System requirements
- OS: macOS 13.0+, Windows 10 1809+ or Windows Server 2019+, Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, Alpine Linux 3.19+.
- Hardware: 4 GB+ RAM, x64 or ARM64 CPU.
- Shell: Bash, Zsh, PowerShell or CMD.
- An internet connection and a location in an Anthropic supported country.
- An account: Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or Console. The free claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code.
The recommended installer does not need Node.js.
Claude Code install commands
The native installer is the recommended route, and it keeps itself updated in the background.
macOS, Linux, WSL:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Windows PowerShell (your prompt shows PS C:\):
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Windows CMD:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
The installer shows no progress while it downloads; that is expected. Then open a new terminal window and check:
claude --version
If the shell says claude is not found, the install folder is not on your PATH yet. The error The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator means you are in PowerShell running the CMD command.
Homebrew, WinGet, npm and Linux packages
MethodCommandUpdatesHomebrewbrew install --cask claude-codemanual: brew upgrade claude-codeWinGetwinget install Anthropic.ClaudeCodemanual: winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCodenpmnpm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-codenpm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latestapt, dnf, apksigned Anthropic repositoriesthrough your system package managerHomebrew has two casks: claude-code follows the stable channel (usually a week behind, skipping releases with major regressions) and claude-code@latest gets every release right away. The npm package needs Node.js 22 or later, and the docs warn against sudo npm install -g because of permission and security problems. Full apt, dnf and apk steps with key verification are on the setup page.
Installing Claude Code on Windows
You can run it natively or inside WSL. The native install needs no admin rights and runs from PowerShell or CMD. Git for Windows is optional but useful: with it, Claude Code runs commands through Git Bash; without it, through PowerShell.
Choose WSL 2 if your project lives in a Linux toolchain or you want sandboxed command execution, which only WSL 2 supports. In WSL you install with the Linux command and launch claude from the WSL terminal, not from PowerShell.
First run and login
Open a terminal in your project folder and run:
claude
The first run opens a browser to log in. An API key works too: if ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is set and you approve it, the browser login is skipped. Claude Code also runs through Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud and Microsoft Foundry.
claude doctor checks the install and settings without starting a session. claude update updates on demand. If you value stability over new features, switch the update channel to stable in /config.
Next steps: add a CLAUDE.md to the project (/init drafts one), install the skills you need and, if the agent needs outside services, MCP servers.
Claude vs Claude Code: what is the difference?
Claude is the chat assistant on claude.ai and in the desktop and mobile apps. You ask, it answers, and it can create files and run code in its own sandbox. Claude Code is a coding agent that works inside your project: it reads and edits files on disk and runs tests, git and other terminal commands with your permission.
Claude Code lives in the terminal, but there are graphical options too: a VS Code extension, a JetBrains plugin and the Claude Desktop app, which runs Claude Code without a terminal. Skills do not sync between claude.ai and Claude Code.
