Use GWC Bridge with Claude
Connect Claude to your computer through GWC Bridge, using GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code.
Choose ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok or Muse. The official ChatGPT and Claude listings are still in review. Before you approve, review all shared folders and permissions. Start with a read-only check. Start
Set up GWC Bridge for Claude
Register a new computer and control Bridge On/Off on that computer in GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code. Some current desktop builds only show ChatGPT/Claude access as status, not independent On/Off switches. If separate controls are unavailable, review or revoke each app's OAuth grant under Settings → Connected apps. Check the desktop's actual state before relying on a change; switching off does not guarantee that work already running stops, and switching on cannot wake an offline computer.
Then run one harmless check: ask Claude to list your connected computers and shared folders. Connected status alone is not a successful file read.
What this connection does
GWC Bridge lets Claude request work with files, documents, searches, commands and Taichu on your computer. The computer's folder policy, capability switches and protected-action checks govern local access. Claude separately controls its own connector tool approvals.
Installing GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code is not the same as authorizing Claude. Configure the registered computer, folder access and protected-action settings there. Connecting in Claude authorizes the account, without a separate folder or tool-permission checklist.
What you need
- An active Connect Pass on the GWC account used for this connection.
- An online computer signed in to GWC, running a supported GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code release with Bridge connected.
- Use the same GWC account in GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code, GWC for Web and Claude. In GWC for Web, use Personal for Bridge.
- Connect Claude using the GWC account that owns the intended PC. Choose the PC and permitted folder when using tools; the computer's folder and capability policies govern access for every connection.
- A current GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code release that supports the GWC Bridge tools.
Set up
- Set up your desktop app. Install or update a supported release of GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code and sign in to GWC. Check desktop availability for current releases and supported platforms. Check desktop availability
- Check folder access on the computer. In GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code, check the actual folder policy. New supported installations use All folders; choose Selected folders to restrict access. This is a computer restriction, not a per-Claude-connection grant.
- Add GWC Bridge in Claude. In Claude, open Customize, then Connectors, find GWC Bridge and choose Connect. Claude opens GWC sign-in. Sign in to the same GWC account and complete two-step verification if your account uses it.
- Check what the connection can access. GWC sign-in connects Claude to your GWC account. It does not ask you to select a computer, tick folders or choose tool scopes. Configure computer access in GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code and tool approvals in Claude.
- Review and allow the connection. Approve the GWC connection and return to Claude. You cannot choose folders, computers or tool permissions during sign-in. A completed connection alone does not mean your computer is ready. Try one harmless check, and revoke access later if needed.
If the intended PC or folder is not ready, keep GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code open and connected, check the correct registered PC and its local folder policy, then retry a harmless tool request. Reconnecting in Claude cannot widen PC access.
Use it from Claude Code
Add the server, then sign in from the terminal. Your browser opens GWC sign-in without folder or tool-permission choices. Claude Code has its own app connection and tool approvals; either Claude connection can be revoked independently.
claude mcp add --transport http gwc-bridge https://mcp.gwc-corp.com/mcpThen type /mcp in Claude Code and follow the sign-in steps in your browser.
claude mcp remove gwc-bridge removes the server from Claude Code. Revoke its connection in GWC for Web under Settings → Security → Connected apps.
How Claude asks before acting
Set when ChatGPT asks before using tools in ChatGPT's own Permissions: Always ask, Allow read-only tools, Allow low-risk tools or Allow all tools, where offered. Claude has its own connector and tool permissions. These belong to the AI clients, not GWC Bridge; GWC has no working four-level tool-approval selector or shared approval cards. Older desktop builds may still display a read-only legacy level.
To change this, open Customize, then Connectors, select GWC Bridge and review Tool permissions. Each tool can be set to Always allow, Needs approval or Blocked. You can also turn GWC Bridge on or off for one conversation from the + button in the chat, under Connectors.
