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Anthropic Enables Background Computer Use in Claude Cowork and Claude Code on Mac

September 2, 2026 at 16:47 EDT

AI Agents
Software Dev & Coding

Anthropic has enabled background computer use in Claude Cowork and Claude Code, so Claude can click, type, and open desktop apps while the user keeps working. The company said the feature is in beta for Claude Pro and Max subscribers in the Claude Desktop app on macOS.

September 2, 2026 · Anthropic

Claude works your Mac while you keep working

Claude Cowork and Claude Code can now click, type, and open desktop apps in background windows on macOS 15 or later, without taking over the pointer.

How Claude picks a tool

1 · First

Connectors

Gmail, Drive, Microsoft 365, Slack — fastest path

→

2 · Then

Browser

Built-in Desktop browser or Claude in Chrome

→

3 · Last

Screen

Click, type, and open apps — slowest, most error-prone

15+

macOS version for background windows as the default

Plans in the beta: Claude Pro and Max only

Fixed app-control tiers: view, click, or full

30 min

App approvals in Dispatch-spawned sessions

How much control each app gets

Tiers are fixed by app category. Column height is the control level (1, 2, or 3).

View only

Browsers, trading

Click only

Terminals, IDEs

Full control

Everything else

What users welcome

Background windows leave the pointer free. Claude waits if you are typing, so GUI work can run while you stay in another app.

What still worries people

There is no sandbox, screen control is slower than connectors, complex jobs may need a second try, and some users do not want an agent on the desktop.

Off by default. The machine must stay on.

Enable

Settings → General → Enable computer use

Permissions

Per-app approval; Accessibility and Screen Recording on Mac

Do not use on

Banking, healthcare, government, legal, or other sensitive apps

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