[FEATURE] Native Cowork UI on iOS/Android — full client, not just Dispatch remote control
Open 💬 0 comments Opened Jun 12, 2026 by thomas-kuehn
Problem Statement
Cowork runs desktop-only. The sole mobile path is Dispatch, a remote-control bridge: it sends a prompt to the desktop session and returns the result. There is no actual Cowork interface on the phone — no session/file browser, no inline artifact viewing or editing, no plan/step/tool-call inspection, no access to the working directory, no switching between Cowork tasks or Projects. Dispatch is a messaging walkie-talkie, not the app.
Desired Behavior
Full Cowork UI in the iOS/Android app, backed by the desktop session while the Mac is awake (Keep Awake). From the phone:
- Browse and open files in the working directory
- View and edit generated artifacts inline
- Inspect the plan, progress, and tool calls — not just the final output
- Switch between Cowork tasks and Projects, scroll full history
- Trigger new Cowork sessions with full UI context
Phone as a true thin client of the desktop session — same surface, smaller screen.
Why Dispatch Does Not Solve This
- Output-only: returns deliverables, hides the workspace and process
- No file/artifact interaction on mobile
- No Project/task navigation
- No visibility into plan steps or tool calls
- Built as remote control, not a portable Cowork client
Comparison
OpenAI ChatGPT iOS exposes the full session of the Codex UI from the phone. Cowork mobile stops at Dispatch.