About 15 minutes. Mac or Windows. Checked against Anthropic's help pages on Oct 15, 2026.
Good news first. You won't type any secret codes. You won't open a black "hacker" window. You'll install one normal app, give it one empty folder, and ask for a document.
That's it. It's about as risky as installing a weather app.
What you need
- A Mac with macOS 13 (Ventura) or newer. Or a PC with Windows 10 or newer.1
- A paid Claude plan. That means Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise. The free plan can chat. But making files in your folders is part of Cowork, and Cowork needs a paid plan.2
- Windows only: you need to be able to click "Yes" on the "Allow this app to make changes?" box. Without that admin okay, Claude still installs, but Cowork on desktop won't show up.3
Step 1: Download and install
- Go to claude.com/download.1
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Mac: click the macOS download. Open the file. Drag Claude into Applications.14 Windows: click the Windows download and open the file. Got a newer "Arm" laptop, like some Surface or Snapdragon models? Pick the ARM64 installer.15
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Open Claude from Applications (Mac) or the Start menu (Windows).1
- Sign in.1
Step 2: Tell Claude to ask first
Find the message box. Anthropic is changing the layout right now, so you'll see one of two things:2
- You see "Chat" and "Cowork" buttons. Pick Cowork.
- You don't see them. You have the new version, where one Claude does both. Skip ahead.
Next to the message box is a permission setting. Pick Manual. Now Claude stops and asks before it acts. You click Allow or Deny. You're the boss.2
Stay away from "Skip all approvals" for now. Even Anthropic says to use it only when you fully trust everything involved.2
Bonus comfort: Claude must ask before it permanently deletes any file, no matter which mode you're in.2
Step 3: Hand over the empty folder
On your computer, Claude can only read and write in folders you connect. Nothing else.2
When the app offers to choose or add a folder, pick Claude Work. The button wording changes a bit between app versions, so look for something like "choose folder" or "add folder."
Step 4: Ask for your first Word doc
Paste this in:
Create a Word document (.docx) in my Claude Work folder called "Welcome letter.docx". Make it a one-page friendly letter welcoming a new neighbor. Add a heading, three short paragraphs, and a list of five local tips I can fill in later. Don't touch any other files.
Claude shows you a plan and asks to go ahead. Read it. Click Allow.
When it's done, the file shows up so you can preview and download it.2 Not in your folder? Just ask Claude to save it there.
Open it in Word, Pages, or Google Docs. Got some other file type? Ask: "Please save that as a .docx file."
Feeling brave? Try this one:
Turn these notes into a one-page agenda for Saturday's meeting, as a Word file: [paste your messy notes]
Uh-oh moments (and fixes)
- It says "upgrade." Cowork needs a paid plan.2
- No Cowork on Windows. Update the app at claude.com/download. Also make sure it was installed with admin okay.23
- Claude stopped halfway. If the task uses files on your computer, keep the app open while it works.2
- You can't find the file. Ask Claude where it saved it. Check that you picked the right folder.2
- Running out of usage. Big tasks use more than quick questions. Check Settings > Usage.2
What's next?
- Want Claude to remember how you like things? Read Why your AI needs a memory.
- Curious about the Code tab? It doesn't need the terminal either. See Claude Chat vs Cowork vs Code.
