How to Use Claude: Complete Beginner’s Guide for Web, Desktop and Mobile
GuidesSunday, 02 August 2026 at 23:58
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To use Claude, open https://claude.ai, create an account and describe what you want to accomplish. Claude works better when you include the purpose, relevant context, constraints and expected form of the answer. You can then attach files, enable web search, create a Project, use Research or ask Claude to build a reusable Artifact.
The interface is simple; the harder skill is deciding what information and control the task requires. This tutorial begins with a normal conversation and gradually adds more powerful features. For an overview of the complete ecosystem, read What is Claude AI?.
Before you start: choose a safe first task
Do not test a new AI assistant with confidential client information, production credentials or a decision that can seriously harm someone. Start with a real but low-risk task:
- improve a non-sensitive email;
- create an outline from public notes;
- compare two public reports;
- explain an unfamiliar concept;
- turn a public dataset into a simple table;
- or review a small code example that contains no secrets.
This gives you a meaningful result without making the first experiment a security test.
Step 1: create a Claude account
- Visit https://claude.ai.
- Choose the sign-up option.
- Complete the account and verification steps shown.
- Review the privacy settings before uploading personal or work material.
- Start on Free unless a required feature or organizational policy calls for another plan.
Claude also has desktop and mobile apps. Anthropic’s download page lists current versions for macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and other supported environments. Conversations, Projects, memory and preferences generally sync when you use the same signed-in account, although a local or beta product can have different behavior.
If you are using Claude for an employer, ask whether the company already has a Team or Enterprise workspace. A personal Pro subscription is not a replacement for an approved work account.
Step 2: send a useful first prompt
A prompt is the instruction and context you give Claude. It does not need a special formula. It needs enough information to distinguish a good result from a generic one.
Use four ingredients:
- Task: What should Claude do?
- Context: What does Claude need to know?
- Constraints: What rules or boundaries matter?
- Output: What should the result look like?
A weak prompt is:
Write a proposal.
A useful prompt is:
Draft a one-page proposal for a four-week AI literacy workshop for the leadership team of a 50-person accounting firm. The goal is to win approval for a pilot, not to sell a long contract. Use a calm, practical tone. Include the problem, four weekly sessions, expected outcomes, responsibilities and a next step. Do not invent prices; mark the budget as “to be agreed.”
The second version tells Claude what decision the document supports. It also blocks an easy hallucination: an invented price.
Our existing guide to prompting Claude more effectively covers context, examples, output formats and self-review in more depth.
Step 3: collaborate instead of restarting
The first answer is a draft. Continue in the same conversation while the context is still relevant.
Useful follow-ups include:
- “Which assumptions did you make?”
- “What information would most improve this?”
- “Keep the structure, but remove promotional language.”
- “Show the evidence for the second claim.”
- “Turn the recommendation into three options with trade-offs.”
- “Critique this as a skeptical customer.”
- “Make only the changes listed below.”
Tell Claude what to preserve. “Rewrite this” gives permission to change everything. “Keep the facts and structure; shorten sentences and remove repetition” is controlled editing.
Start a new conversation when the task changes or when the old chat contains a large amount of irrelevant material. Claude must process conversation context, so one endless chat can waste capacity and introduce stale instructions.
How to choose a Claude model
Some plans expose a model selector; others choose a default. The current family includes Fable, Opus, Sonnet and Haiku, with Mythos restricted to approved cybersecurity use.
A practical rule is:
- use Sonnet for most work;
- use Opus when a difficult professional or coding task needs stronger reasoning;
- use Fable for the hardest long-running task when cost and speed are secondary;
- use Haiku when speed and volume matter more than maximum capability.
Do not repeatedly rerun a vague prompt on a larger model. Improve the task definition and evidence first. See our Claude model comparison for the current specifications and prices.
How to upload and analyze files
Select the attachment or plus control in the composer and add the file. Anthropic currently documents support for common formats including PDF, DOCX, CSV, TXT, HTML, ODT, RTF, EPUB, JSON and, when code execution is enabled, XLSX. Images can also be analyzed.
The upload is only the source. The prompt should say what to do with it.
Good file prompts
For a report:
Read the attached report and create a decision brief. Separate what the report directly states from your interpretation. Give a page or section reference for every number. End with five questions the report does not answer.
