Claude Dispatch: Remote Automation on PC and Mobile

Claude Dispatch: A New Era for Remote Automation

Claude Dispatch is the latest innovation from the Claude platform, designed to transform the way we interact with our devices remotely. By connecting the Claude app on your phone to the one on your computer, Dispatch allows you to delegate tasks directly from your mobile, even when you are far from your desk.

How Claude Dispatch Works

Using Claude Dispatch is simple: just submit a task via your phone, and Claude executes it on your computer autonomously. The results are then sent back to your phone, keeping you informed without the need to monitor every step of the process. For example, you can ask Claude to prepare a presentation before you even arrive at the office, and it will be ready by the time you get there.

Claude Dispatch integrates seamlessly with Cowork and Code platforms. Development tasks are handled in Claude Code, while research or document management tasks are managed in Cowork. This integration allows you to keep track of tasks in their respective sidebars, making it easier to follow up and verify results.

A notable feature of Claude Dispatch is that it does not create a new session for each task. Instead, it offers a persistent conversation thread, meaning the context of your previous tasks is retained. This allows you to pick up your work where you left off without having to re-explain what you were doing each time.

Setup and Technical Requirements

To use Claude Dispatch, a few prerequisites are necessary:

• Install the latest version of Claude Desktop on a macOS or Windows x64 computer.
• Keep the computer powered on and the application open.
• Update the Claude app on your phone.
• Have a Claude Pro or Max subscription.
• Ensure an active Internet connection on both devices.

It is worth noting that Cowork, including Dispatch, is currently in research preview, with no specific usage limits defined by Anthropic.

Setting Up Claude Dispatch

Setting up Dispatch is straightforward and quick:

1. Download or update Claude Desktop on your computer.
2. Install or update the Claude app on your phone.
3. Access Cowork and select "Dispatch" from the left panel.
4. Follow the instructions to grant the necessary permissions and finalize the setup.

Once configured, Dispatch enables you to perform complex tasks remotely. For example, you can ask Claude to search for and extract key information from specific files on your system. This ability to operate your system remotely without being physically present opens up new possibilities for flexible work and automation of repetitive tasks.

User Experience and Use Cases

Once I set up Dispatch on my Mac and phone, I was very optimistic about its use. Here’s the task I assigned to Claude via Dispatch:

• Find files in a specific folder on my system, open them one by one, and extract the key points from each.

These files were research articles with a large amount of data. If I had done this myself, even with the help of AI, it would have taken 15 to 30 minutes. With Dispatch, I simply wrote a prompt and went to lunch.

Here’s how it went:

• Locate the "eVTOLs" folder on my system and list all the files inside.
• Review these files and extract the key points from each. Create a document listing all these key points, categorized by source.

With just these two prompts, I obtained the key points from four lengthy research articles on electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles. But the most useful outcome here was that I was able to access the files on my system remotely.

Notifications and Task Management

Claude Dispatch also ensures that you don’t miss any crucial steps. If a task requires your approval, Claude sends a notification to your phone. This ensures that no task gets stuck, allowing you to manage your projects effectively from a distance.