- Which install route to pick
- The install commands to copy
- PowerShell or CMD: the mix-up that stops most Windows installs
- Check it worked, step by step
- The fix for 'command not found'
- Windows: native or WSL
- Updates: what looks after itself and what doesn't
- My advice for a first install
- Frequently asked questions
To install Claude Code, open a terminal and run Anthropic's native installer: one command on a Mac, Linux or WSL, or one command in Windows PowerShell or CMD. Then open a new terminal window and type claude --version; if it prints a version number followed by (Claude Code), you're done, and if it says the command isn't found, the install folder isn't on your PATH yet.
One thing before you copy anything. As of October 2026, Anthropic's setup page says Claude Code needs a Pro, Max, Ultra, Team, Enterprise or Console account, and the free claude.ai plan doesn't include it. If you're still weighing that up, I've written about what the free Claude plan leaves out. Everything below assumes you've got a paid plan ready to sign in with.
Which install route to pick
Anthropic's quickstart offers four routes. Only one of them looks after its own updates, which is the detail most install guides skip.
| Route | Who it suits | Updates itself? |
|---|---|---|
| Native installer (marked Recommended) | Mac, Linux, WSL and Windows | Yes, in the background |
| Homebrew | Mac users who already install apps with Homebrew | No, you run brew upgrade |
| WinGet | Windows users who already use WinGet | No, you run winget upgrade |
| apt, dnf or apk | Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, RHEL and Alpine | No, updates come with your normal system upgrades |
If you've never opened a terminal, it's the Terminal app on a Mac and PowerShell or Command Prompt on Windows. Anthropic's own terminal guide shows how to open one and paste a command. And if you'd rather never see a command line at all, the Claude Code desktop app is the no-terminal route to the same tool.
The install commands to copy
Paste the line for your system, press Enter, and wait. The install command shows no progress while it downloads, so a quiet window doesn't mean it's stuck.
Mac, Linux or WSL (native installer)
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Windows PowerShell (native installer)
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Windows CMD (native installer)
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
Homebrew (Mac) or WinGet (Windows)
brew install --cask claude-code
winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
On Windows you don't need to run any of these as Administrator. Anthropic's setup page says so plainly, so skip the right-click, Run as administrator habit.
PowerShell or CMD: the mix-up that stops most Windows installs
Windows has two command windows, and each needs its own line. You can tell them apart by the prompt: PowerShell shows PS C:\ at the start, and CMD shows C:\ without the PS. If you paste the wrong one, the error tells you exactly what happened:
| The error you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator | You're in PowerShell but ran the CMD line | Run the PowerShell line instead |
| 'irm' is not recognized as an internal or external command | You're in CMD but ran the PowerShell line | Run the CMD line instead |
Check it worked, step by step
- Wait until the installer finishes and hands the prompt back to you.
- Close that window and open a new terminal window. A window that was already open keeps its old settings.
- Type claude --version and press Enter. A working install prints a version number followed by (Claude Code).
- For a fuller health check, run claude doctor. It prints read-only diagnostics about your install and settings, including warnings with suggested fixes, without starting a session.
- Go to a project folder, type claude, and follow the login prompts in your browser. Once you've signed in, your credentials are stored and you won't be asked again.
The fix for 'command not found'
If installation succeeded but your terminal says claude isn't found or isn't recognized, the install folder isn't on your PATH, which is the list of folders your terminal searches for programs. The native installer puts claude in a hidden .local folder inside your home folder, and it doesn't change PATH itself. It does notice the problem, though: look in its output under Setup notes for a line starting Native installation exists but, followed by the fix for your system.
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Anthropic's troubleshooting page lists the usual reasons the fix still doesn't seem to work:
- The window predates the change. Open a new terminal window. A terminal inside an editor takes its PATH from the editor, so quit and reopen the editor too.
- You only installed the VS Code extension. The extension bundles a private copy of Claude Code for its own chat panel and doesn't add it to PATH. Run the standalone install to use claude from a terminal.
- Claude Desktop got there first. On Windows, an older version of Claude Desktop may register its own Claude.exe that takes priority, so typing claude opens the desktop app instead. Updating Claude Desktop to the latest version fixes it.
Windows: native or WSL
You can run Claude Code straight on Windows or inside WSL, the Linux layer Windows can run. Here's the choice as Anthropic's setup page lays it out:
| Option | Sandboxing | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Native Windows | Not supported | Windows projects and tools |
| WSL 2 | Supported | Linux tools, or when you want sandboxed commands |
| WSL 1 | Not supported | Only if WSL 2 isn't available |
Git for Windows is optional on native Windows. Without it, Claude Code uses PowerShell as its shell, and WSL setups don't need it at all. If you go the WSL route, you install and launch claude inside the WSL terminal, not from PowerShell or CMD.
Updates: what looks after itself and what doesn't
A native install updates itself in the background. Homebrew, WinGet, apt, dnf and apk installs don't, by default, so you'll need to remember to run brew upgrade claude-code or winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode now and then to get new features and security fixes. Running claude doctor shows the result of the last update attempt Claude Code recorded.
Homebrew has a quirk worth knowing. It offers two versions. The claude-code cask tracks the stable channel, which is typically about a week behind and skips releases with major regressions. The claude-code@latest cask gets new versions as soon as they ship. If you install the latest one, upgrade it with brew upgrade claude-code@latest, not the plain name.
For the record, the system requirements as of October 2026: macOS 13.0 or later, Windows 10 1809 or later or Windows Server 2019 or later, Ubuntu 20.04, Debian 10 or Alpine Linux 3.19 or later, 4 GB of RAM or more, an x64 or ARM64 processor, and an internet connection. If you ever uninstall and claude still runs afterwards, you've probably got a second installation or a leftover shortcut from an older installer.
My advice for a first install
I'd use the native installer on every system, and I'd skip Homebrew and WinGet unless you already manage your apps that way. The native install keeps itself current, and the others quietly fall behind until you remember to upgrade them. On Windows, I'd start native and only move to WSL if you need sandboxing or Linux tools. Once claude --version answers, my walkthrough for people who've never written code picks up where this page stops.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I install Claude Code?
Open a terminal and run the native installer command for your system: the curl command on Mac, Linux or WSL, the irm command in Windows PowerShell, or the curl command for Windows CMD. Then open a new window and run claude --version to check it worked.
Can I install Claude Code on the free Claude plan?
You can run the installer, but as of October 2026 Anthropic says Claude Code needs a Pro, Max, Ultra, Team, Enterprise or Console account, and the free claude.ai plan doesn't include Claude Code access.
Why does my terminal say claude is not found after installing?
The install folder isn't on your PATH yet. Open a new terminal window first, then check the installer's Setup notes output, which prints the fix for your system.
Does Claude Code update itself?
A native install updates itself in the background. Homebrew, WinGet, apt, dnf and apk installs don't by default, so you run the upgrade command for that tool yourself.
Do I need Git for Windows to install Claude Code?
No. Git for Windows is optional on native Windows. Without it, Claude Code uses PowerShell as its shell, and WSL setups don't need it.