Claude's tool confirmations do not expand the computer's shared folders, enabled capabilities or protected-file safeguards. Configure those restrictions on the computer, not in the sign-in flow.
GWC Bridge
GWC for Web and GWC Connect show GWC Cloud sync and linked-computer status, including online/offline, registration, last seen and host activity. Computer cards can be expanded for details, and inactive computers can be removed. These pages are for monitoring and removal, not changing Bridge access.
Register a new computer and control Bridge On/Off on that computer in GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code. Some current desktop builds only show ChatGPT/Claude access as status, not independent On/Off switches. If separate controls are unavailable, review or revoke each app's OAuth grant under Settings → Connected apps. Check the desktop's actual state before relying on a change; switching off does not guarantee that work already running stops, and switching on cannot wake an offline computer.
The computer's Bridge switch, shared-folder policy, enabled capabilities and independent protected-file and process checks limit local access. OAuth scopes identify the connector; they are not extra folder or tool choices at sign-in. AI-app tool approvals remain in ChatGPT or Claude. Commands and agent tasks run with the operating-system user's rights and may affect data outside shared folders; AI-client approvals do not sandbox them.
What Claude can do
These are the tools supported by GWC Bridge. What Claude can use depends on the computer's current restrictions and Claude's tool permissions. You cannot choose individual capabilities during GWC sign-in.
Computers and connection status
Find your computers and shared folders, check that a computer is reachable, view connection status, account information, safe computer settings, recent activity and usage, and read the ready-made workflow prompts.
Files and folders
List files, check file information and read one or several files. With change permission, create folders, write or edit files, copy, move or delete them, and restore items that the file tool can restore.
Documents and images
Read supported documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs and images in bounded forms, and create supported documents when Change files and documents is granted.
Search
Run one-shot searches, or start a temporary search session, page through its results and stop it. Search sessions are bound to this connection and expire.
Commands and programs
Run a command or start an interactive program; list sessions, read output, send input and stop them. Commands and programs run on your computer with your user-account rights, not inside Claude, and can affect the network or anything your account can reach.
System processes
List process details and end one exact eligible process when system-process access is enabled. The computer’s process-identity protection still applies; protected GWC, VS Code and critical processes are refused.
Agent tasks
Start, check and cancel agent tasks using your own Taichu setup. Tasks can change files, run programs and use your configured provider access; cancelling does not reverse completed work or charges.
Computer settings and disconnect
Rename the computer or keep its activity log for longer, never shorter. Disconnect takes the computer offline for GWC Bridge until you reconnect it locally; it does not revoke the connection or shut the computer down.
Feedback
Send a short message you write to GWC. No files, process output or diagnostics are attached.
Approvals and access
Set when ChatGPT asks before using tools in ChatGPT's own Permissions: Always ask, Allow read-only tools, Allow low-risk tools or Allow all tools, where offered. Claude has its own connector and tool permissions. These belong to the AI clients, not GWC Bridge; GWC has no working four-level tool-approval selector or shared approval cards. Older desktop builds may still display a read-only legacy level.
The computer's Bridge switch, shared-folder policy, enabled capabilities and independent protected-file and process checks limit local access. OAuth scopes identify the connector; they are not extra folder or tool choices at sign-in. AI-app tool approvals remain in ChatGPT or Claude. Commands and agent tasks run with the operating-system user's rights and may affect data outside shared folders; AI-client approvals do not sandbox them.
Safety boundaries that still apply
- File and document tools follow the folders shared on your computer and its protected-file rules. These folder rules do not confine commands or agent tasks; GWC sign-in cannot widen them.
- Commands, interactive programs and agent tasks run with your operating-system user permissions. They are not confined to the shared folder and may use the network.
- Protected credential and secret files stay blocked for file tools. Claude cannot change that protection, and it does not guarantee that a command or agent task cannot reach sensitive data.
- Tools that need a computer cannot run while it is offline, and they do not return stored file content as if it were live.
