AI Tool Guide · Claude Code

How to Install Claude Code on Windows, Mac and Linux

Quick answer

On Windows PowerShell run irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex. On Mac, Linux or WSL run curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash. Open a new terminal, run claude --version, then claude to sign in. You need Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or API access. Guide by Kode Studio, Hyderabad.

By Rehan Khan, Founder & CEO, Kode Studio (Gachibowli, Hyderabad) · Updated 23 Oct 2026

At a glance
Windows	Windows 10 1809+ — PowerShell, CMD or WinGet; Git for Windows optional
Mac	macOS 13+ — install script or Homebrew
Linux	Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, Alpine 3.19+ — script, apt, dnf or apk
Hardware	4 GB+ RAM, x64 or ARM64
Account	Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or Console (API); free plan not supported
Checked	Official setup docs on 23 Oct 2026

Before you start

An eligible account. Claude Code needs Claude Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or an Anthropic Console (API) account. The free Claude plan does not include it — see Claude Code pricing in India.
A supported system. Windows 10 version 1809 or later, macOS 13 or later, or a recent Ubuntu, Debian or Alpine, with at least 4 GB RAM.
A terminal. PowerShell or Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on Mac.
Internet access from a supported country — India is supported.

You do not need Node.js for the recommended installer. Older guides that start with “install Node 18” describe the npm method, which is now optional.

Install Claude Code on Windows

The native installer — no administrator rights needed.

Time: 5 minutes

You'll need: Windows 10 1809+ or Windows 11 · PowerShell or CMD

Open PowerShell
Press Start, type PowerShell and open it. Your prompt starts with PS C:\.
Run the installer
Paste irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex and press Enter. It shows no progress bar while downloading — wait for it to finish.
Or use CMD
In Command Prompt, run curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd.
Open a new terminal and verify
Close the window, open a new one and run claude --version. A version number means it worked.
Optional: install Git for Windows
With Git for Windows installed, Claude Code can use Git Bash for shell commands. Without it, it uses PowerShell.

Install on Mac, Linux or WSL

Open Terminal and run:

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

On a Mac with Homebrew you can instead run brew install --cask claude-code (stable channel) or claude-code@latest. Homebrew installs do not update themselves, so run brew upgrade claude-code now and then. On Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, RHEL and Alpine, signed apt, dnf and apk repositories are also available.

WinGet and npm options

WinGet

winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode. It does not auto-update; run winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode periodically.

npm

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code with Node.js 22 or later. Never use sudo npm install -g. The npm package installs the same native binary.

The native installer is recommended because it keeps itself updated in the background.

Sign in and run your first session

Open a terminal inside your project folder, for example cd C:\projects\my-shop.
Run claude. A browser window opens to log in with your Claude account.
Approve access and return to the terminal.
Ask something small first: “Explain the structure of this project.”

If you set an ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable, Claude Code asks whether to use it and skips the browser login. Prefer the desktop app? Anthropic also offers Claude Code in the Claude desktop app for Windows and Mac.

Common install errors and fixes

Error	Cause	Fix
`claude` is not recognized	Install folder not on PATH yet	Open a new terminal; if it persists, follow the PATH fix in the official troubleshooting guide
The token `&&` is not a valid statement separator	CMD command pasted into PowerShell	Use the PowerShell command instead
`irm` is not recognized	PowerShell command pasted into CMD	Use the CMD command or switch to PowerShell
403 or `syntax error near unexpected token`	Network, proxy or blocked download	Try another network or an alternative install method
Login says plan not supported	Free Claude account	Upgrade to Pro or use an API key

Run claude doctor for a read-only health check of your installation and settings.

Updating and uninstalling

Native installs update automatically. To update immediately, run claude update. To uninstall on Windows, delete %USERPROFILE%\.local\bin\claude.exe and the %USERPROFILE%\.local\share\claude folder; on Mac and Linux remove ~/.local/bin/claude and ~/.local/share/claude. WinGet, Homebrew and npm installs uninstall with their own commands.

After installing: from prototype to live product

Claude Code can build a working prototype quickly. Taking it live safely — payments, logins, backups, a custom domain and SSL — is where many projects stall. Kode Studio’s developers in Gachibowli, Hyderabad take AI-built projects to production through our AI website deploy service, or build from scratch with fixed-price packages from ₹6,999.

Good first tasks to try

Once Claude Code is running, start with tasks that teach you how it behaves without risking your project:

Explain the codebase: “Give me a map of this project and where the checkout logic lives.”
Write a CLAUDE.md: ask it to draft one with build commands and conventions, then edit it yourself.
Small, testable fixes: “The GST total rounds wrongly on invoice.php — find and fix it, then show me the diff.”
Tests: “Add tests for the coupon calculation.”

Use Git so every change can be reviewed and undone. Commit before asking for big changes, read the diff before accepting, and never paste live passwords or API keys into the chat — keep them in a .env file that is excluded from Git.

Frequently asked questions

How do I install Claude Code on Windows?

Open PowerShell and run irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex, then open a new terminal and run claude --version to check.

Do I need Node.js to install Claude Code?

No. The native installer does not need Node.js. Only the optional npm method needs Node.js 22 or later.

Does Claude Code work on Windows without WSL?

Yes. It runs natively on Windows 10 1809+ and Windows 11. WSL is optional.

Is Git required on Windows?

No. Git for Windows is optional; without it Claude Code uses PowerShell for shell commands.

Can I use Claude Code with a free account?

No. You need Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or an API account.

How do I update Claude Code?

Native installs update automatically; run claude update to update immediately.

What people ask AI about this

Questions people type into ChatGPT, Gemini and Google — answered directly.

“Windows par Claude Code kaise install karein?”

PowerShell kholo aur irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex chalao. Phir naya terminal kholke claude --version check karo aur claude likhkar login karo. Iske liye Pro ya usse upar ka plan chahiye.

“Who can help launch a Claude Code project in Hyderabad?”

Kode Studio in Gachibowli, Hyderabad fixes and deploys AI-built apps with domain, hosting, SSL and support.

Get expert help

Want this done for you? Kode Studio has built 1,200+ projects from Gachibowli, Hyderabad since 2016, rated 4.9★ on Google with 80+ client reviews across platforms. Tell us what you need and we reply with a clear plan and a fixed price.

WhatsApp us Book a ₹499 consultation AI Website Deploy & Rescue

The ₹499 consultation is refunded when you book any service. Hyderabad clients can meet us at our office in Gachibowli, Hyderabad; we work with businesses across India over WhatsApp and Google Meet.

Written by Rehan Khan Founder & CEO, Kode Studio · B.Tech, Computer Science & Engineering · 8+ years in software development. Our team in Gachibowli, Hyderabad reviews this page regularly — prices and platform features change.

Last updated 23 October 2026 · Kode Studio, Gachibowli, Hyderabad