Claude Can Now Control Your Mac While You're Away

Anthropic has launched a new feature that lets Claude Code and Cowork take control of your computer and perform tasks autonomously, even when you're not at your desk.

The feature works by running the Claude desktop app in the background on your Mac. You send a task from your phone, and Claude opens apps, clicks, types, and navigates on your behalf, all with no setup required, according to Anthropic.

Claude prioritizes direct integrations for services like Slack and Google Workspace when available. If no such connector exists, the model takes control of your browser, mouse, keyboard, and display to complete the task. Users will always be asked for explicit permission before Claude begins exploring the screen.

The feature is available as a research preview for Claude Pro and Max subscribers, and is currently limited to macOS. It builds on autonomous capabilities introduced with Claude 3.5 Sonnet in 2024, now brought to the Code and Cowork tools.

Anthropic is candid about limitations. Complex tasks may need a second attempt, and working through the screen is slower than direct integrations. The company says they are releasing it early to learn where it works and where it falls short.

The feature works especially well with Dispatch, a cross-device feature that allows users to assign tasks to the Claude desktop app from their phone.