For two contracts:
Compare these two public template contracts. Create a table of clauses that materially differ. Quote no more than one sentence per clause, identify the section in each file and do not provide legal advice.
For a spreadsheet:
Inspect the workbook structure and formulas before changing anything. Tell me which sheets drive the summary and flag broken references or hard-coded values. Wait for approval before creating a revised file.
For an image:
Describe only what is visibly present. Separate direct observations from inferences. If text is unreadable, say so instead of reconstructing it.Claude may miss a page, misread a scan or misunderstand a spreadsheet formula. Verify the passages and calculations behind important conclusions.
File size and context
Anthropic’s help center currently states a 30 MB maximum per upload and download for Claude’s file-creation environment. Product and file-type limits can change.A file being accepted does not mean every detail will influence the answer. Ask for targeted retrieval and references. If the source collection is part of continuing work, use a Project rather than reattaching everything to unrelated chats.
How to use Projects
A Project is a dedicated workspace for a continuing subject. It can contain chats, a knowledge base and project instructions.
Create a Project
- Open the Projects area.
- Create a new Project and give it a specific name.
- Add only source material relevant to that subject.
- Set project instructions.
- Start separate chats inside the Project for distinct tasks.
Useful project instructions define enduring rules:
This Project contains the approved product documentation for Acme. Use the files as the primary source. If a question is not answered by the knowledge base, say so. Do not infer current prices. Write for non-technical B2B buyers in clear US English.
Do not place a one-time request in the permanent instructions. “Write today’s email” belongs in a chat; “always distinguish approved facts from assumptions” belongs at project level.
How Project knowledge works
Claude uses uploaded content as context. On paid plans, Anthropic says retrieval-augmented generation can activate as the knowledge base approaches the normal context limit, allowing the Project to hold substantially more material. Claude then searches for relevant passages.Retrieval can fail. Name the source or topic when a specific document matters, and ask Claude to state which files it used.
Use separate chats inside one Project
Keep research, drafting and final review in separate conversations when that makes the audit trail clearer. According to Anthropic’s current help guidance, ordinary context is not automatically shared across every Project chat unless it is in project knowledge or available through a relevant search or memory feature.
How to use web search
Web search brings current information into a conversation. Ask Claude to search when the answer depends on news, prices, product features, laws, leadership, schedules or any other fact that can change.
Example:
Search the official product pages for the current individual Claude plans. Create a price table and link each claim to the relevant Anthropic page. Do not use affiliate or comparison sites.
You can narrow the source policy:
- “Use primary sources only.”
- “Search government domains and the company’s investor relations site.”
- “Include independent reporting as context, but use the filing for the numbers.”
- “Ignore pages published before January 2026 unless they establish history.”
Check the citations
Open the source behind every important claim. Confirm:
- the page supports that exact sentence;
- the information is current;
- the source is authoritative for the claim;
- and Claude has not presented an inference as a fact.
Web search makes verification easier. It does not transfer editorial responsibility to the model.
How to use Research
Research is for a question that needs multiple searches, source comparison and a documented answer. It requires web search and can also use connected internal sources when available.Use Research for:
- a market landscape;
- a policy comparison;
- a company or technology briefing;
- a literature starting point;
- due-diligence questions;
- or a decision that depends on several current sources.
Write a Research brief
Include:
- the decision or question;
- scope and exclusions;
- date boundary;
- preferred sources;
- required comparison dimensions;
- output format;
- uncertainty standard.
Example:
Research the current market for enterprise AI coding agents in Europe. The report is for a CTO deciding which three products to pilot. Compare deployment surfaces, model choice, repository access, data training defaults, retention, SSO, auditability and public list price. Use vendor documentation for capabilities and commercial terms; use independent sources only for adoption or criticism. Mark unknowns rather than filling gaps. Finish with a three-product pilot shortlist, not a universal winner.
This is stronger than “research AI coding agents” because it gives the investigation a decision and a boundary.
How to create and use Artifacts
Ask Claude to create an Artifact when the output should live separately from the chat and be revised, reused or shared. Artifacts can include documents, code, diagrams, visualizations and interactive tools.
