The Claude desktop app is Claude’s official application for macOS and Windows, with a Linux version in beta as well. You install it from Anthropic’s download page, and it takes only a few minutes.
The biggest difference from the browser version is not the model itself, but what the app adds around it.
If you want to go beyond installation and build a fixed way of working around the app, LearnLLM’s Claude Course is designed for exactly that.
Those extras are a permanent place on your desktop, a keyboard shortcut for quick access, and connections to files and tools on your own computer.
The app itself is free to download and use, even without a paid subscription. For the heavier features, Claude Code and Claude Cowork, you do need Pro or higher.
Below, you can read how to install the app, what it adds compared with the browser, and what is and is not free.
What is the Claude desktop app?
It is a standalone program that opens straight from your desktop, rather than as a tab in your browser. You work with the same Claude as on claude.ai, but in a window that does not get lost among other tabs, so using Claude works the same way in the app.
The app runs on macOS, Windows and, in beta, Linux. For Linux, Anthropic currently supports Ubuntu and Debian, on both x64 and arm64.
How do you download and install the Claude desktop app?
You download the app from claude.com/download, where you choose macOS, Windows or Linux. On macOS you need at least macOS 13 (Ventura), on Windows at least Windows 10.
After downloading, open the installation file and follow the steps on screen. Once installation is complete, start the app from your Applications folder (Mac) or Start menu (Windows) and sign in with your existing Claude account.
On Linux, it is best to install the app through Anthropic’s apt package rather than a standalone .deb file, so updates arrive along with your regular system updates.
What do you need for the Claude desktop app?
Choose your operating system and your plan. You will see the system requirements, the installation route and which features you get in the app.
What can the Claude desktop app do that the browser cannot?
The app gives you access to your local files without uploading them first, plus a global keyboard shortcut that opens the app instantly from anywhere on your computer.
That is the core of what the app adds compared with the browser version.
On top of that come desktop extensions: small, installable MCP connections to your local apps, calendars, email and messages, comparable to a browser extension but for your whole operating system.
Your conversations, projects and preferences also sync automatically between the app, the browser and your phone, so you can pick up where you left off on any device.
Is the Claude desktop app free?
Yes, the app itself is free to download and use, including with a free Claude account. Chat works on every plan, from Free to Enterprise.
Two specific features within the app are not free: Claude Code and Claude Cowork, both available from the Pro plan upwards.
Does the Claude desktop app work on Linux?
Yes, it works on Linux, since Anthropic released a beta version for Ubuntu and Debian in 2026. Some features are still limited on Linux: Computer Use and dictation, for example, are not yet available there, unlike on macOS and Windows.
What is the difference between Chat, Cowork and Code in the desktop app?
The difference between Chat, Cowork and Code in the desktop app is how much the app does for you. Chat is an ordinary conversation without access to your files, similar to claude.ai.
Cowork is an autonomous background agent that carries out tasks for you. Since 6 October 2026 new Cowork tasks on Pro, Max and Ultra run in the cloud by default, with your sessions and files tied to your Claude account. Since 16 September 2026 Cowork has been merging with the ordinary chat in phases for Pro and Max, so you can use those agent features from any conversation. Claude Code gives direct access to your local files for programming work, and you review every change yourself before it is applied.
Can a company roll out the Claude desktop app centrally?
Yes, a company can roll out the app centrally using MSIX installers for Windows and PKG installers for Mac.
This lets you test and approve updates in a controlled way before they reach the whole team, with automatic SSO authentication for managed devices.
Can you use the Claude desktop app from your phone?
Yes, as long as your computer is on and the desktop app is open. With Dispatch, a feature within Cowork, you send an instruction from the Claude app on your phone, which Claude then carries out on your computer, with access to your files and connectors. According to Anthropic, Dispatch is in a limited beta on some Pro, Max and Ultra plans and is not available to new users. During setup you switch on an option that keeps your computer awake.
I mostly work in the Claude desktop app myself, including for work on my website and for requesting indexing of several pages in Google Search Console. When I am away from home, I give Claude instructions from my phone to run on my laptop. In practice, that laptop still regularly went to sleep, after which the desktop app could no longer be reached. So I now leave open a website that keeps the screen awake, such as nosleep.page, so the app stays available while I am away.
Frequently asked questions about the Claude desktop app
A few more practical points come up when you install the app on Windows and on your phone.
Can you install the Claude desktop app from the Microsoft Store?
Yes, besides the direct download from Anthropic, the Claude desktop app for Windows is also available in the Microsoft Store. On claude.com/download you will find both routes, so you can choose between the installer and Microsoft’s store. In both cases, choose the app from Anthropic and not an app from another developer with a similar name.
Does the Claude desktop app work on a Windows laptop with an ARM processor?
Yes, the app works on a Windows laptop with an ARM processor, because Anthropic offers a separate arm64 download alongside the x64 version. You choose that version on claude.com/download under Windows (arm 64). The standard x64 version is meant for laptops with an Intel or AMD processor.
Is there a Claude app for iPhone and Android?
Yes, there is a Claude app for iPhone and Android, released by Anthropic. The Android app is listed on Google Play as Claude by Anthropic from Anthropic PBC, free to install with in-app purchases, and you find the iOS app in the App Store through the link on claude.com/download. On that page you can also scan a QR code with your phone to go straight to the right app.
How do you learn to use the Claude desktop app professionally?
You learn to use the app professionally by going beyond installation and building a fixed way of working around the features that matter for your work.
In practice, that means setting up a project, connecting extensions to your own files, and knowing when to choose Chat, Cowork or Code.
