Claude Cowork will not open
When you select Cowork in the Claude Desktop app, it does not open and shows an error like Missing HCS services: HNS, vmcompute, vfpext. The Chat tab still works normally. This happens because a Windows feature that Cowork needs, called Virtual Machine Platform, is turned off on your computer.
How to turn it on
Save your work first. This change requires your computer to restart. Save and close everything before you begin.
- Open the Start menu and search for Turn Windows features on or off.
- In the list, check the box next to Virtual Machine Platform.
- Click OK and let Windows download and apply the changes.
- Restart your computer fully (choose Restart, not Shut down).
After it restarts, open Claude again and Cowork should work.
If you cannot complete these steps
If you are asked for an administrator password that you do not have, your account does not have permission to change this setting on its own. Contact the IT Service Desk and we will enable it for you.