Claude Cowork Expands to Windows with Global and Folder-Level Commands

Claude Cowork Expands to Windows with Global and Folder-Level Commands

Anthropic has officially extended support for its AI-powered productivity tool, Claude Cowork, to the Windows operating system—marking a pivotal expansion beyond macOS and web-based platforms. Alongside the Windows release, the company unveiled two groundbreaking command features: Global Instructions and Folder-Specific Instructions. These innovations allow users to tailor Claude’s behavior across their entire digital workspace or apply context-sensitive directives within individual folders, significantly enhancing workflow automation and personalization.

According to Anthropic’s official platform documentation, Global Instructions enable users to set persistent, system-wide preferences that apply to all Cowork interactions. For example, a user can instruct Claude to always summarize documents in bullet points, use British English, or avoid jargon—settings that persist regardless of the file or application being accessed. This level of consistency reduces cognitive load and ensures uniform output quality across reports, emails, and meeting transcripts.

Conversely, Folder-Specific Instructions offer granular control over AI behavior within designated directories. A marketing team might configure a ‘Campaigns’ folder to have Claude prioritize brand voice guidelines and tone checks, while a finance team’s ‘Expenses’ folder could be set to auto-format entries into Excel-ready tables and flag anomalies. This dual-layered approach—broad consistency paired with contextual adaptability—positions Cowork as a more intelligent and intuitive assistant than traditional AI tools that treat all inputs identically.

Integration with key productivity platforms remains robust. Cowork now syncs seamlessly with Notion, Linear, Google Calendar, and Chrome, allowing users to pull meeting transcripts, extract action items, and generate standup decks without leaving their workflow. The Windows client, in particular, offers native file system access, enabling users to right-click any folder and instantly apply custom AI instructions—a feature previously unavailable on non-Windows platforms.

While the initial release focused on individual and team plans, enterprise customers are expected to benefit most from these new features. IT administrators can now deploy standardized Global Instructions across departments while allowing teams to override them locally for specialized use cases. This balance of control and flexibility addresses a common pain point in enterprise AI adoption: the tension between standardization and customization.

Early adopters on forums and developer communities have praised the intuitive interface and the speed with which Cowork adapts to new contexts. One user noted, “I used to spend 20 minutes formatting reports. Now, I just tell Cowork once what I need, and it remembers—even across different folders.”

Anthropic has not disclosed pricing changes with this update, but both Individual and Team/Enterprise plans remain accessible via claude.ai. The company continues to emphasize its commitment to privacy and data security, noting that all user data processed through Cowork remains encrypted and is not used for model training without explicit consent.

As AI assistants evolve from reactive chatbots to proactive, context-aware collaborators, Claude Cowork’s Windows launch and layered instruction system represent a meaningful leap forward. For professionals drowning in repetitive tasks, this update doesn’t just save time—it redefines how humans and AI co-create in digital workspaces.

Source: Anthropic (https://claude.ai/), Atmarkit ITmedia (https://atmarkit.itmedia.co.jp/ait/articles/2602/17/news026.html)