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You can use Claude Code even if you’ve never used a terminal before. This guide walks you through opening a terminal, installing Claude Code, and your first interactions.
Don’t want to use the terminal? The Claude Code desktop app lets you skip the terminal entirely. Download it for macOS or Windows, then see the Desktop quickstart to get started.

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macOS and Linux

Follow these three steps to install and start Claude Code from a macOS or Linux terminal.
1

Open a terminal

macOS: Press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight Search, type Terminal, and press Enter.Linux: Open your terminal app. On most distributions, press Ctrl + Alt + T or search for “Terminal” in your application menu.A window will appear with a blinking cursor. This is your terminal, where you type commands.
2

Install Claude Code

Copy this line, paste it into your terminal (Cmd + V on macOS, Ctrl + Shift + V on Linux), and press Enter:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
This downloads and runs the Claude Code installer from claude.ai. You’ll see text scrolling as it works. When it’s done, you’ll see “Claude Code successfully installed!” If you see an error instead, check the troubleshooting section below.
3

Start Claude Code

Type claude and press Enter:
claude
You’ll be prompted to log in with your Claude account. Follow the on-screen instructions. A browser window will open for you to sign in.
4

Start using Claude Code

Once logged in, you can start asking Claude questions about your code or anything else. Claude Code runs entirely in text. You type messages and press Enter to send them. A few things to know:
  • You can’t click on things in the terminal. Use the arrow keys to move around.
  • Press Esc to interrupt Claude if it’s running.
  • Type exit or press Ctrl + C to leave Claude Code.
  • Type /help to see available commands.

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Windows

Follow these four steps to install Git, set up PowerShell, and start Claude Code on Windows.
1

Install Git for Windows

Git is a tool that Claude Code uses internally to track changes to your code. You won’t need to learn Git yourself.If you don’t already have it:
  1. Go to git-scm.com/downloads/win and download the installer
  2. Run the installer. Click Next on each screen to accept the defaults. The installer has many screens, but you don’t need to change anything.
  3. If it asks you to choose an editor, keep the default and click Next.
  4. When you see “Adjusting your PATH environment,” keep the recommended option selected.
Already have Git? You can skip this step. If you’re not sure, install it anyway. Reinstalling won’t cause problems.
2

Open PowerShell

PowerShell is Windows’ built-in terminal for typing commands. It comes pre-installed on every Windows computer.Press Win + X and select Windows PowerShell (or Terminal) from the menu. A window with a blinking cursor will appear. This is where you’ll type commands.
Windows has two command-line programs: PowerShell and CMD. They look similar but use different commands. Make sure you’re in PowerShell for the next step.How to tell which one you’re in:
  • PowerShell: shows PS C:\Users\YourName> at the start of each line
  • CMD: shows C:\Users\YourName> without the PS
3

Install Claude Code

Copy this line, paste it into PowerShell with Ctrl + V or right-click, and press Enter:
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
This downloads and runs the Claude Code installer. irm fetches the file and iex runs it. You’ll see text scrolling as it works. When it’s done, you’ll see “Claude Code successfully installed!” If you see an error instead, check the troubleshooting section below.
If you’re in CMD instead of PowerShell, use this command:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
4

Start Claude Code

Close PowerShell and open a new PowerShell window so it recognizes the newly installed claude command. Then type:
claude
You’ll be prompted to log in with your Claude account. Follow the on-screen instructions. A browser window will open for you to sign in.
5

Start using Claude Code

Once logged in, you can start asking Claude questions about your code or anything else. Claude Code runs entirely in text. You type messages and press Enter to send them. A few things to know:
  • You can’t click on things in the terminal. Use the arrow keys to move around.
  • Press Esc to interrupt Claude if it’s running.
  • Type exit or press Ctrl + C to leave Claude Code.
  • Type /help to see available commands.

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What’s next?

Once you see the Claude Code welcome screen, you’re ready to go. You don’t need to know how to code. Describe what you want in plain English, and Claude writes the code for you.

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Build something

Claude can create projects from a description: 
make me a simple webpage that says hello world
Claude creates the files for you. Double-click the HTML file to open it in your browser.

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Work with files on your computer

Claude can read and organize files you already have: 
look at the screenshots on my Desktop and rename them based on what's in each image

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Ask questions

Claude can explain things, help you learn, or plan out a project: 
I want to build a personal budget tracker. What would I need?
If you don’t have a project yet, that’s fine. Claude can help you start a new one.

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Other ways to use Claude Code

You don’t have to use the terminal. Claude Code is also available in:

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Learn more

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Troubleshooting

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macOS and Linux troubleshooting

If you run into problems installing on macOS or Linux, check these common issues:
If you see command not found: claude after installing, your terminal needs to reload its settings. Close the Terminal window and open a new one, then try claude again.If it still doesn’t work, add the install directory to your PATH. Run the command for your shell:
# Zsh (macOS default)
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

# Bash (Linux default)
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
Then try claude again. For more details, see fix your PATH.
If you see bash: line 1: syntax error near unexpected token '<' or HTML code like <!DOCTYPE html> in your terminal, the install URL returned a web page instead of the installer script.If the page says “App unavailable in region,” Claude Code is not available in your country. See supported countries.Otherwise, try running the command again. If it keeps happening, install with Homebrew instead:
brew install --cask claude-code
For other errors, see the full installation troubleshooting guide.

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Windows troubleshooting

If you run into problems installing on Windows, check these common issues:
You’re in CMD, not PowerShell. Close this window and open PowerShell instead (Win + X then select Windows PowerShell).Alternatively, use the CMD install command:
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
This usually happens on older Windows 10 systems. Run this line first, then retry the install:
[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Git for Windows isn’t installed or Claude Code can’t find it.
  1. If you haven’t installed Git yet, go back to the first step in the Windows section.
  2. If Git is installed but Claude Code can’t find it, tell it where to look: 
    $env:CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH="C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe"
    Then run claude again. If your Git is installed somewhere else, find the path by running: 
    Get-Command git | Select-Object Source
    Look for the Git\bin folder in that path and use it instead.
To make this permanent so you don’t have to set it every time, see configure Git Bash path.
Restart your computer and try again. This usually fixes the problem.If restarting didn’t help, run these commands to add Claude Code to your PATH:
$currentPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', 'User')
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('PATH', "$currentPath;$env:USERPROFILE\.local\bin", 'User')
Close PowerShell, open a new window, and try claude again. See verify your PATH for more details.
For other errors, see the full installation troubleshooting guide.