Organize recurring work with Claude Cowork projects

Projects live in Cowork's sidebar, and they need the newest version of the app.

1. 1Download or update the app from claude.com/download, then sign in.
2. 2If the message box shows Chat and Cowork, select Cowork.
3. 3No such switch? You have the new combined Claude, where Cowork works from any conversation.

You should see Projects in the left sidebar.

One project per stream of work keeps each client or report in its own lane.

1. 1In the left sidebar, click Projects, then click the + button.
2. 2Pick Start from scratch to get a new folder, or Use an existing folder to work from one you already have.
3. 3Already have a project in Claude chat? The import option copies its files and instructions across.
4. 4Name the project, add a one-line description of what it's for, and click Create.

You should see your new project listed under Projects in the sidebar.

Projects you create in Cowork are saved to your Claude account. The folders you attach stay on your computer.

Instructions apply to every task in the project, so you never repeat the same brief.

1. 1Open the project and find its instructions.
2. 2Paste the template below and fill in each part in brackets.
3. 3Save it. You can change the instructions at any time.

This project is for [WORK STREAM, e.g. the monthly report for Acme].

Who reads the output: [AUDIENCE].
What good output looks like: [FORMAT, LENGTH, TONE].
Shorthand I use: [TERM] means [MEANING].
Always: lead with the main point, then the detail.
Never: [THINGS TO AVOID].
Before you make a final file, show me a short outline first.

You should see the instructions saved on the project's page.

Claude works from the project's context in every task, so you only add it once.

1. 1Drag files or folders onto the project. Files are copied into its first folder, and folders are added as extra project folders.
2. 2Paste links to the documents or dashboards Claude should check.
3. 3To use what a chat project knows, link that project from the project's settings.

You should see your files, folders and links listed in the project's context.

Claude reads files up to 50 MB. Files it opens are processed on Anthropic's servers, not only on your computer.

A task started inside the project picks up its folders, instructions and memory with no extra setup.

1. 1Open the project from the sidebar and type your task in its message box.
2. 2Say what you want, which files to use and what the result should look like.
3. 3Keep Claude Desktop open while it works, then come back to the finished work.

Using the files in this project, draft [DELIVERABLE, e.g. this month's status update]. Follow the project instructions. Before you start, repeat my ask back in one line and ask any questions you have.

You should see Claude's plan for the task, then a finished draft at the end of it.

Memory turns each new task into a follow-up instead of a fresh start.

1. 1On the project's page, find Memory.
2. 2Turn off Use account memory if this project's details shouldn't reach your other chats.
3. 3Start each new cycle, such as next month's report, as a new task in the same project.

You should see Use account memory set the way you want it.

Memory doesn't carry over to other projects. Archiving a project deletes its name, instructions, links and memory, but never your folders.