Anthropic announced a major update on August 25, 2026, that merges the memory systems of Claude chat and Claude Cowork. Claude now retains and shares memory across both products, improving continuity and reducing the need for users to rebrief information when switching between tools [1, 2, 3].
The update also changes how Claude manages memory during conversations. Instead of summarizing information only after chats end, Claude continuously updates its memory throughout ongoing interactions [1, 2].
By default, Claude does not save sensitive personal information such as users’ health data, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, politics, or gender identity in its memory system. Anthropic stated, "By default, Claude does not store topics related to personal or sensitive subject matter, like your health, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, politics, gender identity, and other similar areas" [1, 2, 3].
Users can opt to enable a toggle to allow Claude to include such sensitive topics in memory. When enabled, Claude notifies users every time it saves sensitive information, giving users clear control over what the AI retains [1, 2, 3]. Regardless of user settings, the system never saves highly sensitive data such as government-issued IDs, Social Security numbers, criminal history, or immigration status [1, 2, 3].
The memory feature is enabled by default on Free, Pro, and Max subscription plans and is available on web, desktop, and mobile platforms. To access the unified memory on iOS and Android devices, users must update their apps [1, 3].
Anthropic highlighted the practical benefits of the unified memory for productivity workflows: "Ask Cowork to draft an update for your manager, and it already knows who that is and how she likes updates written. Brainstorm the agenda in chat for a conference you’re organizing; when Cowork builds the budget and logistics doc, it knows the headcount, the city, and the speakers" [2]. This integration allows Cowork to remember project details from prior chats, creating a smoother user experience.
The update strengthens memory sharing between Claude’s chat and cowork products while maintaining robust user privacy controls. Users can now choose how much sensitive information Claude retains in memory and receive notifications when such data is stored. The rollout begins immediately across all platforms with app updates required for mobile users [1, 2, 3].
