Web Search

What it is

Web search lets Claude pull real-time information from the open internet into its answer. When it’s on, Claude will run searches, read pages, and cite the sources in its response. It works with the current Claude models (Opus 4.7, Sonnet 4.6, Haiku 4.5).

Web search also unlocks web fetch — paste a URL and Claude can pull the page directly into context.

Where to find it

On desktop

In any chat, click the tools slider icon in the composer and toggle Web search on.
On Team/Enterprise plans, an Owner first has to enable it for the workspace under Admin → Capabilities.

On the web

Same toggle in the composer.
Admin enablement lives in the workspace admin area for Team/Enterprise.

How to use it

Toggle Web search on from the composer tools menu.
Ask your question. If you want to force a search, include “search the web” in your prompt.
Claude shows a search indicator while it looks things up.
The response includes inline citations — click through to verify.

Fetch a specific URL

Paste a link into the composer with your question. Claude retrieves the page and reads it. For long articles, the entire page loads into context, which eats into usage — worth knowing on free plans.

Good to know

Every response cites sources. Cross-reference anything important.
Image results come free. Web search includes Bing image search, so Claude can show relevant images alongside text.
Free plans have daily limits. Turn web search off when you don’t need it — toggling it for a simple question can burn through your cap faster than you’d expect.
It’s per-chat. The toggle state sticks to the chat you’re in.

What’s changed recently

2026-04-18 — Page created from official help-center article.