# Claude Cowork: Agentic Desktop for Knowledge Work

> **Note**: This page is a summary. For comprehensive documentation, see the **[Complete Cowork Documentation](../cowork/README.md)**.

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## Quick Overview

**Cowork** is Claude's agentic desktop feature that extends autonomous AI capabilities to non-technical users through the Claude Desktop app. Instead of terminal commands, Cowork accesses local folders and files directly.

### Key Facts

| Aspect | Details |
|--------|---------|
| **Status** | Research preview (January 2026) |
| **Access** | Pro ($20/mo) or Max ($100-200/mo) subscription, macOS only |
| **Focus** | File manipulation, document generation, organization |
| **Difference from Code** | No code execution—files only |

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## Quick Comparison

| Aspect | Claude Code | Cowork | Projects |
|--------|-------------|--------|----------|
| **User** | Developers | Knowledge workers | Everyone |
| **Interface** | Terminal | Desktop app | Web chat |
| **Execute code** | Yes | No | No |
| **File access** | Full | Folder sandbox | Upload only |
| **Maturity** | Production | Research preview | Production |

→ [Full Comparison](../cowork/reference/comparison.md)

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## Use Cases

- **File Organization** — Messy folders → organized structure
- **Expense Tracking** — Receipts → Excel reports
- **Report Synthesis** — Multiple docs → unified report
- **Meeting Prep** — Research → briefing documents

→ [Detailed Workflows](../cowork/workflows/)

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## Security Summary

No official security documentation exists yet. Essential practices:

1. **Dedicated workspace** — Never grant access to Documents/Desktop
2. **Review plans** — Check every action before approval
3. **No credentials** — Keep sensitive data out of workspace
4. **Backup first** — Before destructive operations

→ [Complete Security Guide](../cowork/guide/03-security.md)

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## Documentation

| Resource | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| **[Complete Documentation](../cowork/README.md)** | Full Cowork guide hub |
| **[Getting Started](../cowork/guide/01-getting-started.md)** | Setup and first workflow |
| **[Capabilities](../cowork/guide/02-capabilities.md)** | What Cowork can/cannot do |
| **[Prompt Library](../cowork/prompts/)** | 50+ ready-to-use prompts |
| **[Cheatsheet](../cowork/reference/cheatsheet.md)** | 1-page quick reference |
| **[FAQ](../cowork/reference/faq.md)** | Common questions |

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*Back to [AI Ecosystem Guide](./ai-ecosystem.md) | [Ultimate Guide](./ultimate-guide.md) | [Main README](../README.md)*