Set Up Claude Like a Top 1% User in Four Moves

Most people open Claude and start from zero every time. These four moves are what our members set up on day one, in the order we recommend. Every step links to Anthropic's own help page so you can check the exact menu names, and the plan notes are copied from those pages (checked September 29, 2026).

Account wide instructions that apply to all of your conversations. Anthropic's page says they cover your preferred approaches, common terms, typical scenarios and communication instructions. Available on every plan, Free included.

1. 1In a new chat, paste: Interview me one question at a time about how I work, what I do, and how I like answers written. After eight questions, write a short set of instructions I can paste into my Claude settings.
2. 2Answer the questions, then copy Claude's final instructions.
3. 3Click your initials in the lower left corner, select Settings, and paste the text under Instructions for Claude.

A project keeps its own instructions and files, and they only apply to chats inside that project. Anthropic's personalization page says projects are available to all users and free users can create a maximum of five.

1. 1Create one project per client or goal.
2. 2Add project instructions: who the client is, the tone, and what good work looks like.
3. 3Upload the files Claude should always have for that client (brief, brand notes, past work).

Memory from chats is on by default on the Free, Pro and Max plans. Memory import from another AI provider is available on Free, Pro, Max and Team, on the web and Claude Desktop. Anthropic labels the import experimental: Claude may not always keep every imported memory, and it focuses on work details.

1. 1Check that memory is on in Settings, under Memory.
2. 2Select Start import. Claude shows a ready made export prompt: paste it into your other AI chat and copy the result.
3. 3Paste the result into the import box and click Add to memory, then review the entries.

Google Workspace connectors are available for all users on Claude and Claude Desktop. Claude can search and read email, view your calendar and find availability, and search your Drive. By default Claude asks for your approval before it sends, replies to or forwards an email. On Team and Enterprise, an owner has to enable the connectors first.

1. 1Click the plus sign in the chat box and hover over Connectors.
2. 2Toggle on Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Drive, and sign in with your Google account.
3. 3Ask a real question, for example: what did my biggest client email me about this week, and when am I free to reply?

1. 1Settings, Instructions for Claude: paste the profile Claude wrote after interviewing you.
2. 2Projects: one per client, with its own instructions and files.
3. 3Settings, Memory: keep it on, then Start import.
4. 4Plus sign, Connectors: toggle on Gmail, Calendar and Drive.