Setting Up the Claude Desktop App
The Claude desktop app is a native application for Mac and Windows that adds Cowork and Code modes on top of the same conversation experience as claude.ai.
Getting it running takes a few minutes: download, install, sign in.
This page walks through that process end to end, plus what to check if something doesn't go as expected.
Summary
The desktop app is a small download that installs like any other Mac or Windows application.
You don't need a separate account for it - it uses the same sign-in as claude.ai and the mobile apps.
Once you're signed in, your existing conversation history is already there, because everything syncs at the account level rather than the device level.
Chat mode is ready to use immediately after sign-in, with no extra configuration.
Cowork and Code, the app's other two modes, are available from the same install and don't require a separate setup step to access, though using them well involves its own learning curve covered elsewhere in this section.
Recipe
Quick-reference steps - the shortest path from nothing installed to your first conversation.
1. Go to claude.ai/download (or the Anthropic website's download page) in a browser.
2. Choose the Mac or Windows installer, matching your operating system.
3. Run the downloaded installer and follow its prompts.
4. Open the Claude app once installation finishes.
5. Sign in with the same email, Google, or Apple account you already use for Claude.
6. Start a conversation in Chat mode, or explore Cowork and Code from the mode switcher.When to reach for this:
- You want Cowork or Code mode, neither of which exists in a browser.
- You'd rather have Claude as its own app/window instead of a browser tab.
- You're setting up a new Mac or Windows machine and want Claude available system-wide.
- You want quick, OS-level access (dock, taskbar, keyboard shortcut) instead of navigating to a URL each time.
Working Example
A complete first-time setup, from download to a working conversation, looks like this:
Step 1 - Download
- Visit the Claude download page in your browser.
- The page detects your operating system and offers the matching installer
(a .dmg file for Mac, an .exe file for Windows). Download it.
Step 2 - Install
- Mac: open the downloaded .dmg file, then drag the Claude icon into
your Applications folder.
- Windows: run the downloaded .exe file and follow the setup wizard's prompts.
- Both platforms may show a standard OS security prompt for a new
application - this is expected for any freshly downloaded app.
Step 3 - Open the app
- Mac: launch Claude from Applications or Spotlight search.
- Windows: launch Claude from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.
Step 4 - Sign in
- Choose your sign-in method: email, Google, or Apple - whichever you
already use for your Claude account.
- If you don't have an account yet, the same screen lets you create one;
every new account starts on the Free plan.
Step 5 - Confirm you're set up
- After signing in, your existing conversations (if any) should already
appear in the sidebar, synced from claude.ai.
- The mode switcher shows Chat, Cowork, and Code - Chat is ready to use
immediately; Cowork and Code may prompt for one-time local permissions
(like folder or terminal access) the first time you open them.What this demonstrates:
- Installing the desktop app is a standard, familiar OS install flow - nothing Claude-specific to learn.
- Sign-in reuses your existing account, so there's no separate desktop-only registration.
- Conversation sync means setup on a new machine doesn't start you from zero.
- Cowork and Code may ask for local permissions the first time, since they interact with your file system or terminal, while Chat needs none of that.
Deep Dive
How It Works
- The desktop app is a native application, not a browser wrapper - it installs, updates, and runs like other Mac/Windows software.
- Signing in authenticates the same underlying account used by claude.ai and the mobile apps, which is why conversation history appears immediately.
- Chat mode requires no special permissions because it works exactly like a web conversation - no local file or system access involved.
- Cowork and Code do request local permissions on first use, because Cowork works inside a folder on your machine and Code runs a command-line agent - both need explicit access to function.
- Updates to the desktop app are generally handled automatically by the app itself, similar to how most modern desktop software self-updates.
System Requirements at a Glance
| Platform | What you need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mac | A reasonably current version of macOS | Installed via a downloaded .dmg |
| Windows | A reasonably current version of Windows | Installed via a downloaded .exe |
| Either | An internet connection | Claude's models run in the cloud, not on your device |
| Either | A Claude account (Free, Pro, Team, or Enterprise) | The same account works across every interface |
Account & Plan Notes
- Any plan tier - Free, Pro, Team, or Enterprise - can use the desktop app; the app itself doesn't require a paid plan.
- Which Claude models you can pick from (Claude Fable 5, Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Sonnet 5, Claude Haiku 4.5) depends on your plan tier, not on which interface you're using.
