Lesson 4 · 16 min
Not every program or website has an easy way to automate it. Now Claude can use an app on your computer (computer use) or a website through the browser built into the app. Being able to do something doesn’t mean you should do everything. In this lesson, you’ll allow only what’s needed and run a read-only task on one of your websites, checking that nothing changed.
Start the lesson
Goal: Let Claude use computer programs and websites for you, allowing only what’s needed.
Tap or click each part.
Computer program → computer use. Website → built-in browser. The rules apply to both. Both are only available in the Mac and Windows apps; there is no app for Linux.
Four steps. Click each one.
In the Claude app (Code tab), press Cmd + Shift + B on Mac (Ctrl + Shift + B on Windows). A browser opens inside the app.
Go to the website and sign in yourself. Then describe the task in the conversation.
Never put your password in the conversation. You type it into the browser yourself.
Turn on computer use in the app settings (Settings). If you can’t find it, ask Claude in the Code tab: "where do I turn on computer use in this app?". On Mac, the system asks for two permissions: Accessibility (to click and type) and Screen Recording (to see the screen).
When Claude asks to use an app, allow only the app for that task.
Organize Desktop screenshots into folders by month. Export a video in an editor that has no other automation.
The built-in browser is in the Mac and Windows apps. Computer use is in preview on Mac and Windows, with Pro, Max, and Ultra plans; it isn’t available for Team and Enterprise.
There is no app for Linux: Claude Code runs in the terminal, without these two features. Plans and availability can change, so check in your app.
With computer use, browsers are for viewing only. Use websites in the built-in browser.
Before the task, note a sign that would change if something were edited: the number of posts, drafts, or the date of the last edit.
After the task, check that same sign. If it’s the same, nothing changed. Also keep the app updated before opening websites.
Don’t publish, reply, delete, or change anything on the website. If something needs to change, stop and ask me.
Copy and adapt. Replace what’s inside < > with your own details. For screenshots: on Mac, computer use works in the background; on Windows, don’t touch the mouse or keyboard while Claude works.
Open my student community page in the browser. I’m already signed in. Read the 30 most recent posts. List the 5 questions that come up most often, each with a link to a post where it appears. Save the list in comunidade/perguntas.md. Don’t publish, reply, delete, or change anything on the website. If something needs to change, stop and ask me.
Use computer use. Before you start, count how many screenshot files are on my Desktop and tell me. Create the folder "Prints" and, inside it, one folder per month. Move each screenshot into its month’s folder. Don’t delete or rename anything. At the end, tell me how many files you moved.
Open <your website address or name> in the browser. I’m already signed in. Read <what to read: recent posts, requests from this week, comments on the latest video>. List <what you want to know, with a number>. Save it in <file.md>. Don’t publish, reply, delete, or change anything on the website. If something needs to change, stop and ask me.
I read the 30 most recent posts in the community. I saved the list in comunidade/perguntas.md.
Each question has a link to a post in the file. I didn’t publish, reply, or change anything. I saw a post advertising another course; I left the link at the end of the file for you to decide what to do.
A simulated conversation for practice. Carla asked for a read-only list of the most common questions in the community, using the built-in browser. Choose the response you would give.
Choose your answer. The feedback appears right after, and the conversation continues based on your choice.
You need the Claude app on Mac or Windows. There’s no app for Linux: do E2 by pasting the page text into a chat and asking for the same list.
Choose one of your sites: a channel, store, blog, or community. In the app, open the built-in browser (Cmd + Shift + B on Mac, Ctrl + Shift + B on Windows) and log in yourself. Write down one thing that would change if anything were edited: the number of posts or drafts, or the date of the last edit.
Done when: you’re logged in through the app’s browser, and you’ve written down the thing you’re tracking on paper or in a file.
Adapt the block "Template · one of your sites" and paste it into the chat. Wait for the file and the response. Then check the thing you wrote down.
Done when: the file with the list exists, you opened one of the links, and the thing you wrote down is the same as before.
Only if you have a Mac or Windows computer and a Pro, Max, or Ultra plan. Turn on computer use in the app settings (Settings); if you can’t find it, ask Claude where it is in this app. On Mac, allow Accessibility and Screen Recording. Count the files in Desktop’s Prints folder and paste the request "organize screenshots". On Windows, don’t use the mouse or keyboard until Claude is done.
Done when: the Prints folder has one folder for each month, and the total number of files matches what you counted before.
The explanation appears after your answer.
Question 1 of 5
Carla wants Claude to read customer requests on her store’s website. Which option should she use?
Question 2 of 5
Which of these statements about computer use is true?
Question 3 of 5
How can you check that a read-only task didn’t change anything on the site?
Question 4 of 5
In the middle of the task, Claude finds a spam post and asks if it can delete it. What should you do in a read-only task?
Question 5 of 5
Computer use asks for access to several apps. Which ones should you allow?
Choose an option. The explanation appears after your attempt.