ClaudeFS extension links claude.ai to local folders, no setup needed

ClaudeFS is a browser extension built on Manifest V3, compatible with Chrome and Edge, that bridges the gap between a user's local file system and claude.ai. Installation varies by browser: Edge users can download it directly from the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store (the recommended path), while Chrome users can clone or download the project repository and load the src/ folder in Developer mode — notably, there is no build step required. A Chrome Web Store listing is currently under review.

Usage is straightforward. After opening claude.ai, users click a connect button at the bottom right of the page and select a local folder to authorize. Once a folder is linked, Claude can read, search, and edit files within it directly in the conversation. Users simply ask Claude to perform file operations ("read xx file", for example). The extension functions with the free claude.ai plan; no paid subscription is necessary.

Privacy and security are built into the design. All file operations occur locally within the browser; the extension itself transmits nothing to any external server. When Claude reads a file via the extension, that content flows only into the user's conversation — identical to manually pasting or uploading the file. The folder reference is stored only in the browser's IndexedDB local storage. For write operations (write, edit, move, delete), the extension displays a diff confirmation dialog before any change touches the user's disk, giving the user a chance to review and approve the action. The project is open-source under the MIT license and is independent; it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic.

ClaudeFS addresses a common friction point in AI workflows: the need to manually copy-paste or upload files to Claude when you want it to work with local content. By using the browser's native File System Access API, the extension avoids requiring a local daemon process, desktop application, or API credentials — all barriers for casual users. The design is intentionally minimal: one-time folder authorization, then natural conversation with Claude.

The privacy and safety model is explicit. File operations never leave the browser; the extension sends nothing to any server, and Claude receives only what you share in the conversation itself. Write operations (edit, delete, move) are gated behind a diff confirmation dialog, ensuring the user always retains control and sees what Claude is about to change before it happens. This mirrors the access model of uploading files to claude.ai directly.

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