Claude's new Cowork mode brings AI agents to everyone. No code, no complex setup. Just point Claude at a folder on your computer and describe what you need done. Here's how to start delegating tasks to your AI assistant.
Claude's new Cowork mode brings AI agents to everyone.
What You'll Need
macOS computer (Windows support coming later)
Claude Pro or Max subscription ($20/month for Pro, $45/month for Max)
The Claude desktop app installed
A folder with files you want Claude to work on
Step 1: Enable Cowork Mode
Open the Claude desktop app and click the settings icon in the bottom left corner. Look for "Cowork" under the Research Preview section and toggle it on.
You'll see a notice explaining that Cowork can read, edit, and create files in folders you grant access to. This is how Claude works autonomously without constant guidance.
Look for "Cowork" top left of your app
Step 2: Grant Folder Access
Start a new conversation and click the folder icon that appears in the input field. This lets you select which folder Claude can access for this session.
Navigate to the folder you want Claude to work in and click "Select Folder." Claude can now read all files in that location, create new files, and edit existing ones.
Navigate to the folder you want Claude to work in and click "Select Folder."
Security note: Claude only accesses folders you explicitly grant. Each conversation requires new permission, and you can revoke access anytime by ending the session.
Step 3: Describe Your Task
Tell Claude what you need done in plain language. Be specific about the outcome you want, but you don't need to explain every step.
Tell Claude what you need done in plain language.
Example tasks:
Help me prepare for a meeting about [topic].
Ask any clarifying questions and share a plan of how you'll approach this task.Organise all these files by type. Put images in an Images folder, documents in Documents, and everything else in Miscellaneous. Delete any duplicates you find.Help me organize the screenshots on my Desktop.
Scan my Desktop for screenshots and images. For each one:
- Identify what it shows
- Suggest a descriptive filename
- Propose which folder it belongs in (or if it can be deleted)
Group similar screenshots together. Show me the plan before making any changes.Read through these meeting transcripts and create a summary document with key decisions, action items, and who's responsible for what.Find all the PDF invoices from the last quarter and create a single Excel file tracking invoice numbers, amounts, dates, and payment status.Claude breaks down your request into steps and executes them independently. You'll see progress updates as it works through the task.
Step 4: Review Claude's Work
Once Claude finishes, it reports what it did and shows you the results. Check the files it created or modified to ensure everything matches your expectations.
If something needs adjustment, just describe what you want changed. Claude remembers the context and can refine its work without starting over.
Example follow-up requests:
The spreadsheet looks good, but can you add a column calculating tax at 20% for each item?Actually, put the action items in a separate document sorted by deadline.Practical Workflows for Business
File Organisation and Cleanup
Give Claude access to your Downloads folder and ask it to sort everything into logical categories. It identifies file types, removes duplicates, and creates a clean folder structure automatically.
Try this:
Organise these downloads into folders by type. Create a Backlog folder for anything older than 6 months. List everything you moved so I can review it.Data Extraction and Processing
Point Claude at a folder of invoices, receipts, or forms. It extracts key information and builds structured data files you can use for reporting or analysis.
Try this:
Extract company names, contact emails, and phone numbers from all these PDFs and create a CSV file I can import into my CRM.Document Drafting from Source Materials
Give Claude access to research notes, meeting recordings, or reference documents. It synthesises the information and drafts reports, proposals, or summaries that pull from multiple sources.
Try this:
Read through these client interview notes and draft a project proposal covering scope, timeline, deliverables, and pricing. Use the pricing template in this folder as a reference.Batch File Conversions
Need to convert file formats, resize images, or standardise naming conventions? Claude handles batch operations across hundreds of files without manual intervention.
Try this:
Convert all these HEIC photos to JPG format and resize them to 1920px wide whilst maintaining aspect ratio. Save them in a new folder called Web-Ready.Real-World ApplicationsCustomisation Tips
Be specific about format: Tell Claude exactly how you want results structured. "Create a spreadsheet with columns for X, Y, and Z" works better than "make me a spreadsheet."
Set boundaries: If you only want Claude to read certain files or avoid deleting anything, say so upfront. "Don't delete any files, just organise them" gives clear guidelines.
Ask for summaries: For complex tasks, ask Claude to explain what it did. "List all the changes you made and why" helps you understand its decisions.
Iterate freely: You're not locked into your first request. Claude keeps context throughout the conversation, so refining work takes seconds.
Real-World Use Cases
Small Business Owners: Organise financial records, process expense reports, draft client proposals from meeting notes, create invoices from project details.
Content Creators: Batch rename and organise media files, extract metadata for content management, build asset libraries, generate transcripts and summaries from recordings.
Consultants and Freelancers: Compile project documentation, build client reports from scattered notes, organise contracts and agreements, track time and expenses across projects.
Marketing Teams: Organise campaign assets, extract data from performance reports, batch process images for different platforms, compile competitive research into structured briefs.
Next Steps
Start with simple tasks to understand what Cowork can handle. Try organising a single folder or extracting data from a small batch of files. Once you're comfortable, delegate more complex multi-step workflows.
The key is describing outcomes rather than processes. Tell Claude what you want accomplished, and it figures out the steps. If results aren't perfect, refine with follow-up requests until you get exactly what you need.
Experiment with different types of tasks:
File organisation and cleanup
Data extraction and structuring
Document drafting and synthesis
Batch processing and conversions
Research compilation and summarisation
Cowork excels when you have clear goals but tedious execution. Let Claude handle the repetitive work whilst you focus on decisions and strategy