Claude Research Mode: How to Turn It On and Get Better Reports

Research is the difference between a quick answer and a short report with sources. Claude decides what to look into next based on what it finds, explores different angles and works through open questions one by one. Used well, it saves hours of tab-hopping. Here's how to use it, and the one quirk that can quietly give you a worse result, from Anthropic's own help centre, checked as of October 2026.

Who can use Claude research

	Details
Plans	Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise (not the free plan)
Where	Claude on the web, Claude Desktop and Claude Mobile
Must be switched on	Web search
Sources it can use	The web, plus Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs) and other connectors you've turned on for that chat
Model	Claude Opus 5.5, falling back to Claude Opus 4.8 when needed

As of October 2026 the cheapest way in is Pro, at $17 a month billed annually or $20 monthly on Anthropic's pricing page.

How to turn on research mode

1. Check web search is on. Anthropic says research won't work without it.
2. Click the plus button at the bottom left of your chat box.
3. Select Research. A blue indicator appears at the bottom of the chat window.
4. Type your question with as much context as you can: who it's for, what you'll do with the answer, and what to leave out.
5. To switch research off, click the blue indicator again.

The mobile app quirk that skips your connectors

This is the detail I'd want you to know before you rely on research for anything important. Anthropic's help article says that when you start research in Claude Mobile, Claude only searches the web and doesn't use your connectors. There's no error message and no sign your Gmail or Docs were skipped. You just get a web-only report.

So if your question depends on your own emails, calendar or documents, start the research on Claude on the web or in Claude Desktop. Anthropic also notes that research can't use tools from local MCP servers set up in Claude Desktop, so a custom local tool won't be part of it either.

Research uses connectors without asking each time

Once research is running, Claude can use tools from your connectors automatically, without asking for approval at every step. That's what makes it fast. It's also a reason to check which connectors are switched on for the chat before you start, especially on a shared work account. If a connector isn't relevant to the question, turn it off for that chat.

Prompts that get better research

Anthropic's own tip for when Claude doesn't seem to be researching is to steer it directly. I'd build that into the prompt from the start:

Copy this research prompt

Claude, please use the research tool to compare the three main email platforms for a small online shop. Check current plan limits, ease of use and integrations with Shopify, and finish with a recommendation and the sources you used.

Research with your own files (web or desktop only)

Pull relevant context from my Google Docs and Gmail about the spring product launch, then research what similar businesses did for their launches and list five ideas I haven't tried.

Does research use more of your limit?

Anthropic says research has the same limits as a normal conversation, but it can use them up faster because Claude retrieves lots of sources and writes a fuller answer. If you're on Pro and you run several research tasks in a morning, expect to hit the five-hour session limit sooner. Save research for questions that need it and use normal chat for the rest.

Which model does research use?

This surprises people. Research always runs on Claude Opus 5.5, falling back to Claude Opus 4.8 when needed, whatever model you've picked for the chat. On Team and Enterprise plans, if an admin has turned off both of those models for your role, research won't work at all, and you'll need to ask them to switch at least one back on.

Claude research vs other research tools

If you've used Gemini Deep Research, Claude's version will feel familiar: you ask, it plans, searches and writes. The difference worth knowing is that Claude's research can pull in your connected Gmail and Docs in the same run, which is useful for questions that mix your own data with the web. If you're choosing between assistants for research, my comparison of Perplexity and Claude covers where each one wins. For plan details, see what each Claude plan includes.

Troubleshooting

• Claude isn't researching: say "Claude, please use the research tool to..." at the start of your message.
• Research isn't using your files: you probably started it on mobile. Start again on the web or Claude Desktop.
• Research won't start on a work account: ask your admin whether Opus 5.5 or Opus 4.8 is turned off for your role.
• Nothing happens at all: check web search is switched on.

My take

Research mode is one of the best reasons to pay for Claude. Turn it on for questions where you'd normally open ten tabs, start it on desktop when your own files matter, and don't burn it on things a quick chat can answer. That one mobile quirk is the thing to remember.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn on research in Claude?

Make sure web search is on, click the plus button at the bottom left of the chat, then select Research. A blue indicator shows it's on.

Is Claude research free?

No. Anthropic says research is available on paid plans: Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise.

Why isn't Claude research using my Gmail or Docs?

If you started research in Claude Mobile, Claude only searches the web. Start it on the web or in Claude Desktop instead.

Does research use more of my Claude limit?

It has the same limits as normal chats but can use them faster because it retrieves more sources.

Which model does Claude research use?

Claude Opus 5.5, falling back to Claude Opus 4.8, whatever model you've selected for the chat.

Can research use local MCP servers?

No. Anthropic says research can't use tools from local MCP servers configured in Claude Desktop.