Introduction to Claude Cowork
Anthropic
Last updated June 20, 2026
Introduction to Claude Cowork is a free, roughly thirty-minute video course from Anthropic on Cowork — Claude working directly with the files, folders, and apps on your machine, reading, editing, and producing real outputs. Where the chat experience is a conversation, Cowork is a working session: you describe a task, Claude plans and carries it out, and you steer as it goes. The course takes you from first launch to confident daily use. You set up a working folder, connectors, and permissions, then run a complete task end to end — clarifying what you want, steering mid-run, and reviewing the deliverable. From there it shows how to give Claude standing context with global instructions, projects, skills, and plugins so it knows your vocabulary, your steps, and the outputs you expect; how to set up scheduled tasks and Dispatch for recurring work; and how to bring Claude into the browser with Claude in Chrome and into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook through add-ins. It closes on working safely in multi-step sessions — reviewing plans and outputs, validating the skills you build, and sharing plugins and workflows with a team. No coding or command-line experience is needed.
What you'll learn
- What Cowork is and how it differs from chatting with Claude
- Setting up Cowork with a working folder, connectors, and the right permissions
- Running a task end to end — clarifying, steering mid-run, and reviewing the deliverable
- Giving Claude standing context with global instructions, projects, skills, and plugins
- Setting up scheduled tasks and Dispatch for recurring work
- Bringing Claude into Chrome and into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Working safely: reviewing plans and outputs, validating skills, and sharing plugins with a team
Frequently asked questions about Introduction to Claude Cowork
Who is Introduction to Claude Cowork for?
Knowledge workers whose day is spent moving information between files, apps, and tools, who want Claude to take on real, multi-step work — no coding required.
Is Introduction to Claude Cowork free?
Yes — Introduction to Claude Cowork is completely free to take.
What are the prerequisites for Introduction to Claude Cowork?
A paid Claude plan (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise) with access to the Claude desktop app, plus comfort with everyday desktop apps. No coding or command-line experience is needed.
Does Introduction to Claude Cowork offer a certificate?
Yes. Free certificate of completion.
Why we suggest this course
A short, practical introduction for knowledge workers who want Claude to take on real, multi-step work rather than just answer questions. One thing to know: Cowork needs a paid Claude plan (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise) and the desktop app to fully automate workflows, though the course itself costs nothing and requires no coding.