Quick answer
Anthropic updated Claude so memory can carry between regular chats and Cowork tasks that run in the cloud. The same memory does not apply to Cowork sessions running locally on a computer. Memory is on by default for Free, Pro, and Max plans, while Team and Enterprise owners control whether it is enabled for their organizations. Users can inspect, edit, pause, reset, or delete saved topics.
What changed in Claude memory
Claude can now use information remembered from regular chats when a user hands a task to Cowork in the cloud, and context from those Cowork tasks can carry back into chat. Anthropic's documentation describes one shared memory for the two cloud experiences, reducing the need to repeat project details, people, or working preferences during a handoff.
Sources: Anthropic Help Center, TechCrunch
The shared memory applies only to Cowork in the cloud
The main limitation is easy to miss: shared memory works when Cowork runs in the cloud. Anthropic says Cowork sessions that run locally on a user's computer do not use this memory. Anyone evaluating the feature should first identify which Cowork mode is handling the task instead of assuming every session has the same context.
Sources: Anthropic Help Center
Claude saves topics while a conversation is happening
The improved system stores memory as individual topics that Claude can update during a conversation, rather than waiting to create a single summary after the chat ends. Project memories remain separate from one another and from non-project chats. Users can also explicitly ask Claude to remember, change, or forget something.
Sources: Anthropic Help Center, Anthropic Help Center
Memory and past-chat search are different features
Anthropic says memory is on by default for Free, Pro, and Max plans on the web and current desktop and mobile apps. Team and Enterprise owners decide whether their organizations can use it. Searching past chats is separate: Anthropic documents that capability for paid Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans. A user can therefore have memory without having the same past-chat search access.
Sources: Anthropic Help Center
Users can inspect and control what Claude remembers
Saved topics are visible in Settings under Memory, where a user can read, edit, or delete individual items. Pausing memory keeps existing entries but stops Claude from using or adding to them; resetting memory permanently deletes the saved memory and starts again. Incognito chats do not contribute to memory. These controls are different from deleting an ordinary conversation, which does not automatically remove related memory entries in the new system.
Sources: Anthropic Help Center
Sensitive-topic memory requires a separate choice
Anthropic says Claude does not save sensitive topics such as health, race, religion, politics, or gender identity by default. Users may opt in to saving supported sensitive topics, with notices when new items are stored. Some categories, including government ID numbers and financial account numbers, are not saved even after opt-in. Review these settings before using memory for personal or regulated work.
Sources: Anthropic Help Center
Frequently asked questions
What readers usually ask
Does Claude Cowork remember regular Claude chats?
Yes, when Cowork runs in the cloud and Claude memory is enabled. Anthropic says local Cowork sessions running on a computer do not use the shared memory.
Is Claude memory available on the Free plan?
Anthropic says memory is on by default for Free, Pro, and Max plans on supported web, desktop, and current mobile apps. Past-chat search is a separate feature documented for paid plans.
Can users edit or delete Claude's memory?
Yes. Users can inspect individual topics in Settings, edit or delete them, pause memory, or reset all saved memory. Resetting is permanent.
Does deleting a Claude conversation delete its memory?
Not automatically in the improved memory system. Anthropic says related memory entries may remain after a conversation is deleted, so users should review and delete the individual memory topics as needed.
Does Claude save sensitive information in memory?
Supported sensitive topics are off by default and require a separate opt-in. Anthropic also lists categories, such as government ID and financial account numbers, that are never saved to memory.
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