Where Claude actually does the work

When you ask Claude to do something, where does the work happen? On your phone? Your laptop? Somewhere else entirely?

The answer depends on what you ask Claude to do. Some tasks run in the cloud. Others need your own computer. Understanding this helps you pick the right way to work.

Why this matters

If Claude runs a task in the cloud, it keeps going even when you close your laptop. You can start something on your computer and check on it from your phone.

If Claude needs your own machine, the app must stay open while it works. Close it and the task stops.

Knowing which is which means you can plan how long to leave your device running.

How it works

The Claude Help Center explains that Cowork (Claude's task system) runs on Anthropic's servers in the cloud. Work continues in the background even when you close your device. Sessions sync across desktop, web and mobile.

Starting tasks, resuming sessions, connectors (links to apps such as Gmail or Google Drive), skills, scheduled tasks and projects all work on desktop, web and mobile.

Three things need the Claude desktop app and the app must stay open while Claude does them. Those three are reading and writing files on your own computer, using a web browser for you, and controlling your screen.

Claude Code (a tool for writing and running code) can run in two places. It can run on your own machine in the terminal, an editor, or the desktop app with Local selected. Or it can run in the cloud at claude.ai/code in a browser, or the Code tab in the Claude mobile app.

Anthropic's Claude Code documentation says a cloud session runs in an isolated virtual machine (a separate computer in a data centre). It keeps running after you close your laptop. A session running on your own machine can be steered from your phone using Remote Control.

Cloud sessions share the same usage limits as the rest of your Claude use.

How to do it

For tasks that run in the cloud:

1. Open Claude on desktop, web or mobile.
2. Start a Cowork task or a Claude Code session in the cloud.
3. Close your device if you need to. The work continues.
4. Open Claude on any device to check progress.

Example prompt to try:

> Search my Gmail for all messages from suppliers in the past month and put the key details in a spreadsheet.

For tasks that need your own computer:

1. Open the Claude desktop app.
2. Ask Claude to read or write files on your computer, use your browser, or control your screen.
3. Leave the app open until Claude finishes.

Example prompt to try:

> Open the file called draft-invoice.docx on my desktop and add today's date at the top.

Common mistakes

Closing the desktop app when Claude is reading files or controlling your browser. The task will stop. Leave the app open until it finishes.

Expecting a task to run in the cloud when it needs your own computer. If Claude says it needs the desktop app, install it and keep it open.

Not realising you can switch devices. If you start a Cowork task on your laptop, you can check on it from your phone. The session syncs.

One thing to try this week

Start a simple Cowork task on your computer. Close the device. Open Claude on your phone five minutes later and check the task is still running. This will show you what runs in the cloud and what needs your machine.

See the Claude Help Center for full details.

If you are curious what else your business could hand over to Claude, take the free What could your business automate? check.