The full feature matrix for Claude Cowork — files, document generation, OCR, web access, scheduled tasks, MCP, collaboration. Honest "not yet" entries front and centre.
TL;DR. The single source of truth for can Cowork do X? — built as compact tables, with the honest "not yet" entries front and centre. We re-test this matrix on the first Monday of every month and publish what changed in the Changelog.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ✅ | Supported and reliable |
| ⚠️ | Supported with caveats — read the notes |
| ❌ | Not supported today |
| 🧩 | Supported via MCP connector or skill |
The matrix reflects Cowork as of late April 2026. Anthropic ships changes weekly; if a row matters for your decision, verify against the date at the top of this page.
| Operation | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Read files in granted folder | ✅ | Any format Cowork can parse |
| Create files | ✅ | Any text-based format |
| Move / rename / copy | ✅ | Within granted folders only |
| Delete files | ⚠️ | Permanent — no Trash. Always ask Cowork to plan first |
| Create / nest folders | ✅ | |
| Extract archives (zip, tar) | ❌ | Not in Cowork; Code can |
| Compress files | ❌ | |
| Watch folder for changes | ⚠️ | Via scheduled tasks; not real-time |
| Format | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plain text / Markdown | ✅ | |
Word (.docx) | ✅ | Headings, tables, basic styles |
Excel (.xlsx) | ✅ | Formulas, multi-sheet, freeze panes |
PowerPoint (.pptx) | ✅ | Slides, basic theming |
| ✅ | From content; not from a printed app | |
| HTML / CSS | ✅ | |
| CSV / JSON / YAML | ✅ | |
| InDesign / Figma / CAD | ❌ | Source files are not parseable |
| Input | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Office files | ✅ | |
| PDFs | ✅ | Text and tables; OCR for scans |
| Images (OCR) | ✅ | Receipts, screenshots — see Data extraction & OCR |
| Audio | ❌ | Use a separate transcription step |
| Video | ❌ | |
| Encrypted / password-protected files | ❌ | Decrypt first, then process |
| Action | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Web search | ✅ | Built-in |
| Read public web pages | ✅ | |
| Save web content to file | ✅ | |
| Fill forms | ⚠️ | Limited; explicit approval required |
| Login to sites | ❌ | Security restriction |
| API calls without an MCP | ❌ | |
| API calls via MCP | 🧩 | See MCP connectors |
| Action | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plan-then-act loop | ✅ | Default |
| Sub-agents (parallel sub-tasks) | ✅ | Useful for long jobs |
| Memory across sessions | ✅ | See CLAUDE.md and memory |
| Scheduled / recurring tasks | ✅ | See Scheduled tasks |
| Trigger-based automation (file landed → run X) | ⚠️ | Via scheduled-task polling; no native triggers |
| Feature | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-account workspace | ✅ | Default |
| Shared workspace via cloud sync | ✅ | OneDrive / Google Drive / Dropbox client |
| Real-time co-editing of a Cowork session | ❌ | Not the model; one operator at a time |
| Org admin console | ✅ | Team / Enterprise plans |
| SSO (SAML / SCIM) | ✅ | Team / Enterprise plans |
| Audit logs of Cowork actions | ⚠️ | Limited; see Audit & compliance |
The capability matrix changes monthly. Anthropic ships fast, and the gap between "supported" and "supported well" matters in mid-market deployments. We re-test this matrix on the first Monday of every month and publish the deltas in the Changelog. Treat any row older than thirty days as a hint, not gospel.
The 🧩 entries are where Tinkso usually adds value in an engagement — wrapping a target system with a custom MCP connector or skill so the team gets ✅ behaviour without learning the spec.
Pick the three rows that block your highest-value use case. If all three are ✅, ship now. If one is ⚠️ or 🧩, that is where Tinkso adds value — typically a custom MCP connector or a packaged skill that hides the caveat from the operator.
Book a 30-minute call. We'll ask where you are, what your team needs, and which systems Cowork should touch.