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Claude Code Installation

Install Claude Code in two minutes on Windows, macOS, or Linux. Native installers, Homebrew, and npm paths with verify steps, no Node.js required on native.

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speedy_devvWritten by speedy_devvPublished Feb 5, 2026Handbook hubStart here index

Problem: You want to install Claude Code but are not sure where to start. Here is the shortest path from zero to a working AI terminal.

How to Install Claude Code: Quick Start

Anthropic now ships native installers as the recommended method. No Node.js needed:

Windows PowerShell (Recommended):

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

macOS / Linux:

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

Homebrew (macOS/Linux):

brew install --cask claude-code

Run claude --version to confirm. Success looks like: a version number prints without errors.

Step-by-Step: Install Claude Code on Any Platform

Before you install Claude Code, check that you have:

  1. Terminal access (Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Bash)
  2. An Anthropic API key from console.anthropic.com
  3. Node.js 18+ (only if you plan to install via npm)

Install Claude Code on Windows

Windows supports a few install paths. Pick the one that fits your workflow:

Option 1: Native Windows (Recommended)

# PowerShell (Run as Administrator)
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
claude --version

Option 2: Git Bash

Install Git for Windows, then:

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

Option 3: WSL (Ubuntu)

# Install WSL if needed (PowerShell as Administrator)
wsl --install -d Ubuntu
 
# Inside Ubuntu terminal
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
claude --version

Windows users: the native installer no longer needs Node.js. On WSL, run Claude Code from your Linux terminal.

Install Claude Code on macOS

Option 1: Homebrew (Recommended)

brew install --cask claude-code
claude --version

Option 2: Native Installer

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

Option 3: npm (if you prefer Node.js)

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
 
# If you see "command not found", fix PATH:
echo 'export PATH="$(npm config get prefix)/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc
claude --version

Install Claude Code on Linux

Option 1: Native Installer (Recommended)

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

Option 2: Homebrew

brew install --cask claude-code
claude --version

Option 3: npm (requires Node.js 18+)

# Create user npm directory (prevents sudo requirements)
mkdir ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
 
# Install Claude Code
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
claude --version

Configure Your API Key

Once the install succeeds, set up authentication:

claude
# Paste your API key when prompted

Get your API key: open console.anthropic.com, create an account, go to API Keys, and generate a new key starting with sk-.

Verify Your Installation

Test your Claude Code setup:

claude --version    # Shows version number
claude doctor       # Runs diagnostics

Quick functionality test:

mkdir test-project && cd test-project
echo "console.log('Hello!');" > test.js
claude

In the Claude prompt: "Read test.js and explain it"

Success: Claude reads the file and explains the JavaScript.

Common Errors When You Install Claude Code

Error: "Command Not Found"

Cause: PATH configuration is missing after install

Fix:

which claude    # Check if installed
npm list -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
 
# Add to PATH manually
echo 'export PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/lib/node_modules/@anthropic-ai/claude-code/bin"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Error: "EBADPLATFORM"

Cause: npm install ran on an unsupported platform config

Fix: use the native installer instead of npm:

# Windows PowerShell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Error: "EACCES Permission Denied"

Cause: npm wants sudo (not a safe habit)

Fix: set up a user-level npm directory (see the Linux section above). This works on every platform.

Nuclear Reset (Fixes 95% of Issues)

When nothing else works, reset the whole thing:

npm uninstall -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
rm -rf ~/.claude ~/.npm/_cacache
npm cache clean --force
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
claude --version

What to Do After You Install Claude Code

Once claude --version comes back clean:

  1. Build your first project: First Project Guide
  2. Learn the interface: What is Claude Code
  3. Configure settings: Configuration Basics
  4. Fix common problems: Troubleshooting Guide
  5. See real examples: Examples & Templates

Pro tip: run claude doctor any time something feels broken. It auto-detects most config issues and suggests fixes.

Continue in Start here

  • Your First Claude Code Project
    Build a working CLI task manager with Claude Code in five minutes. Watch the Write, Bash, and Read tools fire in real time, then debug it with a single prompt.
  • How to Build a SaaS with AI in 2026: The Complete Path
    The realistic 2026 path from idea to a live SaaS using AI: the six stages, where AI coding agents actually help, what still needs a human, and how to avoid the security and tech-debt traps that break vibe-coded apps in production.
  • Claude Code Native Installer
    One command installs Claude Code on Windows, macOS, Linux, or WSL. Zero Node.js, zero npm, zero PATH setup. Auto-updates included. Compared to the npm path.
  • What Is Claude Code?
    Anthropic's agentic coding assistant runs in your terminal or IDE, reads your repo and git history, and runs commands with approval. Plan mode, skills, hooks.
  • Ton premier projet Claude Code
    Construis un gestionnaire de tâches CLI fonctionnel avec Claude Code en cinq minutes. Regarde les outils Write, Bash et Read se déclencher en temps réel, puis débogue-le avec un seul prompt.
  • How to Build a SaaS with AI in 2026: The Complete Path
    The realistic 2026 path from idea to a live SaaS using AI: the six stages, where AI coding agents actually help, what still needs a human, and how to avoid the security and tech-debt traps that break vibe-coded apps in production.

More from Handbook

  • Best SaaS Boilerplate 2026: The Honest Comparison
    An honest 2026 roundup of the best SaaS boilerplates and starter kits (ShipFast, Makerkit, Supastarter, SaaS Pegasus, Divjoy, open source), with real pricing, stacks, and the trade-off nobody mentions: a boilerplate still leaves you coding.
  • Claude Code Changelog
    Release-by-release notes for Claude Code from the v0.2 beta through March 2026. Bare mode, Channels permission relay, OAuth fixes, and every breaking change.
  • What It Really Costs to Build a SaaS MVP in 2026
    A buyer's cost breakdown for building a SaaS MVP in 2026. Real freelancer, agency, no-code, AI-tool, and DIY numbers with citations, plus where the money actually goes.
  • Prompt Templates That Ship Code
    Ten prompt recipes that ship code: full-stack scaffolding, APIs, schemas, tests, refactors, debugging, reviews, and CI. Each with failure modes to avoid.

Want the framework behind these builds?

Get the Claude Code system we use to plan, build, test, and ship production software.

See what we build for companies →
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On this page

How to Install Claude Code: Quick Start
Step-by-Step: Install Claude Code on Any Platform
Install Claude Code on Windows
Install Claude Code on macOS
Install Claude Code on Linux
Configure Your API Key
Verify Your Installation
Common Errors When You Install Claude Code
Error: "Command Not Found"
Error: "EBADPLATFORM"
Error: "EACCES Permission Denied"
Nuclear Reset (Fixes 95% of Issues)
What to Do After You Install Claude Code

Want the framework behind these builds?

Get the Claude Code system we use to plan, build, test, and ship production software.

See what we build for companies →