Go from never using Claude to comfortable across four products: everyday chat, the Claude for Chrome browser extension that acts on websites for you, an agentic desktop setup that runs real work, and the Claude Code desktop app. No coding background needed.
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Work through four modules at your own pace
This is the version most people meet first. It is a website (claude.ai) and a desktop app where you type questions and Claude types back. By the end of this module you can sign in, hold a useful conversation, share files, and keep your work organized.
Claude is an AI assistant made by Anthropic. You talk to it in plain language, the same way you would message a knowledgeable coworker, and it answers. There are two tiers. Free works for everyday questions. Pro is the paid plan that gives you more usage during busy periods, access to the strongest models, and the Projects feature you will use later.
| Question | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Nothing | A monthly fee |
| Usage during busy times | Lower limits | Higher limits |
| Access to the strongest models | Limited | Full |
| Projects feature | No | Yes |
Claude for Chrome is a browser extension that lets Claude see the website you have open and take actions on it for you: clicking, typing, and moving between pages while you watch. In plain chat you copy and paste; here Claude works on the live page. Anthropic calls this browser use, and it is a beta feature on paid plans. It sits between everyday chat and the deeper Cowork workflows on purpose, so you get a gentle first taste of Claude taking actions, with you in control the whole way. Because Claude is acting inside your browser, this module gives safety real weight. Work through the steps in order.
Cowork is not a separate product. It is the Claude desktop app set up to do real work: stronger reasoning turned on, safe connections to your tools like Gmail and Calendar, specialized instruction sets called Skills, and Projects that run start-to-finish workflows. This module takes you from a chat assistant to something that completes tasks. Work through the steps in order, since each one builds on the last.
Claude Code is the version of Claude that runs as a desktop app and can create files, edit them, and run tasks for you directly on your machine. It sounds technical, and it can be, but plenty of everyday uses need no programming at all. This module eases you in: what it is, when to use it, a few real tasks you can try safely, and a free starter pack that powers it up with reusable prompts and skills.
The message you send Claude. Clear ask plus context plus an example gets the best result.
A panel beside the chat where Claude builds a document, table, or small app you can edit in place.
Claude acting in your browser tab on your behalf through the Claude for Chrome extension, with your approval granted per site.
A reusable container that bundles instructions, reference files, and (in Cowork) connections for one kind of work.
A plain-text (.md) instruction set that gives Claude focused expertise for a specific task.
A safe, approved link that lets Claude reach an outside tool like Gmail or Drive, turning chat into action.
The folder you open in the Claude Code app, which sets the files and folders Claude is allowed to work with.
Claude Code shows what it plans to do and waits for your approval before changing anything.
A shortcut you type in Claude Code with a slash in front, like /create-prompt, that runs a saved instruction.
A small free download of Claude Code commands and skills that load from your .claude folder every time Claude Code starts.
Keep building on your foundation
Common issues and solutions
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Claude's answers are vague or off-target. | Add context and an example to your prompt, then say what was wrong and ask for a revision. |
| A Cowork connection will not answer with live data. | Reopen Connections, confirm it is signed in and enabled for that Project, then reconnect if needed. |
| Claude for Chrome will not act on a website. | Open the extension and grant access for that site, since access is per site, and check you are on a paid plan with the extension turned on in Chrome. |
| A workflow stops partway through. | Check that every tool it needs is connected and any referenced folder is not empty, as your error-handling instructions should report. |
| The Claude Code app will not open or sign you in. | Quit and reopen it, and check your internet connection for the sign-in step. If it persists, reinstall it from the official download page. |
| Claude Code changed something you did not want. | Decline the next prompt, ask it to undo or revise, and going forward review each proposed change before approving. |