Assign Desktop Cowork Tasks from Your Phone with Dispatch

Dispatch is the official Cowork feature for sending work from the Claude mobile app to Claude Desktop. It is currently a beta for Pro and Max plans and uses one continuous conversation across your phone and computer.

What Dispatch does

Your phone sends the task through Claude, and the open Claude Desktop app performs work that needs local files, connectors, plugins, or desktop apps. You receive a notification when Claude finishes or needs approval.

Dispatch is not cloud execution. The computer doing the work must remain awake, connected to the internet, and running Claude Desktop. For work that uses only remote tools and account files, a normal cloud Cowork session can continue without the desktop.

Requirements

  • Claude Pro or Max plan
  • Latest Claude Desktop app on macOS, Windows x64, or Linux
  • Latest Claude mobile app on iOS or Android
  • The same Claude account on both devices
  • An awake, connected computer with Claude Desktop open

Computer Use is not available in the Linux beta, though Dispatch can still use files, connectors, and plugins there.

Set up Dispatch

  1. Update Claude Desktop and the Claude mobile app.
  2. Open Cowork and select Dispatch in the left sidebar.
  3. Select Get started.
  4. Decide whether to allow local file access and whether Claude may keep the computer awake.
  5. Finish setup and send a low-risk test task from the Dispatch conversation.

There is no separate device-pairing menu, workspace link code, or live terminal-log dashboard in the current official setup. The conversation syncs through the account after Dispatch setup.

A safe first task

Review the files in the project folder I already approved. Create a new draft called weekly-summary.md with completed work, open questions, and next steps. Do not delete, move, publish, send, or upload anything. Ask me before opening another app.

Confirm the new file appears in the intended folder and review it on the desktop before moving to a more sensitive workflow.

Good mobile tasks

  • Ask for a summary of approved project files
  • Start a test run in a local development folder
  • Draft a report from connected sources
  • Request a status check from an internal dashboard
  • Continue a task that needs a decision while you are away from the desk

Avoid starting purchases, publishing, credential changes, financial actions, bulk file moves, or deletions when you cannot watch the desktop.

Safety checklist

  • Approve only the folders and apps the task needs.
  • Read permission requests carefully before responding from a notification.
  • Treat webpage, email, and document content as possible prompt-injection sources.
  • Keep backups for any folder Claude may edit.
  • Disconnect access if your phone or computer is lost, shared, or compromised.
  • Check the final files and external side effects when you return.

Common questions

Does the task continue if the laptop sleeps?

No. Dispatch tasks run on the desktop. Use a cloud Cowork session for work that can be completed without local resources.

Can I watch the desktop screen from my phone?

Dispatch reports results and approval requests; it is not a remote-desktop viewer.

Can I create several Dispatch conversations?

No. Anthropic currently documents one continuous Dispatch thread.

Is this the same as Claude Code Channels?

No. Channels are a Claude Code preview for Telegram, Discord, iMessage, and pushed events. Dispatch is the Cowork mobile-to-desktop feature.

Related Guides

Last updated: July 17, 2026