What Claude Desktop is.
Claude Desktop is the desktop app of Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant. It gives access to everything claude.ai offers (conversations, projects, memory, connectors), plus direct access to your computer: your files, your apps, your browser.
Your conversations, projects, memory and preferences sync across desktop, web and mobile as long as you are signed in to the same account.
Download and install Claude Desktop.
The app downloads from the official claude.com/download page. Here are the platforms offered as of September 27, 2026:
| Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| macOS | Yes |
| Windows | Yes, including ARM processors (arm64) |
| Linux | Beta: Ubuntu and Debian, x64 and arm64 |
| ChromeOS | Yes |
| iOS and Android | Mobile apps, to pair with the desktop |
The app is available on every plan, free included. On Linux, chat is open to all, while Claude Code and Cowork require a Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plan. Two features are still missing on Linux according to Anthropic: Computer Use and dictation.
For plan details and prices, see Claude Pricing 2026.
What the app does beyond the browser.
Four differences matter day to day:
- Instant access. The app stays in your Dock or taskbar, and a global shortcut opens Claude from any app.
- Desktop extensions. Installed locally, they give Claude access to your files, browsers and native apps. Web connectors (Google Drive, Slack) work everywhere.
- Claude in Chrome. Included as a connector: once enabled, Claude can navigate, click and fill in forms in your browser, from the app.
- Claude Code built in. Developers get Claude Code inside the app, with server previews, change review and pull request tracking.
Anthropic also offers extensions for Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook (beta) and Slack, so Claude can work directly inside those tools.
Cowork and chat merge: what changes.
On September 16, 2026, Anthropic announced that Claude Cowork and chat are now one Claude. Until then, you had to choose: chat for a quick question, Cowork for heavier work. Now Claude works out what a task needs.
In practice, according to the announcement:
- You hand over a whole task, say a report due at noon, and Claude takes it from there, even after you close your laptop. You can check progress from your phone.
- Claude Docs and Claude Slides arrive, in beta on paid plans: Claude writes a document with you or drafts slides, which you edit directly, present from Claude or download as PowerPoint or PDF.
- Tasks can be scheduled: a report every Monday, without asking again.
- You keep control: by default, Claude asks before taking an action. You can let it keep working and check in only when something needs a closer look.
The rollout starts on Pro and Max plans, on web, desktop and mobile, over the weeks following the announcement. Team and Free plans will follow, and Enterprise admins hear at least 30 days before anything changes.
Deploying Claude Desktop in a company.
For a fleet of machines, Anthropic supports standard deployment:
- Dedicated installers: MSIX for Windows, PKG for Mac.
- Controlled updates, to test and approve each version on your timeline.
- Automatic SSO on managed devices.
- Pre-approved extensions: admins choose which ones teams can use.
That last point matters most: an extension gives access to local files and apps. Deciding which are allowed means deciding what the AI can touch on company machines.
To go further with Claude: teach it your procedures with Claude Skills, or plug it into your own tools with the Claude API.
Claude Desktop: what people ask us.
Is Claude Desktop free?
Yes. According to Anthropic, Claude apps are available on every plan: Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise. Some features are only available on paid plans, such as Claude Code and Cowork on Linux.
Which systems does Claude Desktop run on?
macOS, Windows (including ARM processors) and Linux, in beta, for Ubuntu and Debian on x64 and arm64. The download page also offers a ChromeOS version, plus iOS and Android apps that sync with the desktop.
What is the difference between Claude Desktop and Claude in the browser?
The app stays in your Dock or taskbar, with a shortcut to call Claude from anywhere. Above all, it supports locally installed extensions that give Claude access to your files, browsers and native apps.
Can I use Claude Code in the desktop app?
Yes. Claude Code runs directly in the app: you can preview running servers, review local code changes and track pull request status. The /desktop command moves a terminal conversation into the app.
What is Claude Cowork?
The Claude mode that takes on whole tasks, like a report or a presentation. On September 16, 2026, Anthropic announced that Cowork and chat are merging into one Claude, rolling out first on Pro and Max, then Team and Free.
How do I deploy Claude Desktop across a company?
Anthropic provides MSIX installers for Windows and PKG installers for Mac. Admins can control version updates, enable automatic SSO on managed devices and pre-approve which desktop extensions teams may use.