Claude Cowork download and install (including on Windows)
Claude Cowork lives inside the Claude desktop app, so "downloading Cowork" means installing Claude Desktop and choosing Cowork from the message box. Here's how to get it, plus the system requirements that actually matter, as of July 2026.
How to download Claude Cowork
Go to claude.ai/download (it redirects to claude.com), pick your operating system, install the app and sign in with your Claude account. Your sessions and files persist to your account and are available across surfaces. Web and mobile are in beta; the desktop app is what you want for local file access, browser use and computer use.
Verified system requirements
The published operating-system minimums are macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later, Windows 10 or later, and on Linux either Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or Debian 12 (Bookworm) or later on x64/arm64 (installed via sudo apt install claude-desktop). Note that on Linux, computer use and dictation are not available.
- macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later
- Windows 10 or later
- Linux: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS+ or Debian 12+ (x64/arm64)
The local virtualisation sandbox
Here's the detail that trips people up. For local-file work and computer use, the Claude desktop app runs Cowork's tasks in a local virtualisation sandbox on your machine, while scheduled and remote tasks run server-side on Anthropic's servers. So the local hardware requirements below apply to local desktop tasks, not to everything.
Anthropic documents the requirements officially for Linux: KVM enabled in your BIOS/UEFI, your user added to the kvm group, QEMU and virtiofsd installed, around 25 GB of free disk for the workspace image, and at least 8 GB of RAM. Note that on Linux, computer use and dictation are not available.
For macOS and Windows, Anthropic doesn't publish a single consolidated Cowork system-requirements page. Third-party guides report that Windows needs Pro, Enterprise or Education (for Hyper-V) rather than Home, with 8 GB+ RAM and virtualisation enabled in BIOS, and that macOS uses Apple's Virtualization framework — but treat those specifics as reported rather than confirmed, and check Anthropic's install guide for your operating system before you rely on them.
- Linux (Anthropic-documented): KVM in BIOS/UEFI, user in the kvm group, QEMU + virtiofsd, ~25 GB free disk, 8 GB+ RAM. Computer use and dictation are unavailable on Linux.
- Windows (reported — verify): Pro/Enterprise/Education for Hyper-V, 8 GB+ RAM, virtualisation enabled in BIOS.
- macOS (reported — verify): uses Apple's Virtualization framework; check Anthropic's install guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I download Claude Cowork?
From claude.ai/download (which redirects to claude.com). Pick your OS, install the Claude desktop app, sign in, and choose Cowork from the message box. There's no separate Cowork download.
Can I run Claude Cowork on Windows?
Yes — Windows 10 or later is supported. For local-file and computer-use tasks the desktop app runs a local virtualisation sandbox; third-party guides report this means Windows Pro, Enterprise or Education (for Hyper-V) rather than Home, plus 8 GB+ RAM and virtualisation enabled in BIOS. Anthropic doesn't publish a single Windows requirements page, so check its install guide for your OS. Scheduled and remote tasks run server-side.
What are the system requirements for Claude Cowork?
The published OS minimums are macOS 11+, Windows 10+, or Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS+ / Debian 12+). For local-file and computer-use tasks, the desktop app runs a local virtualisation sandbox — Anthropic documents the Linux requirements (KVM, QEMU + virtiofsd, ~25 GB disk, 8 GB+ RAM; no computer use or dictation on Linux); macOS and Windows specifics are third-party-reported, so check Anthropic's install guide for your OS.
Want a hand putting this into practice?
Our hands-on Claude Cowork training takes your team from the basics to a repeatable practice, using your own data.