Claude in Chrome Side Panel Rebranded as Claude Cowork with Cross-Device Session Continuity

The Claude in Chrome side panel has been rebranded as Claude Cowork, transforming it from an isolated browser tool into a unified session environment. This update allows conversations to be saved to user history and enables skills and connectors to function directly within the browser. Crucially, tasks initiated in a browser tab can now be continued seamlessly on the Claude desktop, web, and mobile apps.

Cross-Device Continuity

Previously, side panel sessions were separate from those in the Claude apps, meaning context did not carry over between devices. The new architecture ensures that sessions live with the user's account rather than a single device. This allows for multi-step workflows, such as collecting invoice data from vendor portals in the browser and then switching to the desktop app to import local files or compare against previous budgets without losing context.

Security and Prompt Injection Mitigation

Because Claude in Chrome acts on web pages, it faces risks associated with prompt injection, where malicious instructions hidden in web content could redirect the AI. To mitigate this, Anthropic has implemented a separate check that reviews consequential actions—such as submitting forms, sending messages, or downloading files—against the user's original request. If an action does not match the intent, it is blocked. While this reduces interruptions compared to approving every step, the company notes that prompt injection remains a moving target and cannot be fully eliminated.

Availability and Limitations

The new side panel is available on Max and Team plans today, and is rolling out to Pro users over the coming weeks. On Enterprise plans, the feature is off by default, though admins can enable it and limit it to approved domains. Users should note that Claude in Chrome currently does not support other Chromium browsers or mobile devices, and the Claude desktop app is still required for local file access.