How to Install Claude Code on Windows and Mac: One Command, Login, First Launch

In one line: Claude Code no longer needs Node.js or npm. The recommended native install is one pasted command: on Mac, curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash; on Windows PowerShell, irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex. Then open a new terminal window, run claude --version to confirm, and run claude to log in through the browser.

Keywords: install Claude Code, Claude Code Windows, Claude Code Mac, claude command not found, install.sh, install.ps1, Git for Windows, claude —version, claude doctor

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What is Claude Code? Know it before you install it

Claude on the web is a chat in your browser. Claude Code puts the same Claude inside your terminal: it can read files in your folder, edit them, and run commands to take a task from start to finish.

Duck’s note: Web Claude is like photographing a document and asking a consultant over the phone. Claude Code is the consultant sitting at your computer, seeing your folder and able to make the changes. More power means a bit more care on first use. We’ll flag that in the first-launch step.

New to terminals? Spend 10 minutes on What is a CLI? first. Optional: every step here says which window to open and what to paste.

💡 Rather avoid the terminal? Anthropic also offers a Claude desktop app (Mac and Windows) that can run Claude Code with a graphical interface. This article covers the terminal version because it is the most universal.

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Before you start: three checks

Item	Requirement
OS	macOS 13+; Windows 10 (1809)+ or Windows Server 2019+; Ubuntu 20.04+/Debian 10+
Hardware	4 GB+ RAM, x64 or ARM64 processor (any recent Mac or Windows PC qualifies)
Account	A paid Claude Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise plan, or an Anthropic Console (API) account. The free claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code

You also need an internet connection and to be in an Anthropic supported country/region.

⚠️ The account is the step people skip, then get blocked after installing. If you don’t have a plan yet, see How to set up a Claude Team plan or check claude.ai. Plan prices change, so check the official site. We don’t list prices here.

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Which install method?

Your situation	Recommendation
Most people (Mac/Windows/Linux)	✅ Native install (one command, auto-updates), the main path here
Mac user who likes Homebrew	brew install --cask claude-code (no auto-update)
Windows user who likes WinGet	winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode (no auto-update)
Need a Linux toolchain or sandboxing	Install inside WSL 2 (see the end)

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Mac install (about 3 minutes)

Step 1: Open Terminal

Press ⌘ + Space, type Terminal, press Enter.

Step 2: Paste the install command

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

It shows no download progress, so it can look stuck. That’s normal. Wait until you get your prompt back.

Step 3: Open a new window and check the version

Close this terminal and open a new one so the PATH is reloaded, then run:

claude --version

A version like 2.1.211 (Claude Code) means it worked (your number will differ, since versions update constantly).

Prefer Homebrew?

brew install --cask claude-code

There are two casks: claude-code (stable, typically about a week behind and skipping releases with major regressions) and claude-code@latest (new versions immediately). Homebrew installs do not auto-update; run brew upgrade claude-code yourself.

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Windows install (about 5 minutes)

Windows has two similar-looking windows: PowerShell and CMD. Their commands differ, and pasting the wrong one errors out. How to tell:

• Prompt looks like PS C:\Users\YourName> → PowerShell
• Prompt looks like C:\Users\YourName> (no PS) → CMD

We recommend PowerShell. You do not need to run as Administrator.

Step 1: Open PowerShell

Press the Windows key, type PowerShell, press Enter.

Step 2: Paste the install command

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

Again, no progress is shown. Wait for the PS C:\...> prompt to return.

In CMD, paste this instead:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd

Step 3: Open a new window and check the version

Close PowerShell, open a new window, and run:

claude --version

Seeing 2.1.xxx (Claude Code) means success.

Do you need Git for Windows?

Optional, not required.

• Without it: Claude Code uses PowerShell as its command-running tool and works fine.
• With it: Claude Code can use Git Bash, which is better supported. If you already use Git/GitHub (see What is Git?), installing it costs nothing.

If Git is installed but Claude Code can’t find Git Bash, set the path in settings.json:

{
  "env": {
    "CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\bin\\bash.exe"
  }
}

Prefer WinGet?

winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode

WinGet installs do not auto-update; run winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode periodically.

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Log in (same on Mac and Windows)

Step 1: Go to your project folder and run claude

Use cd to enter the folder you want Claude to work in (e.g. cd ~/Documents/my-project; on Windows cd C:\Users\YourName\Documents\my-project), then:

claude

Step 2: Follow the browser prompt

On first launch you choose a login method. It usually opens your browser: sign in to claude.ai with the account that has the subscription and approve. Back in the terminal you’ll see Claude Code’s interactive screen.

If the browser doesn’t open, the terminal usually prints a URL. Copy it into your browser manually.

Step 3: Claude asks whether you trust this folder

This is a safety mechanism: since Claude Code can read, write, and run commands, it asks before working in a new folder.

Only trust your own project folders. Don’t trust Downloads, your Desktop, or a project from a stranger.

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Health check: claude doctor

claude doctor

It prints install health, settings errors, and auto-update status with suggested fixes. It is read-only and doesn’t start a session.

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🚨 Common errors

🚨 claude: command not found / “claude is not recognized”

Cause: the install worked, but your terminal hasn’t picked up the new PATH. Fix:

1. Close all terminals and open a new one, then retry claude --version. This fixes most cases.
2. Still failing means the install directory isn’t on your PATH. Follow the official Troubleshoot installation and login.

🚨 The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator (Windows)

Cause: you pasted the CMD command into PowerShell. Fix: in PowerShell use irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex.

🚨 'irm' is not recognized as an internal or external command (Windows)

Cause: the reverse, a PowerShell command pasted into CMD. Fix: use the CMD curl ... install.cmd line, or open PowerShell.

🚨 syntax error near unexpected token '<' or 403 (Mac)

Cause: you downloaded an error page instead of the script. Common behind corporate networks, VPNs, or proxies, or in an unsupported region. Fix: try another network (e.g. phone hotspot); if it still fails, match your error in the official troubleshooting page.

🚨 Installed, but login says I lack access

Cause: the free claude.ai plan doesn’t include Claude Code. Fix: log in with a Pro/Max/Team/Enterprise account, or a Console (API) account. If you were invited to a team, see How to join a Claude Team for switching accounts.

🚨 You previously installed with npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

npm is now a secondary option (needs Node.js 22+). If it works, leave it. To switch to the native installer, first npm uninstall -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code, then run the one-line command above, so you don’t end up with two claude installs.

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Updating and uninstalling

• Update: native installs auto-update in the background; the new version applies next launch. Run claude update to update right away. Homebrew/WinGet need manual updates.
• Uninstall (native):
  • Mac: rm -f ~/.local/bin/claude and rm -rf ~/.local/share/claude
  • Windows (PowerShell): Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin\claude.exe" -Force and Remove-Item -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.local\share\claude" -Recurse -Force
• ⚠️ Settings and history live in ~/.claude; the commands above don’t touch it. Delete it separately only if you want everything gone. It can’t be recovered.

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Advanced: install in WSL 2 on Windows

If your project uses a Linux toolchain, or you want Claude Code’s sandboxing (not supported on native Windows, supported on WSL 2), install inside WSL. Set up WSL via What is WSL?, then paste the Mac/Linux curl ... | bash line inside the WSL terminal, and run claude from there, not from PowerShell.

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Next step: one thing to do tomorrow

1. Install, and confirm claude --version shows a version.
2. In a test folder you’re fine with it touching (copy a backup first), run claude and ask: “List the files in this folder and describe each in one sentence.”
3. Keep it read-only at first. Get used to how it answers and asks permission before handing it edits.

For team use, continue with How to set up a Claude Team plan.