Claude Desktop Installation

Claude Desktop is Anthropic's official desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux that combines Claude Chat, Claude Code, and Claude Cowork into a single interface. It provides a more integrated experience than the web version by offering access to local files and AI-powered development features.

In this article, you will learn how to download, install, and set up Claude Desktop on different operating systems, sign in to your account and configure the additional settings required for Claude Cowork on Linux.

Availability by Plan

The features available in Claude Desktop depend on your Anthropic subscription plan.

• Chat is available on every plan, including Free.
• Claude Code requires Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise.
• Claude Cowork requires Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise.

System Requirements

Before installing Claude Desktop, make sure your computer meets the minimum operating system requirements listed below:

• macOS: macOS 11 (Big Sur) or higher
• Windows: Windows 10 or higher
• Linux (beta): Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later, or Debian 12 (Bookworm) or later, running on x64 or ARM64 architecture.

Installing on macOS

Follow these steps to install Claude Desktop on macOS:

1. Visit the Claude downloads page at claude.ai/download.
2. Download the macOS installer.
3. Open the downloaded installer and complete the installation.
4. Launch Claude Desktop from the Applications folder.
5. Sign in with your Anthropic account to start using Claude.

Installing on Windows

Follow these steps to install Claude Desktop on Windows:

1. Visit the Claude downloads page at claude.ai/download.
2. Download the Windows installer.
3. Open the downloaded installer and complete the installation.
4. Launch Claude Desktop from the Start menu.
5. Sign in with your Anthropic account to start using Claude.

Installing on Linux (Beta)

On Linux, installing through Anthropic's apt repository is the recommended path: updates then arrive through your system's normal package updates instead of an in-app updater.

Install using apt (recommended)

If you are using Ubuntu or Debian, the recommended way to install Claude Desktop is through the APT package manager. Run the following commands in the terminal:

sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc \
https://downloads.claude.ai/claude-desktop/key.asc

echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc] \
https://downloads.claude.ai/claude-desktop/apt/stable stable main" | \
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/claude-desktop.list

sudo apt update
sudo apt install claude-desktop

After the installation:

• Launch Claude Desktop from the Applications menu or by running claude-desktop in the terminal.
• Sign in with your Anthropic account.
• Since Claude Desktop does not update automatically on Linux, keep it updated by running:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install Using a Downloaded .deb File

If you do not want to use the APT repository, you can install Claude Desktop using a downloaded .deb package.

• Download the .deb file for your system architecture (x64 or ARM64) from the Claude downloads page.
• Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt install ~/Downloads/claude-desktop_amd64.deb

Note: Installing Claude Desktop using a .deb file does not enable automatic updates. You will need to manually download and install newer versions when they are released.

Verify the Download (Optional)

You can verify the signing key to ensure that the downloaded package is authentic. Run the following command:

gpg --show-keys /usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc

The displayed key fingerprint should match: 31DD DE24 DDFA B679 F42D 7BD2 BAA9 29FF 1A7E CACE

Note: If the fingerprint matches, the signing key is authentic and can be trusted.

Current Limitations on Linux

The Linux version of Claude Desktop is currently in beta, so some features are not yet available.

• Computer Use is not supported yet.
• Voice Dictation is not available.
• Quick Entry (global keyboard shortcut) works on X11. On Wayland, it depends on whether your desktop environment supports the GlobalShortcuts portal.

Setting Up Claude Cowork on Linux

Claude Cowork runs tasks inside an isolated virtual machine on your Linux computer. Before using it, you need to complete a few additional setup steps.

Note: If you installed Claude Desktop using APT, the required QEMU packages are installed automatically.

If you installed Claude Desktop using a .deb package, install the required dependencies manually:

For x64 systems:

sudo apt install qemu-system-x86 ovmf virtiofsd

For ARM64 systems:

sudo apt install qemu-system-arm qemu-efi-aarch64 virtiofsd

Note: If Claude Cowork reports that virtualization is unavailable, make sure KVM virtualization is enabled in your system's BIOS/UEFI settings.

Desktop Extensions

Desktop Extensions allow Claude to connect with local applications and services, making it more useful for everyday tasks. Some key features include:

• Connect Claude to local applications, files, calendars, email, messaging apps, and other services.
• Work similarly to browser extensions by adding new capabilities to Claude Desktop.
• Install and manage extensions from Settings -> Extensions within the Claude Desktop app.
• Use code signing and encrypted storage to securely protect sensitive information such as API keys.
• Support enterprise policy controls, allowing organizations to manage extensions in business environments.