Projects in Claude Cowork let you group related tasks into dedicated workspaces with their own files, context, instructions, and memory. Projects work the same way in Cowork and in Claude. New projects you create in Cowork are saved to your Claude account, so you can pick them up from your other devices. Claude Desktop also moves projects you created from a folder on your computer into your Claude account, and their folders and files stay on your computer. Learn more about local projects moved to your Claude account.
Availability
Projects in Cowork require the latest version of Claude Desktop. Download or update at claude.com/download.
Claude Cowork is available on desktop on all paid plans (Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise). On web and mobile, it's available on Pro, Max, and Team plans (in beta on Team), and on Enterprise plans when an owner enables it.
The new Claude experience, which combines chat and Cowork, is rolling out to Pro and Max plans. On Team plans (in beta) and Enterprise plans, it's available where Chat and Cowork unified is turned on. If your message box no longer shows "Chat" and "Cowork" options, you have the new experience, and some steps in this article may look different. Learn more in Claude Cowork and chat are one Claude.
Create a project
Find Projects in the left navigation panel and click the “+” button to see the three different ways to create a project:
Start from scratch
Selecting “Start from scratch” allows you to set up a new folder with instructions and files:
Import from a Claude project
After selecting “Import from project,” you’ll see a “Search projects in Chat…” field:
Clicking into the field will display a drop-down showing your recent projects, but you can also use it to search all your projects. After you select a chat project (bulk upload is not supported), you can name the new Cowork project and choose where to save it on your computer:
Clicking “Create” will transfer the files and instructions from your existing Claude project and create a new Cowork project.
Use an existing folder on your computer
If you select “Use an existing folder,” you’ll be prompted to pick a file to use as context for the new Cowork project:
After selecting a folder, you can name the new Cowork project, choose where to save it on your computer, add instructions, and attach any additional files. Click “Create” to start using your new project:
What's included in a project
Each project has its own:
Instructions — Add tone, formatting, or rules to help guide how Claude works on all tasks in the project.
Scheduled tasks — Set up recurring tasks that are specific to the project.
Context — Add a local folder, link a chat project, or paste in a URL for Claude to reference.
Memory — Claude remembers context from your work within the project.
Memory in projects
Memory is enabled for Cowork projects. This means Claude can remember context from tasks you've run in a project and apply it to future tasks in the same project. What Claude learns in one project doesn’t carry over to other projects.
A project also shares memory with your chats outside of projects. To keep a project’s memory fully separate, turn off "Use account memory" under Memory on the project's page.
For more information about how memory works, see Use Claude’s chat search and memory to build on previous context.
Share a project
Project sharing is available on Team and Enterprise plans.
Cowork projects share the same way as projects in Claude. You can give people in your organization “Can view” or “Can edit” access, and change or remove that access later. Learn more about sharing projects.
Group sharing is also in beta for Enterprise plans; for more information, see Manage project visibility and sharing.
Archive a project
When you archive a project in Cowork:
The project's metadata is removed from the UI, but is not removed locally.
Any related files or folders stored on your computer are not affected.
Local projects moved to your Claude account
Claude Desktop moves projects you created from a folder on your computer into your Claude account automatically, and each project keeps its name. On Pro and Max plans, this happens in Claude Desktop. On Team and Enterprise plans, it happens once Chat and Cowork unified is on for you.
What moves to your Claude account:
The project’s name, description, and instructions, including any Google Drive links. If the project is linked to a project in Claude, its description and instructions go into that project instead.
A copy of the project’s memory, if memory is on for your account.
What stays on your computer:
The project’s folders and files. Nothing is uploaded or deleted.
Earlier sessions on this computer, which stay listed under the project in Claude Desktop.
After the move, the original local project no longer appears in your projects list.
Current limitations
Projects are only available in Cowork, not in Claude Code. Support for Claude Code is planned for a future update.
On Team and Enterprise plans without Chat and Cowork unified, projects you create from an existing folder on your computer stay on that computer and aren’t saved to your Claude account.