Example:
Create an interactive break-even calculator as an Artifact. Inputs: monthly fixed cost, price per customer and variable cost per customer. Outputs: contribution margin and customers needed to break even.
Validate that price is greater than variable cost and explain the formula below the calculator.Then test it:
- enter normal values;
- try zero and negative values;
- try a price below variable cost;
- compare the answer with a manual calculation;
- inspect the code if the result matters.
An attractive Artifact can still contain incorrect logic. Treat it like a prototype until it has been tested.
When to use a file instead
Ask for a downloadable file when the final output belongs in Word, Excel, PowerPoint or PDF. Use an Artifact when the output benefits from interactive iteration or a dedicated working surface.For presentation-specific prompting, see our guide to creating a deck with Claude Design.
How to make Claude create a document, spreadsheet or presentation
State the file type and acceptance criteria.
For a spreadsheet:
Create an XLSX budget model with separate Inputs, Monthly Forecast and Summary sheets. Use formulas rather than hard-coded totals. Apply data validation to the scenario field. Include a chart for revenue and cash balance. Add a Notes sheet listing assumptions and cells that require user input.
For a presentation:
Create a 10-slide PPTX for a 15-minute board update. Use the attached template. One conclusion per slide, no invented metrics and a source note for every external number. Include an executive summary, three operating results, two risks, two decisions and a final next-step slide.
For a document:
Create a DOCX policy draft from the approved points below. Use numbered headings, a definitions section and a version table. Mark unresolved choices as [DECISION REQUIRED] rather than deciding them.
How to use memory and past-chat search
Past-chat search retrieves relevant previous conversations. Memory maintains ongoing context or preferences. They solve related but different problems.You can ask:
- “Find the conversation where we decided the launch audience.”
- “What constraints did I give you for this report?”
- “Continue the outline we developed for Project Atlas.”
- “What do you currently remember about my writing preferences?”
Review memory settings and remove incorrect or unwanted information. Do not assume memory is complete or perfectly isolated. For work that needs a controlled source of truth, use a Project knowledge base and explicit instructions.
How to use Incognito chats
Enable Incognito mode from the new-chat interface when you do not want a conversation saved to normal history or used by memory. Anthropic says Incognito chats are not used for training.Incognito is temporary, not invisible.
Anthropic currently says those chats are retained for 30 days by default for safety, or longer under an organization’s configured retention. Team and Enterprise owners can have additional export and compliance visibility.Do not use Incognito as permission to upload data that policy forbids.
How to connect Claude to other tools
Open Claude’s connector or integration settings and choose an approved service. Complete the provider’s authorization flow and review requested permissions.Possible connections include Google Workspace, Slack, Microsoft 365 and tools exposed through MCP. Availability depends on the plan, account and administrator.Before connecting:
- Confirm the provider and connector are legitimate.
- Review read and write permissions.
- Limit the account or workspace scope where possible.
- Understand which retrieved content can be stored in a chat.
- Test with low-risk data.
- Disconnect unused integrations.
For a company rollout, connectors belong in an approved architecture rather than being enabled independently by every employee. See Claude for Work for governance.
How to use Claude on desktop and mobile
The desktop app is useful when Claude needs quick access, local extensions or an agentic desktop workflow. Mobile is useful for voice, photos, continuing conversations and checking tasks away from the desk.Do not assume every surface has identical features.
A desktop extension can reach a local tool that the browser cannot. A beta mobile Cowork session can run remotely, while some local sessions depend on the paired computer. Check what the interface says before closing a device or granting access.
Ten practical Claude workflows
1. Improve an email without losing your voice
Edit this email for clarity and brevity. Preserve my direct tone and every factual detail. Do not add pleasantries. First list any sentence whose meaning is ambiguous, then provide the edited version.
2. Turn notes into a meeting brief
Convert these notes into a one-page brief with purpose, participants, decisions, open questions and preparation. Do not treat tentative statements as decisions.
3. Compare documents
Compare these policies by scope, obligations, exceptions, enforcement and unresolved ambiguity. Cite the section behind each difference.
4. Learn a topic
Explain retrieval-augmented generation to an editor who understands websites but not machine learning. Use one concrete newsroom example, then test my understanding with three questions.
5. Critique an argument
Identify the strongest claim, weakest assumption, missing counterargument and evidence that would change the conclusion. Do not rewrite the essay yet.
