Getting Started with Claude Cowork¶

This guide walks you through setting up Claude Cowork and running your first task safely.

What You Need¶

Requirement	Details
Computer	Mac (Windows not supported yet)
App	Claude Desktop installed
Subscription	Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise (free tier doesn't include Cowork)
Internet	Required

Setup Steps¶

Step 1: Open Claude Desktop¶

Download and open the Claude Desktop app on your Mac. You'll see three tabs at the top: Chat, Cowork, and Code.

Step 2: Switch to Cowork Mode¶

Click on the Cowork tab. That's it for the basic setup.

Step 3: Set Up Your Work Folder (Important!)¶

This is where most people make a mistake. Don't give Claude access to your whole computer.

Do this instead:

Create a new folder on your Mac called Claude-Work (or something similar)
Put only the files you want Claude to work on in this folder
When Claude asks for access, only give it permission to this specific folder

Why this matters: Everything in the Claude-Work folder is fair game for the AI to read and edit. Everything outside stays private.

The Basic Process¶

Every time you use Cowork, follow these steps:

1. Tell Claude what you want done¶

Be specific. Instead of "organize my files," say exactly how you want them organized.

2. Review Claude's plan¶

Before Claude does anything, it will show you its plan. Read it carefully. If something looks wrong, change your instructions.

3. Let it run¶

Click "Let it run" and Claude will do the work. You can walk away and check back later.

4. Check the results¶

Look at what Claude created and make sure it's what you wanted.

Testing for the First Time¶

Don't start with important files. Here's a safe 3-day plan:

Day 1: Test with throwaway files¶

Create a folder with 10-20 test files (old documents, downloaded images, etc.)
Give Claude access to just that folder
Ask it to organize the files
See what happens

Day 2: Try a real but low-risk task¶

Pick something useful but not critical (like organizing old screenshots)
Write specific instructions
Review the plan carefully
Let it run and check results

Day 3: Tackle a time-consuming task¶

Choose something that would take you an hour manually
Write detailed instructions
Use what you learned from Days 1 and 2
Review everything when it's done

When to Use Cowork vs Regular Chat¶

Use Regular Chat when:¶

You have a question
You want to brainstorm ideas
You need advice or explanations
You're having a conversation

Use Cowork when:¶

You have files to organize
You need a document created from existing files
You want to process data or images
You have a task that takes multiple steps
You'd say "I wish someone could just do this for me"

Rule of thumb: If you're thinking "this would be tedious to do myself," that's when Cowork shines.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them¶

Mistake 1: Giving Too Much Access¶

What happens: You give Claude access to your entire home folder. Now it can see everything.

Fix: Create a dedicated work folder. Only put files there that Claude should work on.

Mistake 2: Skipping the Plan Review¶

What happens: You click "Let it run" without reading Claude's plan. Claude does something you didn't want.

Fix: Always read the plan first. It only takes 30 seconds and can save you an hour of fixing things.

Mistake 3: Vague Instructions¶

What happens: You say "organize my stuff" and Claude makes choices you don't like.

Fix: Be specific. Tell Claude exactly what folders to create, how to name things, and where to put files.

Mistake 4: Using Cowork for Simple Questions¶

What happens: You ask "What's 15% of 200?" in Cowork mode. This is overkill.

Fix: Use regular Chat for quick questions. Use Cowork when you have actual work that takes multiple steps.

Mistake 5: No Backup¶

What happens: You let Claude work on important files without a backup. Something goes wrong.

Fix: Make a copy of important files before letting Claude work on them.

Getting Better Over Time¶

Week	Focus
Week 1	Learn how to write clear instructions. Test with simple tasks.
Week 2	Start using Cowork for real work. Pay attention to what works and what doesn't.
Week 3	Develop templates for tasks you do repeatedly. Save good prompts.
Week 4	Look for new ways to use Cowork. Think about tedious tasks in your workflow.

Final Tips¶

Start small. Don't try to automate your entire workflow on day one.
Read the plan. Those 30 seconds of review will save you time.
Be specific. The more details you give, the better the results.
Keep backups. Always have a copy of important files.
Test first. Try new tasks on copies of files before running them on originals.
Use the right tool. Quick questions go in Chat. Real work goes in Cowork.
Learn from mistakes. If something doesn't work right, adjust your instructions and try again.