How to Join the Claude Duet Waitlist and Get Started

Anthropic opened a research preview of Claude Duet on October 21, 2026. The app turns Claude into a proactive agent that messages you first, works on tasks in the background, and asks before it sends, pays, signs, or deletes anything.

It runs on Claude Opus 5.5. It is available as a standalone app on iOS and Android plus claude.ai. Access starts with a waitlist for Pro and Max subscribers based in the US. The preview is included in those plans and draws on the same usage limits.

This guide covers what Claude Duet does, who can join, how to enter the waitlist, and what to expect once you get access. All details come from Anthropic’s official announcement and help center.

What Claude Duet does

Claude Duet carries over your existing Claude memory, skills, and connected apps. You message it by text or voice in one ongoing thread. It also supports separate channels for different topics that share the same memory.

It runs on its own cloud virtual machine with a browser. You can close the app and it keeps working. It checks connected accounts every few hours and sends a short morning brief on the most important items. It messages you only when something needs attention.

Before it sends a message, makes a payment, signs a document, or deletes anything, it shows you the exact action and waits for approval. A few actions stay off-limits even with approval, including trading securities or moving money between accounts. You can disconnect any app at any time.

It can use more than 6,000 connectors and plugins from the Claude Marketplace. Examples include finding missed Gmail or Slack messages, checking QuickBooks or Stripe for unpaid invoices, preparing payroll in Gusto, drafting LinkedIn job posts, preparing Docusign agreements, drafting HubSpot follow-ups, and setting up Shopify stores. Purchases can go through Link or Shop Pay with your approval.

Who can join the waitlist

The research preview is open to users on Pro or Max plans with a Claude account in the United States. Team and Enterprise plans are not included yet. Anthropic plans to expand later. Access opens in waves. Features can change during the preview.

You need an active Pro or Max subscription. The email you use on the waitlist must match the email on your Claude account. For mobile, it should also match the Google or Apple account on your phone.

Step-by-step: Join the waitlist

1. Go to the official Claude Duet product page at claude.com/product/claude-duet.
2. Select Join the waitlist.
3. Enter your name and the email address tied to your Claude account.
4. Choose your Claude plan (Pro or Max) and phone type (iPhone or Android).
5. Optionally describe your work and the first task you would hand off.
6. Submit the form.

Anthropic emails you when a spot opens. Follow the instructions in that email to install the app or access the web version. Sign in with the same Claude account.

If you already have connectors, skills, and memory set up in Claude, they transfer automatically. Review connected apps before you start so Duet only sees what you intend.

What to do after you get access

Open the app and start with a simple request. Ask for a morning brief based on your connected email and calendar. Or hand it a concrete task with a clear finish line, such as “Check tomorrow’s meetings, prepare a short brief for each, and leave all emails as drafts.”

Use the Tasks tab to see active work, upcoming runs, and suggestions. Larger outputs appear in the Make tab for review. You can message by voice for quick handoffs.

Test the approval flow on a low-stakes action first. Confirm it stops and shows the draft before anything leaves your account. Adjust what it reports and how often it checks in so background activity does not burn through your plan limits too quickly.

Safety and limits

Claude Duet builds on Anthropic’s existing agent safeguards plus new ones for acting across accounts. A dedicated classifier checks outgoing messages and blocks the strictest categories of sensitive data, such as credit card numbers or government IDs. Other sensitive information moves only when you explicitly instruct it.

Credentials follow the same design used for Claude Managed Agents, so the model never sees your passwords or tokens directly. Actions pass through an auto-mode classifier. Defenses against prompt injection draw from Anthropic’s browser-use research. The product has undergone adversarial testing and is covered by the public bug bounty program.

It is still an early research preview. It may misread a thread or misjudge urgency. Personal errands are weaker than work tasks. You cannot yet watch or take over its browser. Background checks and larger tasks count against your plan’s usage limits differently than a normal chat.

For comparison, see how other agent-style features work in the guide on building your first Claude Managed Agent.

The official short video from the Claude channel shows the core idea: Claude comes to you, keeps working after you put the phone down, and checks before it acts.

Practical tips

Start with reading and drafting only. Keep every send, payment, or signature as an explicit approval. Connect only the accounts you need for the first few days.

Give clear finish lines on tasks. “Draft three invoice reminders and stop” works better than open-ended requests while you learn its judgment.

Watch your usage. Background checks every few hours plus larger projects can consume limits faster than ordinary chats. Adjust reporting frequency if needed.

Conclusion

Claude Duet is Anthropic’s research-preview proactive agent. It messages you first, works on a cloud computer, and requires approval before consequential actions. Pro and Max subscribers in the US can join the waitlist now. The setup is minimal if you already use Claude, and the safety model keeps important decisions with you.

Visit the official product page, join the waitlist with the correct email, and prepare a small first task. Once invited, test the morning brief and one approval flow before handing it larger work.

Sources: Anthropic’s “Introducing Claude Duet” announcement (claude.com/resources/articles/claude-duet), Claude Help Center “Get started with Claude Duet,” and the official Claude YouTube channel introduction video.