6. Research a purchase
Search current manufacturer documentation for these three products. Compare only the features I list. Separate confirmed specifications from reviewer opinion and link to the exact source.
7. Analyze a dataset
Inspect the columns and data quality first. Report missing values, duplicates and inconsistent categories. Propose an analysis plan and wait before calculating conclusions.
8. Create a presentation
Use the attached report and template to create an eight-slide PPTX. Cite the source page in speaker notes and make no claim that is absent from the report.
9. Review code
Explain the module’s purpose, trace the main data flow and identify likely defects. Do not edit files. Rank findings by impact and confidence.For repository-level work, use Claude Code.
10. Prepare a reusable process
Turn this approved checklist into a reusable Skill. Keep mandatory steps fixed, make client name and reporting period variables, and require a final human approval before delivery.
Common mistakes
Giving no context
Claude then fills gaps with assumptions. Explain who the result is for and why it exists.
Asking for facts without sources
Enable search or attach evidence when facts matter. Ask Claude to mark unsupported claims.
Treating the first response as final
Use critique, verification and a human edit.
Uploading too much
More context can add noise. Include the sources that define the task and tell Claude which are authoritative.
Mixing unrelated work in one chat
Old instructions can leak into a new task and consume capacity. Start a fresh conversation.
Granting broad connector access immediately
Use least privilege and test read-only behavior first.
Confusing polish with correctness
A well-designed deck or fluent explanation can still be wrong. Check the underlying evidence.
What to do when Claude gives a bad answer
| Problem | Better next instruction |
| Too generic | Add audience, decision, source material and required specificity |
| Wrong format | Provide the exact headings, table columns or schema |
| Invented facts | Require attached or linked sources and an “unknown” option |
| Too long | State the reader’s time limit and information priority |
| Missed file detail | Name the document and section; request a direct reference |
| Changed too much | List what must remain unchanged |
| Refusal | Clarify the legitimate purpose and ask for a safe version of the task |
| Contradictory output | Ask Claude to enumerate assumptions and test each against the evidence |
How to verify Claude’s work
Use a review method appropriate to the output:
- Facts: open the primary source.
- Math: recalculate independently.
- Spreadsheet: inspect formulas and sample rows.
- Code: review the diff, run tests and check security.
- Legal or medical text: use a qualified professional.
- Research: check dates, sources and unsupported inferences.
- Writing: confirm names, claims, quotations and intended meaning.
- Agent actions: inspect what changed and what external system received data.
Ask Claude to critique itself, but do not use the same model’s self-review as the only control. Independent evidence is stronger than a second confident paragraph.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Claude without paying?
Yes. Claude has a limited Free plan. Paid plans increase capacity and add access to selected advanced products and features.
Do I need to download Claude?
No. Claude works in a web browser at Claude.ai. Desktop and mobile apps add convenience and some platform-specific capabilities.
Can Claude read a PDF?
Yes. Attach the PDF and specify the task. For scans or complicated layouts, verify that Claude read the relevant pages correctly.
Can Claude search the internet?
Yes, supported models can use web search. Research provides a longer multi-source process. Always check decisive citations.
Can Claude remember previous chats?
Claude can search past chats and use memory when those features are available and enabled. Project knowledge is a better controlled source for continuing work that depends on approved files.
Can Claude make a PowerPoint?
Yes, Claude can create PPTX files in supported experiences, and Claude Design focuses on decks and other visual output. Review content and formatting before presenting.
What should I never enter into Claude?
Do not enter passwords, API keys, private keys or data prohibited by law, contract or company policy. Sensitive information should be processed only in an approved product and configuration.
Why did I hit a limit?
Claude’s allowance depends on plan, model, context, attachments and task. Long conversations and agentic products can consume more. Our Claude pricing guide explains the plan structure.
Bottom line
Using Claude well is not about finding a secret prompt. Give it a clear outcome, the evidence required to reach that outcome and rules for the final form. Add Projects, Research, Artifacts, memory and connectors only when they solve a real context or workflow problem.Begin with a low-risk task, inspect what Claude produces and make verification part of the process. The interface can remove work; it cannot remove your responsibility for the result.
byDavid Porter
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