Claude Cowork Guide

A practical guide to Claude Cowork — the autonomous task mode in Claude Desktop that lets Claude work on files and documents while you do other things.

Source Repository

ai-cowork-guide — guides written for non-technical users.

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What Is Cowork?

Cowork is a tab in the Claude Desktop app (alongside Chat and Code). Instead of back-and-forth conversation, you give Claude a task and it works independently — organizing files, creating documents, processing data, and more.

Quick Start

1. Open Claude Desktop on your Mac
2. Click the Cowork tab
3. Create a dedicated work folder (don't give access to your whole computer)
4. Tell Claude what you want done
5. Review the plan, then let it run

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What's Inside

• Getting Started

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  Requirements, setup, first-time testing plan, common mistakes, and a 4-week learning path.

• Writing Instructions

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  4 rules, 5 templates, 4 patterns (Show Me First, Do It Like This, Step by Step, Safety First).

• Practical Examples

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  10 real-world tasks with exact instructions and estimated time saved.

• Security

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  5 safety rules, prompt injection awareness, emergency procedures, family safety tips.

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Cowork vs Chat vs Code

Mode	Best For	How It Works
Chat	Quick questions, brainstorming	Back-and-forth dialogue
Cowork	File tasks, document creation, data processing	Give a task, Claude works autonomously
Code	Software development, coding, debugging	CLI tool for developers

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Subscription Tiers

Plan	Price	Best For
Claude Pro	Varies	Occasional use
Claude Max 5x	$100/month	Regular use
Claude Max 20x	$200/month	Heavy daily use
Team/Enterprise	Custom	Businesses

Recommendation

Start with Max 5x. If you hit limits, upgrade to Max 20x.

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Requirements

• Mac computer (Windows not supported yet)
• Claude Desktop app installed
• Paid subscription (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise)