Claude how to use: first prompt, files, projects and memory

Claude how to use, in short: open claude.ai in a browser, install the desktop app for Mac or Windows, or get the iOS or Android app, then type a request in the chat box. That is all it takes to start, and the rest of this guide covers what to do next. The steps below follow Anthropic's getting-started article and its Claude tutorial, as read on November 4, 2026.

This guide is for people who have never used Claude, or who use it only as a search box. By the end you will have sent a first prompt, chosen a model, and know which features to try for documents, research and recurring work.

What you need before you start

Anthropic says you must be at least 18 and in a supported location. The Free plan costs $0 as of November 4, 2026, so you can start without paying. Our is Claude free article covers plan limits and prices.

How to start using Claude

1. Go to claude.ai, or install Claude Desktop (Mac or Windows) or the Claude app (iOS or Android).
2. Type your request into the chat box and submit it.
3. Click the "+" button in the lower left, or type "/", to see more options and commands.
4. Check the model name below the input box on web and desktop, or at the top of the screen on mobile. Click it to switch models. You can also change how much effort Claude applies and whether it uses extended thinking, which gives it more time to reason before it answers.

How to write a good first prompt

Anthropic's advice is plain. Write the way you would to a coworker. Start simple, then get more specific, and refine with follow-up messages instead of starting over.

• If your request is vague, ask Claude to ask you questions before it begins.
• Attach documents when Claude needs context.
• If the answer misses, say what is wrong and Claude adjusts.
• Try different kinds of work: analysis, writing, coding, brainstorming.
• Share a screenshot of any screen you don't understand and ask what it does.

What Claude can produce besides text

Anthropic's tutorial lists several output types. Ask for them in plain words.

• Inline visuals: diagrams and charts shown next to the text. Ask Claude to "show" or "chart" something.
• Artifacts: work products that open beside the chat, such as Claude Design screens, Claude Slides presentations (download as PowerPoint or PDF) and Claude Docs documents. Small interactive tools like calculators also count. You can find them later in the Artifacts tab of the sidebar.
• Files: real spreadsheets with working formulas, PDFs or PowerPoint decks that you download.

Some artifact types are limited by plan. Anthropic marks Claude Dashboards as a beta on paid plans and Claude Motion as a beta on Team and Enterprise.

How to set up a bigger task

• Connectors link apps such as email, calendar, drive, chat and CRM. Once enabled, Claude can search them and write back where you allow it.
• Web search is on by default for Free, Pro, Max and Ultra, and off by default on Team and Enterprise.
• Research runs many searches and returns one cited report. It takes minutes, so save it for large questions.
• Skills are saved instructions for recurring tasks. See our guide to how to use Claude skills.
• Add folder in the desktop app gives Claude a local folder to read from and save into.

How to make Claude remember things

There are three tools, and they work at different levels.

• Projects are a workspace for one ongoing effort. Add reference files and standing instructions, and every conversation in the project starts with them. Use one when you keep re-uploading the same files.
• Instructions for Claude is a profile note in Settings about who you are and how you like answers. It applies to every conversation.
• Memory keeps a record of your projects and working style across conversations. Turn it on in Settings. You can view and edit it at any time.

Usage limits

Anthropic's getting-started page says Free accounts have a session limit that resets every five hours, and that paid plans offer more usage. The pricing page adds a weekly limit on Free as of November 4, 2026.

Where to go next

Developers can try Claude Code, the terminal and editor tool. Office users can look at the Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Chrome integrations. For a specific feature, ask Claude itself how it works and when to use it over another one. Anthropic's tutorial suggests exactly that.