Overview

Claude Desktop is Anthropic's official desktop application for macOS and Windows, bringing Claude's capabilities directly to your local environment. Unlike the web interface, Claude Desktop can access local files, run MCP servers, and integrate deeply with your workflow.

Key differentiator: Claude Desktop serves as the control plane for MCP (Model Context Protocol), enabling Claude to connect with databases, APIs, file systems, and custom tools through a standardized protocol. This transforms Claude from a chat assistant into an extensible AI platform.

With the latest updates, Claude Desktop supports computer use (beta), allowing Claude to see your screen, move the mouse, and interact with applications—bridging the gap between AI assistance and autonomous action.

Key Features

Local file access

Read, analyze, and work with files directly from your computer without uploading

MCP integration

Connect to 100+ MCP servers for databases, APIs, and custom tools

Computer use (beta)

Let Claude see your screen and control mouse/keyboard for complex tasks

Artifacts

Generate and preview code, documents, diagrams, and interactive content

Projects

Organize conversations with persistent context and custom instructions

Extended thinking

Opus-level reasoning for complex analysis and multi-step problems

Native performance

Faster than web with offline capability for cached content

Use Cases

Knowledge Work

Analyzing local documents, spreadsheets, and codebases
Research synthesis across multiple files and sources
Writing assistance with access to reference materials

Development Workflows

Code review with full repository context via MCP
Database queries and analysis through connected MCP servers
Documentation generation from local code and specs

Business Operations

Report generation combining local data with AI analysis
Email drafting with context from CRM (via MCP)
Meeting preparation with access to notes and documents

Creative Work

Design iteration with artifact previews
Content creation with brand guidelines access
Prototype development with instant code previews

Considerations

Before You Adopt

MCP configuration requires editing JSON files—not user-friendly for non-technical users
Computer use is powerful but requires supervision; actions are immediate and irreversible
No built-in strategic alignment—executes tasks without organizational context
File access permissions are broad; no granular controls for sensitive directories
Team features require separate Claude for Work subscription
MCP servers run locally, consuming system resources for each active integration

Claude Desktop