Beginner's Guide

Claude Desktop on Mac

Everything you need to get started with the Claude desktop app on macOS

Claude Desktop macOS Anthropic 2026

What Is the Claude Desktop App?

The Claude desktop app is Anthropic's native macOS application for interacting with Claude, their AI assistant. While you can use Claude through the web at claude.ai, the desktop app unlocks capabilities that browsers can't provide — direct file system access, terminal commands, system-level keyboard shortcuts, voice dictation, and screenshot capture.

The app is built around three distinct modes: Chat for everyday conversations, Cowork for complex background research, and Code for software development. Each mode gives Claude a different level of autonomy and access to your system, so you can match the tool to the task.

Whether you're a developer looking for an AI coding partner, a researcher who needs help analyzing documents, or someone who wants a more capable AI assistant on your Mac, the desktop app is the most powerful way to use Claude.

This guide covers the macOS version. Claude Desktop is also available for Windows. The features are the same, but installation steps and system permissions differ.

Installation

Getting Claude Desktop on your Mac takes about two minutes. The app supports both Apple Silicon (M-series) and Intel Macs with a universal build.

Download the Installer

Go to claude.com/download and click the macOS download button. The installer is a standard .dmg disk image file.

Install the App

Double-click the downloaded .dmg file to mount it. Drag the Claude icon into your Applications folder, just like any other Mac app. Eject the disk image when you're done.

Launch and Sign In

Open Claude from your Applications folder or use Spotlight (Cmd+Space, type "Claude"). Sign in with your Anthropic account. If you don't have one, you can create a free account during the sign-in process.

Enterprise deployment? If you're rolling out Claude Desktop across an organization, Anthropic provides an IT deployment guide with MDM configuration profiles and managed distribution options.

Initial Setup & Permissions

After signing in, macOS will prompt you to grant Claude several system permissions. These are optional but unlock key features. You can grant them now or later when Claude asks for them.

Microphone Access

Required for voice dictation. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and enable Claude. This lets you talk to Claude instead of typing.

Accessibility Permission

Enables system-wide keyboard shortcuts and the quick-entry overlay. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and add Claude.

Screen Recording Permission

Lets Claude capture screenshots for visual context. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording and enable Claude.

Configure Your Preferences

Open Claude's settings with Cmd+,. Choose your preferred Claude model, set your display preferences, and configure any keyboard shortcuts. You can also connect integrations here.

Permissions are optional. Claude works without any of these permissions — you just won't have access to dictation, screenshots, or the quick-entry shortcut. You can grant them at any time later through System Settings.

For detailed installation troubleshooting, see the official Installing Claude Desktop guide on Anthropic's help center.

The Three Modes

The Claude desktop app is organized into three modes, each designed for a different type of work. Understanding when to use each one is the key to getting the most out of Claude.

Chat Mode

Conversations

Quick questions, brainstorming, and everyday tasks. The familiar Claude experience with native Mac features.

  • Ask questions
  • Brainstorm ideas
  • Analyze images
  • Use connectors

Cowork Mode

Background Work

Complex research and analysis. Claude works autonomously with sub-agents while you focus on other things.

  • Research reports
  • Document creation
  • Multi-step analysis
  • Parallel sub-agents

Code Mode

Development

Software development with file system access and terminal. Claude reads, writes, and runs commands on your machine.

  • Edit files directly
  • Run terminal commands
  • Project-aware context
  • Review diffs in Ask mode

Start with Chat. It's the simplest and most familiar mode. Move to Cowork when you have complex multi-step tasks, and Code when you need Claude to work directly with your files and terminal. For a full walkthrough of all three, see the official Navigating the Claude Desktop App tutorial.

Chat Mode

Chat mode is the most straightforward way to interact with Claude. It's the same conversational experience you may know from claude.ai, enhanced with native macOS capabilities.

What You Can Do

  • Ask questions — get answers, explanations, summaries, or creative writing
  • Analyze files — drag and drop images, PDFs, or documents into the chat for Claude to review
  • Take screenshots — capture your screen directly from Claude's interface and ask questions about what's on it
  • Use voice dictation — speak your prompts instead of typing (requires microphone permission)
  • Quick entry — use the keyboard shortcut to summon Claude from anywhere on your Mac without switching apps

Connectors

Connectors let Claude access external services directly from Chat mode. Click the + button next to the prompt box and select Connectors to browse available integrations. Popular connectors include:

  • GitHub — browse repositories, read code, review pull requests
  • Google Docs — read and reference your documents
  • Notion — pull in pages and databases for context
  • Slack — reference conversations and channel history
  • Linear — access issues and project tracking

Connectors are read-only in Chat mode. Claude can read from connected services to inform its responses, but it won't make changes to your external tools. This keeps Chat mode safe for quick, exploratory work.

Cowork Mode

Cowork mode is designed for tasks that require more time and depth than a quick chat. When you give Claude a complex task in Cowork mode, it can work autonomously in the background — researching, analyzing, and producing deliverables while you do other things.

