Anthropic · 2026-07-07 · major
Claude Cowork on mobile and web — background tasks continue after laptop closes
Claude Cowork ships as a Max-tier beta on iOS, Android, and web. Sessions sync across devices and cloud background jobs continue after the laptop closes. Anthropic says over 90% of Cowork usage is non-coding work.
Claude Cowork jumps from desktop to iOS, Android, and the web so autonomous jobs keep running while you are away from your laptop.
Quick facts
| Maker | Anthropic |
|---|---|
| Product | Claude Cowork |
| New platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
| Availability | Beta on Claude Max, gradual rollout |
| Launched | 2026-07-07 |
| Prior release | Desktop app (January 2026) |
| Promo | Doubled Cowork usage limits through 2026-08-05 |
What is it?
Cowork now runs anywhere Claude does. The July 7 update ships beta iOS, Android, and web clients for the autonomous agent Anthropic launched as a Mac and Windows desktop app in January. Only Max subscribers get access during the rollout, with wider paid plans coming over the next few weeks.
How does it work?
Cowork sessions, files, and projects now sync across every Claude surface. Anthropic moved task execution into a cloud sandbox, so scheduled and long-running jobs keep going while your devices are offline — a briefing set for 6am fires without a laptop awake. When Claude needs approval, the mobile app sends a notification; a unified home screen puts chat and Cowork side by side.
Why does it matter?
Background execution was Cowork's original pitch, but tying it to the desktop app meant a machine had to stay awake for the trick to work. Dropping that requirement turns Cowork into an always-on assistant, following the same path GitHub Copilot took when it moved coding agents from the IDE to the cloud. Anthropic also shared 1.2 million anonymized sessions: over 90% of Cowork usage is non-coding — spreadsheets, contracts, and reports — which counters the usual framing of AI agents as a developer story.
Who is it for?
Claude Max subscribers running long-horizon office tasks or scheduled reporting jobs.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I access Claude Cowork on mobile or the web?
- Claude Cowork on web opens from the claude.ai home screen once your account is in the beta. On iOS and Android, Cowork appears in the sidebar of the Claude mobile app. Anthropic is rolling access out gradually to Max subscribers over several weeks — the desktop app remains available for local file access.
- Do Claude Cowork tasks keep running when my laptop is off?
- Yes. The July 7 launch moves Cowork execution into Anthropic's cloud, so a scheduled job — say a 6am briefing prep — runs without any of your devices being awake. Claude pushes a mobile notification when it needs a human decision, and finished results wait for you when you next open the app.
- Which Claude plan gets Cowork on mobile and web?
- The mobile and web beta is limited to Claude Max at launch. Anthropic says wider rollout will happen on "select paid plans" over the coming weeks. The company also doubled Cowork usage limits through August 5, 2026, so Max users testing the new surfaces have extra headroom.
- What are people actually using Claude Cowork for?
- Anthropic published usage data from 1.2 million anonymized Cowork sessions across 600,000+ organizations: 33.4% are business process operations (reports, checklists, spreadsheet reconciliation), 16.4% are content and copywriting, and only 8.7% are software development. Over 90% of Cowork work is non-coding.
- Do I still need the Claude Cowork desktop app?
- Only if you need local file access. The desktop app keeps its ability to read files on disk and reach into a local browser, which the web and mobile builds cannot do. For everything else — kicking off a task, watching it run, retrieving the output — the new web and mobile clients are enough.
Try it
Open claude.ai on the web or the Claude iOS/Android app and pick Cowork from the sidebar (Max plan, beta).