How to Install Claude Code: Complete Setup Guide

Get Claude Code running on your computer in under 10 minutes. Works on Mac, Windows (WSL), and Linux.

To install Claude Code, run Anthropic's native installer from your terminal -- one command on Mac, Linux, or Windows -- and you'll be up and running in under five minutes with no Node.js required. You just need a Claude subscription (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise) or an Anthropic API key.

Jump to your section: Native Installer (Recommended) · Mac · Windows · Linux · Legacy npm Install

Prerequisites

Before installing Claude Code, you need:

1. A computer running macOS, Linux, or Windows (Windows now works natively — WSL is optional)
2. A Claude subscription (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise) or Anthropic API key

That's it. The native installer handles everything else — no Node.js required.

Native Installer (Recommended)

As of late 2025, Anthropic's native installer is the recommended way to install Claude Code on all platforms. It's simpler, more stable, and doesn't require Node.js or npm.

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

brew install --cask claude-code

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

After installation, verify it worked:

claude --version

The native installer handles updates automatically in the background, so you'll always have the latest version.

Install Claude Code on Mac (Alternative: npm)

If you prefer the npm method or the native installer didn't work, you can still install via Node.js. You'll need to install Node.js first, then Claude Code itself.

brew install node

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

sudo chown -R $(whoami) $(npm config get prefix)/{lib/node_modules,bin,share}

Install Claude Code on Windows (Alternative Methods)

The native installer (covered above) now lets you run Claude Code directly in PowerShell — no WSL needed. But if you prefer WSL for a full Linux environment, or if you need WSL for other development work, here's the WSL approach:

wsl --install

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Install Claude Code on Linux (Alternative: npm)

If you prefer npm over the native installer, here are instructions for common distributions.

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

curl -fsSL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo bash -
sudo dnf install -y nodejs

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Verify Installation

On any platform, verify your installation by running:

node --version

You should see v18.x.x or higher.

Authenticate Claude Code

Claude Code needs to connect to your Claude account. You have two options:

claude

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

Run Your First Command

Let's verify everything works. Open your terminal and run:

claude

You should see Claude Code's interactive prompt. Try a simple task:

You: What files are in my current directory?

Claude Code will list the files in your current folder, confirming it can read your filesystem.

Want to see what's possible? Get the CAIO Blueprint using only plain English — no code, no templates, just describing what I want.

IDE Integration (Optional)

Claude Code also integrates directly with popular IDEs. If you prefer working inside an editor rather than a standalone terminal:

• VS Code: Install the official Claude Code extension from the VS Code Marketplace. It provides a native graphical interface, diff viewers, and the ability to @-mention files with line ranges.
• JetBrains IDEs: Install the Claude Code [Beta] plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace. It runs the CLI inside your IDE's terminal and uses the built-in diff viewer for code review.

Both IDE integrations use the same Claude Code installation underneath, so set up the CLI first, then add the IDE extension if you want it.

Quick Tips for Getting Started

Start Simple

Your first few tasks should be low-stakes. Try things like:

• "Create a new folder called 'test' and add a file called hello.txt with 'Hello World' inside"
• "List all the .txt files in this directory"
• "Read the contents of [some file] and summarize it"

Be Specific

Claude Code works best with clear, specific instructions. Instead of "organize my files," try "move all .jpg files from Downloads to a new folder called Photos, organized by year based on the file's creation date."

Approve Carefully

Claude Code asks for permission before running terminal commands or writing files. Read what it's about to do before approving, especially when you're learning.

Use /help

Type /help in the Claude Code prompt to see available commands and options.

Troubleshooting

"command not found: claude"

The npm global bin directory isn't in your PATH. Try:

export PATH="$PATH:$(npm config get prefix)/bin"

Add this line to your shell config file to make it permanent.

"Unauthorized" or authentication errors

Your API key may be invalid or expired. Double-check it at console.anthropic.com.

WSL-specific issues

If you installed via WSL, make sure you're running Claude Code inside WSL, not in PowerShell or CMD. Open Ubuntu (or your WSL distro) from the Start menu. Alternatively, use the native Windows installer to avoid WSL entirely.

What's Next?

Now that Claude Code is installed, you're ready to start building. Check out:

• Claude Code Tutorial for Beginners — your first real project
• 25 Useful Claude Code Prompts — ready-to-use examples
• What Is Claude Code? — understand what makes it different
• Claude Code Pricing Guide — understand the costs
• Claude Code for Non-Coders — if you're not a programmer