What changed with Claude Cowork on web and mobile?

Announced July 7, 2026, Cowork expanded from a desktop-only app to the web at claude.ai and to iOS and Android in beta, starting with Max plan subscribers. You can start a task at your desk, get status updates on your phone, and pick up the finished output later — even with your laptop closed. Scheduled sessions run automatically.

Who can use Claude Cowork on mobile?

The web and mobile expansion started in beta for Claude Max subscribers, with features like background work, scheduled tasks, shared chats, and mobile approvals. Availability broadens over time as the beta expands.

Quick Answer

Claude Cowork on Web & Mobile: What Changed (2026)

Q: What is Claude Cowork?

Claude Cowork is Anthropic's autonomous AI coworker: you hand Claude a task and it works across your files, calendar, email, messaging apps, the web, and connected tools until the job is done, while every decision still routes back to you for approval.

Published: August 8, 2026

The Short Answer

Claude Cowork — Anthropic’s autonomous AI coworker — moved from desktop-only to web and mobile (announced July 7, 2026). You can now start a task at your desk, monitor it from your phone, and collect the output later even with the laptop closed. It rolled out in beta to Claude Max subscribers, with scheduled sessions running automatically.

What Cowork Is

Cowork is where you hand Claude a task and it works across your files, calendar, email, messaging apps, the web, and connected tools until the job is done — while every decision still comes back to you for approval. It’s positioned less as a coding tool and more as an agentic administrative coworker.

What Actually Changed

Aspect	Before	After (July 2026)
Where it runs	Desktop app only	Desktop + web (claude.ai) + iOS/Android
Continuity	Tied to the desktop session	Start at desk, monitor on phone, finish later
Scheduling	Manual	Scheduled sessions run automatically
Approvals	Desktop	Mobile approvals in beta
Access	Desktop users	Beta for Claude Max subscribers

Why It Matters

Long-running agent tasks used to be chained to one machine. Making Cowork cross-device means an agent can keep working while you’re away — the “close the laptop and it keeps going” model. For enterprises adopting agents for operational and knowledge work, being able to monitor and approve long-running tasks from anywhere is the unlock.

New Capabilities in the Rollout

Background work — tasks continue when you’re not watching.
Scheduled tasks — sessions run automatically at set times.
Shared chats — collaborate on an agent session.
Mobile approvals — approve or redirect the agent from your phone.

The Bigger Picture

The move fits Anthropic’s August 2026 enterprise push — alongside the Claude Code self-hosted beta and skill/plugin security scanning for Enterprise. The message: Cowork isn’t a demo, it’s meant to be a managed, always-on coworker that fits how distributed teams actually work.

Should You Turn It On?

If you’re on Claude Max and run multi-step tasks (research, admin, scheduling, drafting), enable the beta and start with low-stakes work to learn its approval flow. The value is async delegation — you get the most out of it when you actually walk away and let it run.

Sources

Anthropic — Claude Cowork on web and mobile: claude.com
TechCrunch — Claude Cowork expands to mobile and web (Jul 7, 2026): techcrunch.com
InfoWorld — Anthropic expands Claude Cowork to web and mobile: infoworld.com