- Where to download Claude for desktop and mobile
- Claude desktop system requirements
- How to install Claude on Mac or Windows
- Installing Claude on Linux: use apt, not the file
- Do you need a paid plan for the Claude app?
- Desktop app vs Claude in your browser
- Running Cowork on Linux
- Pairing the desktop app with your phone
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
You download the Claude desktop app from claude.com/download, where there are versions for macOS, Windows, Windows on Arm and Linux. It's free to install and works on every plan, including Free. You'll need macOS 13 or later, Windows 10 or later, or Ubuntu 22.04 or Debian 12 on Linux.
The desktop app isn't just the website in a window. Anthropic says it adds quick entry from anywhere on your computer and desktop extensions that connect Claude to your local files and apps, and it's where paid users get Claude Cowork.
Everything here comes from Anthropic's download page and its help centre article on installing Claude Desktop, which I read in October 2026.
Where to download Claude for desktop and mobile
| Device | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Mac | macOS download on claude.com/download |
| Windows | Windows download, a separate Windows arm64 download, or the Microsoft Store |
| Linux | Anthropic's apt repository on Ubuntu or Debian, or a .deb file |
| iPhone and Android | Scan the QR code on the download page, or visit claude.ai/mobile on your phone |
Stick to that official page. The download page also lists Claude Code environments and Claude extensions for Chrome, Slack, Excel, PowerPoint, Word and more, so it's the one place to get everything.
Claude desktop system requirements
| System | Minimum Anthropic lists |
|---|---|
| macOS | macOS 13 (Ventura) or higher |
| Windows | Windows 10 or higher |
| Linux (beta) | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later, or Debian 12, on x64 or arm64 |
How to install Claude on Mac or Windows
- Go to claude.com/download.
- Pick the version for your computer: macOS, Windows or Windows arm64.
- When the download finishes, open the file to install it.
- Launch Claude from your Applications folder on a Mac or the Start menu on Windows.
- Sign in with your Claude account. Your chats, projects, memory and preferences sync from the web and your phone.
Installing Claude on Linux: use apt, not the file
On Linux, Anthropic recommends installing Claude Desktop from its apt repository rather than downloading the .deb file, because the app doesn't update itself on Linux. With the repository set up, updates arrive with your normal system updates. If you install the .deb file on its own, you won't get those updates.
Anthropic also lists what's not available on Linux yet: computer use and dictation aren't supported, and the global Quick Entry shortcut works on X11 but depends on your desktop's shortcut support on Wayland.
Do you need a paid plan for the Claude app?
No. Anthropic's download FAQ says the Claude apps are available on every plan, Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise, although some features are only on paid plans. The clearest example is Claude Cowork, which the help centre says is available on paid plans in the desktop app on macOS, Windows and Linux.
If you're weighing up whether to pay, my guide to whether Claude is free sets out what the free plan includes.
Desktop app vs Claude in your browser
- Always to hand. The app sits in your dock or taskbar, with quick entry so you can reach Claude from anywhere on your computer.
- Desktop extensions. Locally installed extensions connect Claude to your files, browsers and native apps. You'll find them under Settings, Desktop app, then Manage next to Extensions.
- Claude Cowork. On paid plans, Cowork lets Claude work on long, multi-step tasks with the files and folders you connect, running in an isolated virtual machine on your computer.
- Same account everywhere. Conversations, projects, memory and preferences sync across desktop, web and mobile. Local Cowork sessions stay on your device.
Web connectors such as Google Drive and Slack work wherever you use Claude. If you mostly work in the browser, the Claude Chrome extension is the other route, and the desktop app treats Claude in Chrome as a connector.
Running Cowork on Linux
Cowork on Linux has extra requirements because it runs your tasks in a virtual machine. Anthropic lists hardware virtualisation (KVM) switched on in your BIOS or UEFI settings, your user added to the KVM group, the QEMU packages, about 25 GB of free disk space for the workspace image and at least 8 GB of RAM. The workspace uses 4 GB while it's running.
If you're rolling Claude out to a team, the download page also links to separate enterprise deployment guides for macOS and Windows, so your IT person doesn't have to install it machine by machine.
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Pairing the desktop app with your phone
Anthropic's download page says you can pair the desktop and mobile apps and hand a task from your phone to your desktop, where Claude can start it in Cowork. Developers can also use Remote Control on mobile to send tasks to the Claude Code command line on their computer.
For a small business owner, that pairing is the useful bit. You can capture a job while you're out and have it waiting, worked on, when you're back at your desk.
My verdict
If you use Claude more than a couple of times a week, install the desktop app. It's free on every plan, it keeps your chats in sync, and it's the only way to get Cowork and desktop extensions. On Linux, set it up through apt from day one so you don't end up stuck on an old version.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Claude desktop app free?
Yes. Anthropic says the Claude desktop and mobile apps are available on every plan, including Free, although some features are only available on paid plans.
Is there a Claude app for Windows?
Yes. You can download Claude for Windows, including a separate Windows arm64 version, from claude.com/download or get it from the Microsoft Store. It needs Windows 10 or higher.
Does Claude Desktop work on Linux?
Yes, as a beta on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later and Debian 12, on x64 or arm64. Anthropic recommends installing it through its apt repository so you get updates, and computer use and dictation aren't available on Linux yet.
What can the Claude desktop app do that the website can't?
It adds quick entry from anywhere on your computer, desktop extensions that connect Claude to local files and apps, and Claude Cowork on paid plans.
Do my chats sync between the Claude app and the website?
Yes. When you're signed in, your conversations, projects, memory and preferences sync across desktop, web and mobile. Local Cowork sessions stay on your device.
