The Claude
Cheat Sheet

Chat

The one you already know. Ask a question, get an answer. Best for quick tasks and one-off requests. If this is the only thing you’re using, you’re missing 90% of what you’re paying for.

claude.ai → New Chat

Projects

Chat with memory. Upload files, write custom instructions, and Claude remembers everything across every conversation inside that Project. Set one up for your job with your role, your goals, and your writing style. Never explain yourself twice.

claude.ai → Projects → Create Project → Set custom instructions

Cowork

Think Google Drive and Projects had a baby. Claude reads your files, creates documents, runs code, and executes multi-step tasks autonomously. This is where Claude actually does the work for you — not just answers questions about it.

Claude Desktop app → Cowork (sidebar)

Connectors + Plugins

Connectors plug Claude directly into Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, and Google Drive. It reads and acts inside those tools — no copy-pasting. Plugins are the same idea but community-built. Both live in the same place.

Settings → Customize → Connectors / Plugins

Skills + Skill Creator

Skills are saved instructions that live inside Claude and fire automatically when relevant. “Whenever I ask for a weekly report, format it like this.” Skill Creator is Claude’s built-in tool that interviews you about a process and builds a ready-to-install Skill for you. Browse pre-built ones too.

Settings → Customize → Skills → Browse or Create

Global Instructions + About-Me

Global Instructions is a prompt Claude reads before every single task, in every chat and Project. Set it once, it runs forever. About-me is where you tell Claude who you are, what you do, and what matters to you. One file is worth more than 50 random prompts.

Settings → Customize → Global Instructions / About Me

Extended Thinking

A mode where Claude reasons step by step before answering. It thinks longer, catches more edge cases, and produces significantly better output on complex tasks. Always pair it with Opus for the best results. Use it for anything important.

Toggle in the model selector → Extended Thinking ON → Select Opus

Scheduled Tasks + Dispatch

Scheduled Tasks let Claude run things automatically on a recurring schedule — daily, weekly, whatever you set. Dispatch lets you control Claude from your phone while it works on your desktop. Set a task from the couch, results are waiting at your desk.

Claude Desktop app → Cowork → Schedule a task / Dispatch from mobile

Opus 4.7

Claude’s newest and smartest model. Better vision, checks its own work, stops making things up when it doesn’t know. Always select it for anything important. Pair it with Extended Thinking every time. Available on Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise.

Model selector (top of chat) → Claude Opus 4.7