[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.

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