Every time you open Claude, you start from zero. No memory of last week’s project, no context about your workflow. You’re reexplaining yourself every single session, and it’s exhausting.
Claude Cowork Projects fix that. Released in March 2026, Projects give Claude a dedicated workspace with persistent memory, custom instructions, and scheduled tasks, all scoped to a single project. This guide walks you through exactly how to set one up and what you can do inside it.
📋 Requirements
- Plans: Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise (not available on free plans)
- macOS: Universal version supported
- Windows: x64 only — arm64 not supported
- Requires the latest version of Claude Desktop
What Are Claude Cowork Projects?
Claude Cowork Projects are dedicated workspaces inside the Claude desktop app where context, instructions, files, memory, and scheduled tasks all live together in one place. Unlike a standard Cowork session where you pick a folder and start fresh each time, a Project persists what Claude knows about your work across every conversation in that project.
Think of it like giving Claude a permanent desk for a specific job. You set it up once with instructions and files, and Claude carries that context forward automatically every time you open that project.
Here is what you get inside a Cowork Project:
- Persistent memory across conversations (Claude remembers what you tell it)
- Custom instructions that shape how Claude behaves in that project
- File attachments that stay connected to the project
- Scheduled tasks built directly into the project workspace
- A dedicated folder on your computer where everything is saved
How to Get to Claude Cowork Projects
Projects are not on the sidebar yet. The only way to access them is through the dropdown at the bottom of the Cowork interface.
- Make sure you are on the latest version of Claude Desktop. Click the three lines in the top left, go to Help, then choose Check for Updates.
- In Cowork, click the dropdown menu at the bottom of the screen.
- Scroll all the way to the bottom of that dropdown.
- Select “Projects” from the bottom of the list.
- Click “Create a new project” to get started.
Note: If you see a “Work in a project” option in that dropdown, do not confuse it with navigating to Projects. You still have to go to the bottom of the dropdown and create or select a project from there. This is a known UI quirk that will likely be addressed in a future update.
How to Create a Claude Cowork Project from Scratch
Once you click “Create a new project,” you are given three setup options:
- Start from scratch: Build a new project with a fresh folder and instructions
- Import from a chat: Bring in a project you previously set up in a Cowork chat
- Use an existing folder: Point Claude to a folder already on your computer
For most people starting fresh, choose “Start from scratch.” Here is what to configure:
Step 1: Name Your Project
Give your project a clear, specific name. For example, “Weekly Sales Reporting” or “Client Onboarding Automation.” This name helps you find the project later and sets the context for everything inside it.
Step 2: Write Your Instructions
The instructions section works like a CLAUDE.md file — you are telling Claude how to behave every time it works inside this project. A solid instructions block typically covers:
- What the project is for (a 2-3 sentence description)
- Tone and style preferences (formal, casual, concise, etc.)
- What Claude should always do in this project
- What Claude should never do (word limits, avoiding jargon, etc.)
- Key metrics, data sources, or context Claude should always keep in mind
- Output format requirements
Because the instructions editor inside Cowork is small, write your instructions in a text editor first, then copy and paste them in. You can always edit them later by clicking the pencil icon in the project view.
Step 3: Add Files and Choose Your Folder Location
You can drag and drop files into the project or select them from your computer. These files stay attached to the project permanently, so Claude always has access to them. You can also add a URL as context — useful if you want Claude to always reference a specific doc, resource, or page as part of its work in this project.
You also choose where on your computer the project folder lives. By default it saves to your Documents folder under a “Claude Projects” directory.
Step 4: Enable Memory and Click Create
At the bottom of the setup screen you will see a memory toggle. Memory is on by default, which means Claude will remember context across all conversations in this project. There is almost no reason to turn this off. Click “Create” and your project is ready.
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How Persistent Memory Works in Claude Cowork Projects
Memory is one of the most valuable features in Cowork Projects. It lets Claude build up knowledge about your work over time, so you never have to re-explain the same context twice.
- Open your project and start a new conversation.
- Ask Claude to save something to memory. For example: “Save in memory that our Q1 sales are up 100% compared to last year.”
- Claude confirms the save and stores it in a memory file in your project folder.
- From that point on, Claude automatically references that memory in any task you run inside this project.
You can view your saved memories by clicking the memory icon in the top-left of the project view. Claude saves memories as a markdown file (memory.md) inside your project folder, so you can also open and edit it directly on your computer.
One important note: memory is scoped to the project. What Claude learns in one project does not carry over to other projects or standalone Cowork sessions.
Adding Scheduled Tasks Directly to a Project
Projects come with their own scheduled task manager built in. Instead of setting up schedules in a separate part of Cowork, you can create and manage them directly inside the project.
