Anthropic is testing a redesigned Claude desktop app that relocates the Chat and Cowork mode switcher to the top of the window and embeds Projects directly in the sidebar navigation.

The changes represent the second major layout shift in two weeks. The current toggle between Chat and Cowork modes sits in the prompt bar following a July 7 update.

The new placement mirrors OpenAI's approach in ChatGPT desktop, where the mode switcher landed in the top-left corner after the company merged its Codex app into ChatGPT on July 9.

Projects get sidebar treatment

The more significant change surfaces Projects directly in the navigation sidebar, positioned above recent conversations. Users would gain options to pin projects, sort them, and control what appears in the list.

OpenAI shipped similar functionality for ChatGPT in June, allowing users to pin chats and projects while reorganizing the Recents section. The feature addresses longstanding user requests for better sidebar organization.

For users managing multiple workspaces in Claude, having projects accessible with one click rather than through a separate page would streamline workflow navigation.

Claude Code is also receiving attention through a dedicated projects section on the web. The feature would let users create and customize new projects, adding a management layer above Claude Code's current single-folder scope.

Testing phase signals caution

Given the recent July 7 redesign, these changes appear targeted for A/B testing with select users rather than immediate rollout. Anthropic frequently experiments with interface modifications and quietly reverses changes that underperform.

The updates align with Anthropic's strategy to position the desktop app as the hub for intensive work while expanding Cowork to web and mobile platforms in beta.

Whether the redesign reaches general availability remains uncertain, as the company maintains a cautious approach to interface changes based on user performance metrics.