How to Use the Claude Desktop App

Claude Desktop is Anthropic's native app for your computer (macOS and Windows). In addition to the same AI chat experience as the browser-based claude.ai, it includes a Cowork mode that lets Claude directly read and write files on your computer and automate repetitive tasks.

This guide walks you through installing Claude Desktop and using each of its modes, step by step.

What Is Claude Desktop — How Is It Different from the Web Version?

The biggest difference between the browser-based claude.ai and the Claude Desktop app is how deeply it integrates with your computer.

Benefits of the Desktop App

1. Direct access to local files

With the web version, you had to upload files one by one. The desktop app lets you point Claude at folders and files on your computer so it can read and write them directly. Commands like "Read all the files in my Documents folder and summarize them" execute in one go.

2. Automate repetitive tasks (Cowork mode)

You can have Claude run tasks on a schedule — for example, "Every morning at 9 AM, read yesterday's sales data and create a report."

3. Connect to external tools (MCP integration)

By linking Claude to tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Notion, you can hand off multi-tool workflows to Claude in a single request.

The Three Modes in Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop has three modes:

This guide focuses on Chat and Cowork modes. Code mode is primarily for software developers, so it is not covered here.

Installation

Download Claude Desktop from claude.ai/download.

System Requirements

• macOS: macOS 12 (Monterey) or later
• Windows: Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)

Installation Steps

Troubleshooting: On macOS, if you see "'Claude' is damaged and can't be opened," go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway. This message comes from Gatekeeper, Apple's feature that protects against unverified apps.

Logging In and Account Setup

Once installation is complete, launch Claude Desktop and sign in.

1. The login screen appears when you open the app
2. Enter the email address and password you use for claude.ai
3. You can also sign in with your Google or Apple account
4. After logging in, the Claude Desktop main screen appears

If you don't have an account yet, you can create one for free at claude.ai.

Chat Mode — Familiar and Ready to Use

Chat mode is the same AI chat experience as browser-based claude.ai. You can start using it right after installation.

Basic Usage

1. Select the Chat tab in the left sidebar (Chat mode is the default)
2. Type your message in the text field at the bottom of the screen
3. Press Enter (or click the send button) to send

Just like the web version, you can use Chat mode for writing, translation, Q&A, idea generation, and much more.

Desktop-Only Convenience Features

Drag and drop local files

Drag any file from your computer directly into the chat window to attach it — no need to navigate through a browser upload dialog.

Supported file types include:

• PDF documents
• Word files (.docx)
• Excel files (.xlsx)
• Text files (.txt, .csv, etc.)
• Image files (.png, .jpg, etc.)

Native OS notifications

When Claude finishes generating a long response, your computer's notification center alerts you. You can work on something else while Claude writes, and you won't miss the completion.

Keyboard shortcuts

Troubleshooting: Chat history is shared between the desktop app and the web version. You can start a conversation in one and continue it in the other.

Cowork Mode — Hand Entire Tasks Off to Claude

Cowork is Claude Desktop's most powerful feature. It lets Claude act as an agent — reading and writing files, connecting to external services, and automating recurring work.

How Cowork Differs from Chat

In Chat mode, Claude answers your questions. In Cowork mode, Claude takes initiative and carries out multi-step tasks on its own.

Chat mode example:

You: "Write an agenda for the meeting"
Claude: "Sure, here is a draft agenda… (returns text)"

Cowork mode example:

You: "Read all the files in this week's meeting notes folder
      and create an Excel file listing every action item."
Claude: (opens folder → reads each file → creates Excel file → saves it — all automatically)

Plans That Include Cowork

Initial Setup for Cowork

The first time you use Cowork mode, you grant Claude access to specific folders on your computer.

1. Click the Cowork tab in the left sidebar
2. Click Add Folder
3. Select a folder to grant Claude access to (for example, your Documents folder)
4. Click Allow to confirm

Cowork in Action

Example 1: Batch-process a large set of files

"Read all the PDFs in last month's invoices folder and create an Excel file listing the vendor name, amount, and date for each one."

Work that would take hours by hand can be completed in minutes.

Example 2: Auto-generate weekly meeting summaries

"Read this week's Word files in the meeting notes folder and create a weekly summary — in bullet points — listing decisions made and action items from each meeting. Save it to the desktop."

Example 3: Automated recurring reports (scheduled tasks)

"Every morning at 9 AM, read the latest CSV from the sales data folder, calculate the day-over-day change, create a daily report, and save it to the reports folder."

Troubleshooting: Scheduled Cowork tasks only run when your computer is on and Claude Desktop is open. Tasks will be skipped if the computer is asleep or powered off.

For a detailed guide to Cowork — including how to set up schedules and connect external services — see "Getting Started with Cowork — Let Claude Handle Your Tasks."

MCP Integration — Connect Claude to External Tools

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is the mechanism that connects Claude to external tools and services. With MCP configured, Claude can access services you already use every day, such as Slack, Google Drive, and Notion.

What MCP Enables

Once MCP is set up, you can do things like:

• "Summarize today's messages in the #general Slack channel"
• "Read and analyze the files in a specific Google Drive folder"
• "Add today's work log to my Notion database"

Popular MCP Servers

Where to Find the Config File (Overview)

MCP servers are registered in Claude Desktop's configuration file, claude_desktop_config.json. The file is located here:

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

A dedicated guide page with the full configuration steps is available separately.

Chrome Extension and Office Add-ins

Beyond the desktop app, Claude is also accessible through the following tools (full details coming in future guides).

Chrome Extension

Installing the Claude extension in Chrome lets you pass the content of any web page directly to Claude without leaving your browser. This makes summarizing articles, PDFs, and research pages much smoother.

Excel / PowerPoint Add-ins

Adding the Claude add-in to Microsoft Excel or PowerPoint lets you send instructions to Claude from within Office apps. Commands like "Analyze the data in this spreadsheet" or "Improve the text in this slide" run without switching applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is data shared between the web version (claude.ai) and the desktop app?

Yes. Chat conversation history is saved to the cloud and shared between the web and desktop versions. You can access past conversations from either.

Q. Can I use the desktop app for free?

Chat mode and Code mode are available on the Free plan. Cowork mode requires a Pro plan or higher.

Q. Does the app need to be running all the time?

For Chat mode, just open it when you need it. If you use Cowork's scheduled tasks, the app needs to be running at the time each task is scheduled to execute.

Troubleshooting: Desktop app updates may not be applied automatically. Check for updates regularly via Help > Check for Updates (macOS) or the "About Claude" menu item (Windows). Staying up to date ensures you have the latest features and bug fixes.

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics of Claude Desktop, here are some ways to go further.

• Getting Started with Cowork — Let Claude Handle Your Tasks — Learn the details of Cowork, including scheduling and external service integration
• How to Use Claude Web (claude.ai) — Understand when to use the web version versus the desktop app
• Prompt Fundamentals — Learn techniques for giving Claude effective instructions
• Comparing Plans — Find the plan that fits your needs