Installing Claude Code

One command to install

The entire installation is a single command you copy, paste, and run. No special software needed beforehand, no setup wizard, no ten-step process. One line. A minute of waiting. Done.

Here's how it works on each system.

Heads up: You'll need macOS 13 (Ventura) or later, Windows 10 version 1809 or later, or a recent Linux distribution. If your computer is from the last five or six years, you're almost certainly fine.

On a Mac or Linux

Open your terminal (the same way you learned on the previous page) and type this:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

Press Enter.

You'll see a progress indicator as it downloads and installs. When it finishes, you'll get a confirmation message.

That's the whole installation.

Plain language: What does that command actually do? curl is a built-in tool that downloads files from the internet. The rest of the line tells it to download the Claude Code installer from Anthropic's website and run it. You don't need to remember this command — you'll only run it once.

If the terminal says command not found after installation, close the terminal window completely and open a new one. This refreshes the terminal so it knows Claude Code is available.

On Windows

Open PowerShell (press the Windows key, type PowerShell, click Windows PowerShell) and type:

irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Press Enter.

Like the Mac command, this downloads the installer and runs it automatically. Wait for the confirmation message.

After it finishes, close PowerShell completely and open a new window. This step is required on Windows — the terminal won't recognize the claude command until you reopen it.

Heads up: Windows also needs a tool called Git for Windows installed on your machine. If the installer doesn't set this up for you automatically, go to git-scm.com/download/win, download the installer, and run it with the default settings. This gives Claude Code a behind-the-scenes component it needs to work properly. You won't interact with Git directly.

Checking that it worked

After installing and reopening your terminal, check that everything worked by typing:

claude --version

You should see a version number, something like:

claude v2.1.34

The exact number doesn't matter. If you see a version, the installation worked.

If you see command not found instead, try these fixes in order:

1. Close and reopen your terminal. This is the most common fix.
2. Run the install command again. Sometimes the first attempt doesn't finish cleanly.
3. Run claude doctor. This is a built-in diagnostic tool (more on this in a moment).

Setting up your account

Claude Code is installed, but it needs to know who you are. This requires an Anthropic account with a paid plan.

What you need

Claude Code is not free. You'll need one of these:

• Claude Pro — $20 per month ($17/month if you pay annually). This is what most people start with. It includes Claude Code, plus the regular Claude.ai web chat and the desktop app.
• Claude Max — $100 or $200 per month, for heavier usage. You won't need this starting out.
• API credits — Pay-as-you-go through Anthropic's developer website. More flexible, but the setup is aimed at developers. Stick with Pro unless someone has told you otherwise.

If you already have a Claude Pro or Max subscription (the same one you might use for Claude.ai web chat), you're set. Claude Code uses that same account.

If you don't have an account yet, go to claude.ai, sign up, and choose the Pro plan.

Heads up: Claude Code uses the same subscription balance as Claude.ai web chat and the Claude desktop app. If you've been having long conversations on the web, you might have less capacity available for Claude Code. Usage resets every five hours.

Connecting your account

You don't enter a password or API key into the terminal. Instead, Claude Code opens your web browser for authentication.

Here's what happens:

1. Type claude in the terminal and press Enter.
2. Claude Code starts and asks how you'd like to sign in.
3. Select Claude account with subscription (the first option).
4. Your web browser opens to an Anthropic login page.
5. Sign in (or confirm) in the browser.
6. Switch back to the terminal — Claude Code now knows who you are.

This sign-in is a one-time step. Claude Code remembers you, so you won't need to do it every time.

The first-launch experience

The very first time Claude Code starts, it walks you through a few quick setup steps. Here's what to expect so nothing catches you off guard.

1. Choose a text style. Claude Code asks how you want its interface to look. Pick whichever appeals to you — this is cosmetic and you can change it later.
2. Authenticate. This is the browser sign-in described above.
3. Security notice. Claude Code shows a brief note about security. Read it and press Enter to continue. The gist: Claude Code can read and edit files on your computer, so only run it in folders you trust.
4. Trust this folder. Claude Code asks whether you trust the current folder. It wants to confirm you're comfortable with it accessing files here. Say yes.

After that, you'll see the main Claude Code interface: a text area where you type your instructions, like a chat window but inside the terminal.

You only go through this setup once. From then on, typing claude opens the interface directly.

If something goes wrong

Most installations go smoothly. But if yours doesn't, Claude Code has a built-in diagnostic tool.

Type this in your terminal:

claude doctor

It checks your installation, your connection, and your version. If something is misconfigured, it tells you what's wrong and usually suggests how to fix it.

Common issues and fixes

If none of these help, run claude doctor and share its output with a tech-savvy colleague, IT support, or the Claude Code community. It gives them the details they need to help you.

What about other ways to run Claude Code?

You might hear that Claude Code also works inside other apps — VS Code, the Claude desktop app, or on the web. That's true. But the terminal version is the best starting point. It works on every computer, and there's nothing between you and Claude Code — no extra menus, no plugin to configure.

Once you're comfortable here, those other options are easy to pick up. For now, you have everything you need.

What you've accomplished

A few pages ago, you'd never opened the terminal. Now Claude Code is installed, connected to your account, and ready to work with your files.

The unfamiliar parts — the terminal, the setup — are behind you. From here on, you're just having conversations.

Next up: actually talking to Claude Code and getting it to do something useful.