---
title: "Deploying a shared workspace"
description: "Launch a cloud worker in OpenWork Cloud and open it from the desktop app"
---

OpenWork Cloud currently labels shared workers as `Shared Workspaces` in the web dashboard. Once the workspace is ready, the desktop app opens it through the normal remote connect flow.

## Deploy the shared workspace

1. Open your org dashboard and go to `Shared Workspace`.
2. Click `Add workspace`.
3. Wait until the status becomes `Ready`.
4. Click `Connect`.

From the connection drawer you can choose `Open in desktop`, `Open in web`, or copy the `Connection URL` plus `Owner token` / `Client token`.

## Open it from the desktop app

You can open Cloud-hosted workspaces from either place:

1. `Add workspace -> Shared workspaces`
2. `Settings -> Cloud -> Cloud workers`

Choose the right org, wait for the workspace to be `Ready`, then click `Connect` or `Open`.

## When to use this flow

Use a shared workspace when your team needs a hosted OpenWork runtime, a stable place for long-running tasks or messaging connectors, or one workspace that several people can open from the same org.

## Notes

- This area is currently marked `Alpha` in the Cloud dashboard.
- A workspace must be `Ready` before the desktop app can open it.
- OpenWork Cloud plan limits apply to hosted workspaces.
- If you prefer to self-host, the desktop [Get Started](/start-here/get-started) guide still works with `openwork-orchestrator`.