How It Works

  1. Describe your task — give Claude a high-level goal like "Research the competitive landscape for project management tools and create a comparison report."
  2. Claude plans its approach — it breaks the task into steps and may create sub-agents for parallel work.
  3. Work happens in the background — you can switch to other apps, other conversations, or close your laptop. Claude keeps working.
  4. Review the results — when Claude finishes, you'll see the complete output: documents, analyses, reports, or whatever you asked for.

Best For

  • Research reports — competitive analysis, literature reviews, market research
  • Document creation — proposals, presentations, technical documentation
  • Data analysis — processing and summarizing complex datasets
  • Multi-step workflows — tasks that require gathering information from multiple sources

Cowork is for tasks that take minutes, not seconds. If your request can be answered in a single response, Chat mode is faster. Cowork shines when the task requires research, iteration, or producing structured deliverables.

For a deeper walkthrough, see the official Get Started with Cowork guide.

Code Mode

Code mode turns Claude into a full development environment. It can read and write files on your machine, run terminal commands, and work with your project's full context — all from the desktop app. This is Claude Code integrated directly into the native application.

Capabilities

  • File system access — Claude can read, create, and edit files in your project directory
  • Terminal commands — run build scripts, tests, git commands, and package managers (with your approval)
  • Project-aware context — Claude reads your CLAUDE.md file and understands your project structure, conventions, and tech stack
  • Multi-file changes — implement features, refactor code, or fix bugs across multiple files in a single session
  • Error recovery — if a build or test fails, Claude reads the error output and iterates on a fix

Ask Mode (Review Before Executing)

Within Code mode, there's an Ask sub-mode that lets Claude propose changes without executing them. You see visual diffs for each file and can accept or reject individual changes. This gives you fine-grained control over what Claude modifies.

Code mode can modify files on your system. Always use version control (git) before starting a Code mode session. Review proposed changes before approving terminal commands. Claude will ask for permission before running anything, but it's your responsibility to verify.

For full documentation on Code mode features, see the official Claude Code Desktop docs.

GitHub Integration

Claude can connect to your GitHub repositories for context, code review, and even automated workflows. There are three ways to set this up, depending on how deep you want the integration.

Via Connectors (Easiest)

This is the fastest way to give Claude access to your repositories. In Chat mode:

Open Connectors

Click the + button next to the prompt box and select Connectors.

Add GitHub

Choose GitHub from the list of available integrations. You'll be redirected to GitHub to authenticate if this is your first time.

Select Repositories

Browse your accessible repositories or paste a repository URL. Use the file browser to select specific files or folders for context.

Via MCP (Model Context Protocol)

For deeper integration — creating pull requests, managing issues, or automating workflows — you can configure the GitHub MCP server. Edit your Claude Desktop configuration file at ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json and add the GitHub MCP server with your Personal Access Token.

After editing the config, completely quit and restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect. See Anthropic's Desktop Extensions guide for one-click MCP server installation.

Via CLI (Code Mode)

If you're using Code mode, you can run /install-github-app in the Claude terminal to set up the GitHub app integration. This guides you through authentication and configures the necessary secrets for automated workflows.

Start with Connectors. It takes 30 seconds and gives Claude enough context for most tasks. Move to MCP configuration if you need Claude to take actions in your repositories (opening PRs, commenting on issues, etc.).

For detailed setup instructions and troubleshooting, see the official Using the GitHub Integration article.

Tips & Best Practices

Choosing the Right Mode

  • Chat — quick questions, brainstorming, file analysis, anything conversational
  • Cowork — research, document creation, complex multi-step tasks that take time
  • Code — writing software, debugging, running terminal commands, working with project files

When in doubt, start with Chat. If you find yourself needing more depth or autonomy, switch to Cowork or Code.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Cmd+N New conversation
Cmd+, Open settings
Cmd+Shift+N New window
Cmd+K Quick search / command palette
Cmd+Enter Send message
Shift+Enter New line in prompt (without sending)

Writing Better Prompts

  • Be specific about what you want, but let Claude choose how to do it. Describe the outcome, not every step.
  • Iterate in short exchanges. A back-and-forth conversation gets better results than one giant prompt.
  • Provide context up front. Tell Claude your role, the project, or the audience. In Code mode, a well-written CLAUDE.md does this automatically.
  • Attach files instead of pasting. Drag documents, images, or code files directly into the chat for full context.

Getting the Most Out of Code Mode

  • Commit before you start. Always have a clean git state before a Code mode session so you can easily roll back.
  • Use CLAUDE.md. Create a CLAUDE.md file in your project root with your tech stack, conventions, and build commands. Claude reads this automatically.
  • Review terminal commands. Claude shows you every command before running it. Read them before approving — especially anything with rm, git push, or package installations.
  • Start small. Begin with single-feature tasks and work up to larger ones as you learn how Claude approaches problems in your codebase.

Staying Safe

  • Review all generated code. Claude is highly capable but not infallible. Treat its output like code from a talented colleague — always review before shipping.
  • Don't share secrets. Avoid pasting API keys, passwords, or sensitive credentials into prompts.
  • Use version control. This is your safety net. If a Code mode session goes sideways, git checkout gets you back to a known state.
  • Check file permissions. If Claude asks for access to files or directories outside your project, make sure you understand why before granting it.