- A tool is refused when its permission, folder, capability or local setting does not allow it, whatever Claude’s confirmation settings are.
- GWC cannot guarantee that a change, command or task proposed by an AI is safe or correct. Keep backups and do not approve actions you do not understand.
Stop, disconnect or revoke access
- Stop sharing a folder: Change the folder policy in GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code. New requests to that folder are refused once the computer confirms the change.
- Revoke the connection on the GWC website: Open Settings → Security → Connected apps in GWC for Web and remove the exact Claude connection. Its future authority is withdrawn; folders on your computer are not deleted.
- Remove GWC Bridge in Claude: Open Customize, then Connectors, and remove GWC Bridge, or run claude mcp remove gwc-bridge in Claude Code.
- Register a new computer and control Bridge On/Off on that computer in GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code. Some current desktop builds only show ChatGPT/Claude access as status, not independent On/Off switches. If separate controls are unavailable, review or revoke each app's OAuth grant under Settings → Connected apps. Check the desktop's actual state before relying on a change; switching off does not guarantee that work already running stops, and switching on cannot wake an offline computer.
- In GWC for Web or GWC Connect, use Remove computer for an inactive computer registration and review its confirmation. Removing it blocks new Bridge access but does not delete files, stop work already running or revoke a separate ChatGPT or Claude connected-app grant. Revoke that grant separately under Settings → Connected apps.
Revoking withdraws future authority. It does not recall information already delivered, undo completed changes, reverse charges or guarantee that every started program has stopped.
Privacy
Shared-folder information uses labels and identifiers, not the full folder path. File contents, command output and process results that you ask for may themselves contain paths or personal information.
For each tool request, GWC relays the inputs and results that tool needs. See the Privacy Policy for storage, retention and international-transfer details.
Successful read-only tools create no activity entry on the computer. The computer’s activity log records actions that change something, with targets and outcomes and never the returned file content. Retention defaults to 30 days; GWC Bridge can lengthen it but not shorten it.
Requested tool inputs and results are sent to Claude and are handled by Anthropic under its own terms and privacy policy. Revoking access cannot recall information already delivered.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Computer offline | Turn on the computer, open GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code, sign in to the right GWC account and make sure Bridge is connected. Wait for the computer-reported state before trying again. |
| Folder not listed | On the intended computer, check All folders or Selected folders and verify the file is shared. Connecting again from Claude does not add local folders; keep existing restrictions. |
| Connect Pass needed | Sign in to the right GWC account, make sure its Connect Pass is active and start the connection again. This message alone does not mean you need another account. |
| Claude keeps asking | In Customize → Connectors → GWC Bridge, inspect Claude's tool approvals. Also check the computer's Bridge switch, folder policy and required prompts. Signing in again does not change the PC's permissions. |
| Permission or capability missing | If access fails, check GWC Cloud sync, the computer's online status and the signed-in account. On the computer check Bridge On/Off, shared folders, enabled capabilities and protected-action prompts; in the AI app check its tool permissions. You can revoke the app connection in Settings → Connected apps, but reconnecting does not offer additional folder or permission choices. |
| Protected file or process refused | Use a non-sensitive file or an eligible process. Blocked access remains blocked; do not try to bypass secret or process-identity protections. |
| Update required | Update GWC Studio or GWC for VS Code on that computer, reopen the desktop app and make sure Bridge reconnects. |
| Command, process or agent task did not run | Check that the computer is online and that the connection has the needed capability, then read the returned error. Disconnect is not a cancellation or undo. |
Ready-made workflows to try
Try one of these five GWC Bridge prompts in Claude, or type your own.
- Check the health of my GWC Bridge connection without changing anything.
- Give me an overview of one of my shared folders without changing anything.
- Find TODO and FIXME notes in one of my shared folders without changing any file.
- Review what GWC Bridge did on my computer recently.
- Help me change a file carefully: show me the exact change first and wait for my confirmation.