- Team and Enterprise accounts may have organization-level settings that affect what's visible or configurable in the desktop app, managed by an admin rather than by each individual user.
Gotchas
- Downloading from an unofficial source. Only install from claude.ai or the official Anthropic download page. Fix: if you're unsure a link is legitimate, navigate to claude.ai directly rather than clicking a link from an email or search ad.
- Assuming the desktop app needs its own separate account. It doesn't - it's easy to create a second account by accident if you sign in with a different email than the one you normally use. Fix: double-check you're signing in with the same email, Google, or Apple account as your existing Claude account before creating a new one.
- Expecting Cowork or Code to work without granting permissions. Both modes need local access (to a folder, or to a terminal) to function, and they'll prompt for it the first time. Fix: approve the permission prompt when it appears; if you dismissed it, the mode's settings typically offer a way to grant access again.
- Not seeing past conversations right after signing in. Sync can take a moment on first sign-in, especially with a large conversation history. Fix: give it a few seconds, and check your internet connection if conversations still don't appear.
- Confusing an OS security prompt for a problem with the app. Both macOS and Windows show a standard warning for newly downloaded applications from outside their respective app stores. Fix: this is expected behavior for a fresh install from a browser download, not a sign of a corrupted or unsafe file, as long as you downloaded it from the official source.
- Installing on a machine without admin rights. Some managed work computers restrict software installation. Fix: use the web app at claude.ai instead, or ask your IT administrator to install the desktop app for you.
Alternatives
| Alternative | Use When | Don't Use When |
|---|---|---|
| Web app (claude.ai) | You don't need Cowork or Code, or you're on a machine where you can't install software | You specifically need local-folder task execution or the coding agent |
| Mobile app (iOS/Android) | You're away from a computer entirely | You need Cowork, Code, or a larger screen for sustained work |
| Chrome extension | You just want quick help on a webpage you're already viewing | You need a standalone app window or the desktop app's other modes |
FAQs
Do I need a new account to use the desktop app?
- No. Sign in with the same email, Google, or Apple account you already use for Claude, and your existing conversations will be there.
Is the desktop app free to download?
- Yes, the app itself is free to install. Your plan tier (Free, Pro, Team, or Enterprise) determines usage limits and model access, not whether you can install the app.
Will my old conversations from claude.ai show up in the desktop app?
- Yes. Conversations sync at the account level, so signing in on the desktop app brings your existing history with it.
What operating systems does the desktop app support?
- Mac and Windows, each with its own installer (a
.dmgfor Mac, an.exefor Windows).
Do I need to configure anything before my first conversation?
- No. Chat mode is ready to use as soon as you sign in - there's no setup step beyond installing and signing in.
Why is the app asking for permission to access a folder or my terminal?
- That prompt comes from Cowork (folder access) or Code (terminal access), the desktop app's other two modes, which need local access to do their job. Chat mode never asks for this.
Can I use the desktop app and the web app at the same time?
- Yes. They share the same account and conversation history, so you can freely switch between them.
What should I do if the installer shows a security warning?
- This is a standard OS warning for newly downloaded applications, not necessarily a sign of a problem, as long as you downloaded the installer from claude.ai or the official Anthropic download page.
Does installing the desktop app cost extra on top of my plan?
- No, the app is a free download regardless of plan; your plan tier only affects usage limits and model access, the same as it would on any interface.
What if my work computer won't let me install new software?
- Use the web app at claude.ai instead - it has the same conversation features as the desktop app's Chat mode, without needing an install.
Does the desktop app update itself?
- Generally yes - like most modern desktop software, it's designed to handle updates automatically rather than requiring a manual reinstall.
Can I sign out and sign into a different Claude account later?
- Yes, the app supports signing out and signing back in with a different account, the same as most desktop applications with account-based sign-in.
Related
- Claude's Interfaces: Web, Desktop, Mobile, and Slack - where the desktop app fits among Claude's other surfaces.
- Inside the Claude Desktop App: Chat, Cowork, and Code - what to do once setup is finished.
- Getting Started with Claude on Mobile - the equivalent setup walkthrough for iOS and Android.
- Claude 101 Basics - conversation basics that work the same way once you're signed in.
Stack versions: Written against the Claude model lineup current as of ~June 2026 - Claude Fable 5, Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Sonnet 5 (the default), and Claude Haiku 4.5. Model names, pricing, and product features move quickly - verify current specifics at platform.claude.com/docs before relying on them.