Sessions and files are saved to the Claude account and can be accessed across desktop, web, and mobile.
The change took effect on October 6, 2026. Anthropic removed the “Only on your computer” setting for new Cowork tasks on Pro and Max, and says users cannot switch new tasks back to local execution. Tasks started locally before that date remain on the computer until completed; new scheduled tasks run in the cloud.
Local folders remain on the user’s machine. A cloud session can access connected folders only through an open Claude Desktop app, and only under the conditions described by Anthropic; it fetches a copy of an individual file when needed. Local MCP connectors and plugins require Claude Desktop. The source does not establish any change to subscription prices, usage limits, retention terms beyond its referenced policies, or the behavior of plans outside the listed availability rules.