- In your project view, find the “Scheduled Tasks” section and click the “+” icon.
- Choose to create a new task or add an existing one you have already built.
- Write your task prompt. Be specific about what you want Claude to do.
- Set the frequency: daily, weekdays only, weekly, or a custom schedule.
- Set the time you want the task to run.
- Choose the model (Haiku works well for simple tasks, Sonnet for complex ones).
- Click Save. The task now runs automatically on your schedule inside this project.
Important: your computer must be on and Claude Desktop must be running for scheduled tasks to execute. If your computer is off at the scheduled time, the task will not run. There is no background cloud execution for Cowork tasks.
Claude Cowork Projects vs. Just Selecting a Folder
When you open Cowork, you have always been able to pick a folder from your computer and start working. Projects look similar on the surface, but they are fundamentally different.
When you select a folder without creating a project, you get access to the files in that folder, but you do not get memory, custom project instructions, or scheduled tasks. Every conversation is still relatively isolated.
When you create a project and attach a folder, you get the full stack: persistent memory, instructions Claude follows every session, scheduled tasks tied to that project, and a dedicated workspace that builds context over time.
| Feature | Folder Only | Cowork Project |
|---|---|---|
| Persistent memory | No | Yes |
| Custom instructions | No | Yes |
| Scheduled tasks | No | Yes |
| Dedicated folder | Yes | Yes |
| Context across chats | No | Yes |
Bottom line: always create a project if you want Claude to carry context forward. Selecting a folder alone will not give you memory or persistent instructions.
How to Navigate Back to Your Project
The current UI makes it a little tricky to return to an existing project. There is no projects section on the sidebar yet, so here is the most reliable way:
- Click the search icon in Cowork.
- Find a conversation you previously had inside that project.
- Click that conversation. This takes you into the project view with all your context intact.
- From there you can start a new conversation inside the project or review previous ones.
A sidebar section for Projects is very likely to come in a future update. For now, using search to find a previous project conversation is the most reliable path back.
How to Archive a Claude Cowork Project
When a project is no longer active, you can archive it. Archiving removes it from your main interface so it does not clutter up your project list, but nothing is deleted. All your local files, folders, and project metadata stay exactly where they are on your computer.
You can unarchive a project at any time and pick up right where you left off. Think of it as putting a project on the shelf rather than throwing it away.
Current Limitations to Know About
Cowork Projects is a new feature and a few things are still in progress. Here is what is not supported yet:
⚠️ Current Limitations
- Claude Code integration: Not yet supported inside Cowork Projects.
- Cloud sync: Everything is stored locally. There is no cloud backup or sync across devices.
- Team and Enterprise sharing: You cannot share a project with teammates yet. Each project is currently private to the person who created it.
- Windows arm64: Only x64 is supported on Windows. arm64 machines are not yet compatible.
These are all things Anthropic is actively developing, so expect this list to shrink over time. For now, Projects are best suited for individual use on a single machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Claude Cowork memory work across all my projects?
No. Memory in Cowork Projects is scoped to each individual project. What Claude learns in your Sales Reporting project stays in that project and does not carry over to a different project or a regular folder-based session.
Do I need the latest version of Claude Desktop to use Projects?
Yes. Cowork Projects requires the most recent version of Claude Desktop. Go to the three-line menu in the top left, click Help, and select Check for Updates before trying to access Projects.
What happens if my computer is off when a scheduled task is set to run?
The task will not run. Cowork scheduled tasks require your computer to be on and Claude Desktop to be running. There is no cloud-based background processing.
Can I edit my project instructions after setting them up?
Yes. Inside your project view, click the pencil icon next to your instructions and update them. Changes take effect immediately for all new conversations in that project.
What is the difference between a Claude Cowork Project and a regular chat in Cowork?
A regular Cowork session lets you select a folder and run tasks, but each conversation is mostly independent. A Project adds persistent memory, custom instructions, and integrated scheduled tasks that carry forward across every conversation.
Next Steps: Set Up Your First Project
If you have been using Cowork without Projects, this is the upgrade worth making. The combination of persistent memory, custom instructions, and scheduled tasks turns Claude from a single-session assistant into something much closer to a long-term collaborator that actually knows your work.
Here is your homework:
- Update Claude Desktop to the latest version
- Navigate to Projects via the dropdown at the bottom of Cowork
- Create one project for a repeating task in your workflow (weekly reports, client summaries, content pipelines, etc.)
- Write a solid instructions block and test it with a few conversations
- Set up at least one scheduled task and let it run
Start simple. One project, one use case. Once you see how much context Claude retains, you will find more places to use it quickly.
