Claude Setup

How To Set Up Claude After ChatGPT

So you've moved from ChatGPT to Claude. Here's how to set it up so Claude has your context, your preferences, your project files and the right privacy checks before you ask it to do real work.

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If you have been using ChatGPT for a while, moving to Claude can feel like starting from scratch.

It does not have to. The trick is to set up Claude so it has enough context before you ask it to do real work.

Most people open Claude, ask one question, get an average answer, and assume that is all it can do. But Claude is much better when it knows what it is working on, how you like to communicate, what files matter, and when it should check current information.

Use this page as a setup checklist. You do not need to do every section perfectly on day one, but the more useful context you give Claude, the less it has to guess.

Start Here

Download Claude Desktop And Choose The Right Plan

Start by downloading the Claude desktop app, not just using Claude in your browser.

Claude Desktop gives you access to the desktop workflows, including Claude Cowork. If you want to use Cowork, sign up for the Pro plan.

Claude lists Pro at $20 per month if billed monthly. Prices can change and may not include tax, so check the pricing page before you subscribe.

Once the app is installed and your plan is sorted, then set up the rest of Claude so it knows how to work with you.

Memory

Turn On Memory If You Want Claude To Remember You

In Claude, open Settings, then go to Capabilities, then Memory.

Switch memory on. Claude will remember what you tell it across conversations instead of starting from scratch every time.

This is useful for things like your role, business context, writing preferences, recurring projects and the way you like to work.

If you do not see Memory under Capabilities, it may not be available on your plan or account yet.

Privacy

Check Your Privacy Settings

Open Settings, then go to Privacy, then Preferences.

Look for Help improve our AI models.

If you do not want your personal chats used for training, toggle that setting off. Then quickly re-open Privacy and check that it stayed off.

For client, legal, medical, financial or private business material, be more careful about what you upload and what permissions you approve.

Web Search

Turn On Web Search In The Chat Box

When you are in a Claude chat, go to the message box and press the + button.

Tick Web search. That lets Claude look up current information instead of relying only on what it already knows.

Use web search whenever the answer depends on recent details, live tools, platform changes, pricing, policies, news, product features or anything that may have changed.

You do not need it for every tiny question. Use it when the facts matter.

ChatGPT Context

Bring Useful ChatGPT Context Across

Do not leave all your useful context behind.

In Claude, open Settings, then Memory, then choose Import memory from other AI providers if your account has that option.

Claude may give you a prompt to copy into ChatGPT or another AI tool. You can also use a simple version like this:

Summarise the useful context you know about me that would help another AI assistant work with me.

Include:
- my writing preferences
- my business or work context
- recurring projects
- instructions I often give you
- feedback I have given about how I like answers
- anything you should not assume

Keep it clear, practical and easy to paste into Claude.

Paste the summary into Claude's memory import flow, a Project instruction, or your How I Work document.

Preferences

Set Your Preferences

Tell Claude how you want it to write and communicate with you.

If you use Claude's Styles or custom preferences, set up the style you want before you start working. You can choose a preset style, upload a writing sample, or write simple instructions in plain language.

Keep this practical. Do you want short answers or detailed reasoning? Do you want direct feedback or a gentler tone? Do you want Claude to challenge weak ideas? Do you want it to write in Australian English, avoid hype, or keep copy simple?

Write clearly and practically.
Use my tone: direct, warm and useful.
Do not over-explain unless I ask.
If my request is unclear, ask the one question that would most improve the answer.
When you give feedback, be honest but not dramatic.
Use Australian English.

Projects

Create A Project For The Work

Do not keep everything in one long general chat.

Open Projects, click + New Project, then create one Project for the work you want Claude to understand.

That might be your business, a client, a side hustle, a course, a content system, a research project or a repeat workflow.

Once the Project exists, add project instructions. Tell Claude what the Project is, who it is for, what good output looks like and what rules it should follow in every chat inside that Project.

Then add the documents Claude should know. Useful documents include:

your brand guide
a client brief
a service or offer document
a process you constantly repeat
a tone-of-voice guide
a sales page, newsletter or example you want Claude to learn from

This gives Claude something concrete to work from. Instead of asking it to invent your context, you are handing it the reference material you already use.

Connectors

Add Connectors When Claude Needs Your Real Files

In Claude, go to the menu bar and open Customize.

Click Connectors, then search for the tools you want to add.

Choose the tools you use day to day. That might include Google Drive, Gmail, Calendar or any other connector available in your Claude account.

Click Connect, sign into the account, review the permissions, then approve only the access you are comfortable giving Claude.

Once Claude can work with your real files, calendar context or inbox, it becomes far more useful than a blank chat window.

Personal Context

Add A How I Work Document

A How I Work document helps Claude understand you as the person behind the work.

Create a document called How I Work and add it to your Project knowledge. Include:

what you are working toward
your current goals
your audience or client context
how you like feedback
your writing style
what you do not want Claude to do
anything Claude should know about working with you

If you are not sure what to include, ask Claude to interview you and write the document for you.

I want to create a document called How I Work so you can understand how to collaborate with me.

Interview me one question at a time.

Ask about:
- my goals
- the work I do
- my audience or clients
- how I like feedback
- my writing style
- what usually frustrates me about AI answers
- what I want you to remember before helping me

After the interview, write a clear, structured document I can save as How I Work and upload to this Project.

Start With Context

The goal is not to make Claude complicated. The goal is to stop treating it like a brand-new stranger in every conversation.

Give Claude the desktop app, the right plan, memory, privacy settings, web search, transferred context, preferences, Projects, connectors and personal context.

If a setting is missing, search Claude's settings for the label first. If it still does not appear, the feature probably has not reached your plan, workspace or region yet.

Then start using it.

Build Out Your Claude Setup

Learn why Projects are more reliable than Memory, then add your working rules with the Global Instructions guide.

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