Set Up Persistent Memory

Category: Organization | Difficulty: Beginner | Setup Time: 15 min

Goal

Stop repeating yourself. Without configuration, you re-explain your preferences, clients, and work habits at the start of every Cowork session. With a memory.md file and Desktop Commander, Cowork knows all of this automatically.

Prerequisites

Cowork active (Pro or Max subscription)
Claude Desktop installed and up to date
15 minutes for initial setup

Steps

Step 1: Install Desktop Commander

Desktop Commander is the official extension that enables persistent memory.

In Claude Desktop, open the Customize tab (main navigation)
Find Desktop Commander in the extensions list
Click Install
Restart Claude Desktop when prompted

See Getting Started Step 8 for details.

Step 2: Create memory.md

In Finder, navigate to ~/Cowork-Workspace/
Create a new text file named memory.md
Open it with TextEdit or any text editor

Step 3: Fill In Your Memory

Copy the template for your business type (see next section) and adapt it to your situation.

Start simple, 5-10 lines is enough to begin. You’ll enrich it over time.

Step 4: Test That It Works

Open a new Cowork session and type:

Read ~/Cowork-Workspace/memory.md and summarize what you know about my business.

If Cowork accurately describes your context, the setup worked.

Step 5: Use It Every Session

From now on, start each conversation with:

Read ~/Cowork-Workspace/memory.md first. Then [your actual request]

Templates by Business Type

Tradesperson (plumber, electrician, builder, carpenter)

# Cowork Memory — [First Last], [Trade]

## My Business
- Trade: [your trade]
- Service area: [cities/regions]
- Team: [solo / X employees]

## Regular Clients
- Dupont family ([city]): 1970s apartment, always needs itemized quotes, pays in 30 days
- Martin Real Estate Agency: turnover work between tenants, invoice end of month
- Mr. Bernard: main residence, very demanding, confirm everything in writing

## Quote & Invoice Standards
- Quote format: labor and materials listed separately, VAT shown clearly
- Payment terms: 30% upfront, balance on completion
- Quote validity: 3 months

## Things I Never Do
- Promise a date without checking the schedule first
- Send an invoice without cross-checking the site log
- Use technical jargon in client documents

## Recurring Supplies
- Primary supplier: [name, contact]
- Common materials/references: [list]

Retail (shop, grocery, wholesale, bookstore)

# Cowork Memory — [Shop Name]

## My Business
- Type: [description]
- Floor area: [sqm] | Staff: [number]
- Primary customers: [profile]

## Key Suppliers
- [Supplier A]: 3-week lead time, €500 minimum order, contact [name]
- [Supplier B]: 48h delivery, no minimum

## Top Products (always keep in stock)
- [Product 1]: ref [X], reorder threshold [Y]
- [Product 2]: ref [X], reorder threshold [Y]

## Key Periods
- Peak season: [months], order inventory 6 weeks in advance
- Sales: [usual dates], max discount authorized: [%]
- Annual closure: [period]

## Preferred Document Formats
- Purchase orders: Excel with automatic VAT calculation
- Supplier letters: Word, plain professional tone
- Internal reports: PDF

## Things I Never Do
- Order without checking current stock first
- Promise a product not confirmed by the supplier

Professional Services (consultant, accountant, coach, lawyer, agency)

# Cowork Memory — [First Last], [Profession]

## My Business
- Specialty: [your field]
- Client type: [typical profile]
- Pricing: [day rate / retainer / project-based]

## Active Clients
- [Client A]: monthly consulting, deliverable end of each month, formal Word reports
- [Client B]: transformation project, bilingual FR/EN documents, monthly board presentation
- [Client C]: ad hoc work, invoice at milestones, long-standing client since [year]

## Templates & Processes
- Proposal: see ~/Cowork-Workspace/templates/proposal.docx
- Progress report structure: Done / In Progress / Next Steps / Attention Points
- Meeting notes: 3 sections = Decisions / Actions (who/what/when) / Information

## Tone & Style
- Clients: formal register, accessible language (avoid jargon)
- Internal: casual tone OK, concise
- Emails: always open with a greeting, sign with full signature

## Invoicing
- Terms: 30 days net from invoice date
- Payment reminders: Day +35 (polite) / Day +45 (firm)
- Currency: USD/EUR, two decimal places

Universal Template (if you don’t know where to start)

# My Cowork Memory

## My Business
- Sector: [your sector]
- Size: [solo / SMB / team of X]

## Recurring Context
- [Information 1 you often repeat]
- [Information 2]
- [Information 3]

## My Preferences
- Tone: [formal / casual]
- Favorite formats: [Word / Excel / PDF]
- Things I never do: [list]

## Important Notes
- [Note 1]
- [Note 2]

Usage Tips

Start with 5-10 lines. A short memory.md is better than a complex one you never keep up to date. Add information as you notice what you keep repeating session after session.

Update regularly. If a client preference changes, a supplier shifts, or your payment terms evolve, update the file. Outdated information in memory.md can cause errors.

Share with a colleague if relevant. If a partner or assistant also uses Cowork, a shared memory.md (same file, same workspace) keeps output consistent across sessions.

Test monthly. Once a month, ask Cowork to summarize what it knows about your business. This confirms the file is being read and reminds you what it contains.

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