Cowork: Allow setting a default workspace folder to auto-mount on launch
Feature Request
Is your feature request related to a problem?
Every time I launch a Cowork session, I have to manually select my workspace folder from the dropdown. Since I always mount the same folder (~/), this extra step adds friction to every session start.
Describe the solution you'd like
Add a setting (in Cowork preferences or Claude Desktop settings) to designate a default workspace folder that auto-mounts when a new Cowork session begins. This could be as simple as a "Set as default" option next to recent folders, or a toggle like "Always mount last used folder."
Describe alternatives you've considered
- Using the "Recent Folders" list (current workaround — still requires a click each session)
- Command-line launch flags (not available for Claude Desktop)
Additional context
Power users who always work from the same root folder (e.g., home directory) would benefit from skipping the folder selection step entirely. This is a small UX improvement that reduces friction for daily Cowork usage.
Environment
- macOS (Mac Studio)
- Claude Desktop (Cowork mode, research preview)
- Plan: Max
5 Comments
I second this. My usecase is that I want Claude to be able to upload files via Claude Cowork without having to use custom connectors. The directories I use are always the same - I would like the feature to be able to encompass a number of different directories so I just paste the list of relevant directories in there once and I'm good to go.
Environment
Closing for now — inactive for too long. Please open a new issue if this is still relevant.
It is also a big thing if you work on multiple computers. Having one common claude.md in dropbox or googe drive would be superuseful
Use case: I frequently use Cowork to work with files in my Downloads folder. Every new session requires me to approve folder access via the dialog, even though it's always the same folder. There's no way to pre-configure a trusted folder — the settings.json permissions approach doesn't apply to Cowork's mounting mechanism.
A simple "trusted folders" list in Cowork settings (or support for a config file entry like defaultDirectory: "~/Downloads") would eliminate this friction entirely while still keeping the user in control. The approval dialog could remain for any folder not on the trusted list.
P.S. I solve this now by adding the Downloads folder to the Project workspace in Cowork. I need to do this for each project.
This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.