only work through the desktop app on your own machine, and only while it's open:
| Can it... | Desktop app (Mac/Windows) | Desktop app (Linux beta) | Web | Mobile | Chrome panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run a task and keep going after you close the laptop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Use connectors (Gmail, Drive, Slack, etc.) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Read and save files on your computer | Yes | Yes | Only with desktop app open | Only with desktop app open | Only with desktop app open |
| Use your browser and open tabs | Yes | Not documented yet | Only with desktop app open | Only with desktop app open | Yes |
| Operate apps on your screen (computer use) | Beta, Pro and Max | No | No | No | No |
Connectors are what let Cowork work inside your other tools from any platform. See Claude connectors for the full list.
Which setup is right for you?
Claude Cowork on Mac (the Claude desktop app for macOS)
The Claude desktop app for macOS needs macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later. There's one download for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Download it from claude.com/download (opens in a new tab), drag it into Applications, and sign in with a paid plan. Cowork is built in.
On a Mac, Cowork can work in the folders you give it access to, use your browser, and, on Pro and Max, use computer use (opens in a new tab) (in beta) to operate other apps. You turn computer use on in Settings → General, and Claude asks for permission before it touches each app. On macOS 15 and later it works in background windows by default, so it doesn't take over your mouse and keyboard.
If you searched for the "Claude desktop app for Mac" to use Cowork, this is it. There's no separate Cowork app.
Claude Cowork on Windows (the Claude desktop app for Windows)
Yes, Claude Cowork works on Windows. The Claude desktop app supports Windows 10 or later, with builds for x64 and ARM64 PCs. You can download it from claude.com/download (opens in a new tab) or the Microsoft Store.
Anthropic notes that Cowork needs the latest version of Claude for Windows, so if you don't see it, update the app first. Once it's running, it works the same as on a Mac: it reads and writes files in the folders you allow, and computer use is available in beta on Pro and Max.
Claude Cowork on Linux (beta)
Linux support is real but in beta. The desktop app gives you the same chat, Cowork, and Claude Code experience as on Mac and Windows, on Ubuntu 22.04 or later and Debian 12 or later (x64 or arm64). Other Debian-based distributions may work but aren't officially tested. Fedora, Arch, and other non-Debian distributions aren't supported for the desktop app yet; use the Claude Code CLI there instead.
Install it from Anthropic's signed apt repository so updates arrive with your normal system updates:
Cowork on Linux has extra requirements because it runs tasks in a virtual machine:
- Hardware virtualization (KVM) turned on in your computer's firmware (BIOS/UEFI) settings.
- QEMU packages, which
apt install claude-desktopinstalls by default. - Your user in the
kvmgroup, even if/dev/kvmalready seems to work. Runsudo usermod -aG kvm $USER, then log out and back in.
If something's missing, Cowork tells you exactly what:
Not in the Linux beta yet: computer use, dictation, and Fedora/RHEL support. The desktop app doesn't update itself on Linux; updates come through sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade.
Claude Cowork on the web
You can use Cowork in the browser at claude.ai (opens in a new tab) on Pro, Max, and Team. On Enterprise it's available where an admin has turned it on. It's handy for starting a task from a work computer or checking progress without the desktop app. Anything that touches files on your own computer still runs through the desktop app, so for local files you'll want it installed and open on the machine that holds them.
Claude Cowork on iPhone and Android
Cowork is in the latest Claude apps for iOS and Android on Pro, Max, and Team. Mobile is best for starting or checking on tasks while you're away from your desk.
On Pro and Max, a limited beta called Dispatch (opens in a new tab) lets you message Claude from your phone and have it do the work on your desktop, using your local files and apps. The catch: your computer has to stay awake with the desktop app open while it works.
Is there a Claude Cowork Chrome extension?
Not as a separate product. There's no standalone "Claude Cowork" listing in the Chrome Web Store. What exists is Claude in Chrome, Anthropic's extension that opens Claude in a side panel while you browse. Cowork is available in that side panel on Max and Team, and it's rolling out to Pro.
The two fit together well. Claude in Chrome is built for web pages and open tabs: reading a page, pulling information out, working across several tabs. Cowork is built for multi-step work that ends in a finished document, spreadsheet, or report. Using Cowork from the side panel lets you do both in one place.
What to verify before you rely on it
- Linux is beta. Expect rough edges compared with the Mac and Windows builds, and check the current docs before using it on a machine you can't afford downtime on.
- Computer use is beta. Anthropic recommends not giving it access to apps with banking, medical, or other sensitive personal data, and it blocks investment and crypto apps by default.
- Availability changes fast. Plan limits for web, mobile, and Chrome have shifted several times this year, and the September merge is still rolling out. Anthropic's Cowork help article (opens in a new tab) is the source of truth.
- Cowork needs folder access to work, by design. Be deliberate about which folder you point it at, especially with client or financial files.
Frequently asked questions
Does Claude Cowork work on Windows?
Yes. The Claude desktop app, which includes Cowork, supports Windows 10 and later on x64 and ARM64. Cowork is available on all paid plans and needs the latest version of Claude for Windows. It works the same as on a Mac.
Does Claude Cowork work on Mac?
Yes, on macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later, on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Install the Claude desktop app for macOS and sign in with a paid plan. There's no separate Cowork app for Mac.
Is Claude Cowork available on Linux?
Yes, in beta. The Claude desktop app runs on Ubuntu 22.04+ and Debian 12+ on x64 and arm64. Cowork on Linux also needs hardware virtualization (KVM), QEMU, and your user in the kvm group. Computer use and dictation aren't available on Linux yet, and Fedora and RHEL aren't supported.
Can I use Claude Cowork on the web?
Yes. Cowork is available at claude.ai on Pro, Max, and Team, and on Enterprise where an admin enables it. Tasks that need files on your computer still go through the Claude desktop app, which has to be open on that machine.
Does Claude Cowork keep working when my laptop is closed?
Yes, for most tasks. Cowork tasks run on Anthropic's servers and keep going when the desktop app is closed or your computer is asleep. The exception is anything that needs files on your computer, your browser, or computer use; those need the desktop app open.
Is there a Claude Cowork Chrome extension?
Not as a separate product. Cowork is available inside the Claude in Chrome side panel on Max and Team, and it's rolling out to Pro. Claude in Chrome is Anthropic's browser extension for working with web pages and open tabs.
Do I need to install Claude Cowork separately from the Claude desktop app?
No. Cowork isn't a separate download; since September 2026 it's simply part of Claude on paid plans. Installing the Claude desktop app is the only installation step, and on the web or mobile there's nothing extra to install.
Get it running, then learn it
Installing Cowork takes a few minutes on any platform. The harder part is learning how to hand it work well. The free Claude Cowork course covers the actual workflows and prompts, built for business owners and operators rather than developers. It's a free download.