How to Install Claude Code on Mac, Windows and Linux

If the version appears, run claude and follow the browser prompts to sign in. You need a Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or Console account; the free Claude plan does not include Claude Code. If the command is not found, the usual problem is your PATH, not a failed download.

Installing a terminal tool can feel more fragile than installing a desktop app. The download has no progress bar, the commands differ by shell, and the first useful result is only a line of version text. This guide keeps the process small: choose the right terminal, paste one official command, confirm the result, and sign in.

Before you start

Check the computer and the account before you paste a command. Claude Code supports macOS 13 or later, Windows 10 version 1809 or later, Windows Server 2019 or later, Ubuntu 20.04 or later, Debian 10 or later, and Alpine Linux 3.19 or later. It needs at least 4 GB of RAM, an x64 or ARM64 processor, and an internet connection.

You also need a supported paid or Console account. At the end of this guide, you will have a version check, an installation health check, and a signed-in Claude Code session.

Claude Code install commands for every system

Use the row that matches the terminal in front of you. The native installer is the simplest choice for most people because native installations update automatically in the background.

Homebrew and WinGet installations do not update automatically. If you choose one of them, use its own upgrade command later rather than placing a second native installation on top.

Step 1: open the right terminal

Open the terminal included with your operating system. If you use WSL on Windows, open the WSL distribution and install and launch claude inside that terminal, not in PowerShell or CMD.

On native Windows, decide whether the prompt is PowerShell or CMD before you paste anything. A PowerShell prompt normally begins with PS C:\`. A CMD prompt shows `C:\` without `PS. The scripts are different, so a command copied into the wrong shell will fail before Claude Code is installed.

You do not need to run the Windows installer as Administrator. Git for Windows is recommended because it lets Claude Code use the Bash tool. Without it, Claude Code uses PowerShell as its shell tool.

Step 2: run the install command

For macOS, Linux or WSL, paste:

For Windows PowerShell, paste:

For Windows CMD, paste:

Wait even if the terminal looks idle. Anthropic says the install command shows no progress while it downloads Claude Code. Do not paste the command a second time just because no bar or percentage appears.

Step 3: confirm the installation

When the installer finishes, close the terminal and open a new one. This matters because a fresh terminal reloads the environment and can see the newly added command. Then run:

A working installation prints a version such as 2.1.211 (Claude Code). Your number may be different. The important result is that the shell finds claude and prints a version instead of an error.

Next, run the read-only diagnostic:

claude doctor prints installation and settings diagnostics without starting a session. This is the fastest way to distinguish a broken installation from an account or project problem.

Step 4: sign in and start Claude Code

Move into the folder where you want to work, then run:

Claude Code opens a browser for authentication. Choose a Claude subscription account or Claude Console, then complete the browser prompts. The supported subscription accounts are Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise; the free Claude plan does not include access.

If the browser does not open, press c in the terminal to copy the OAuth URL, then paste it into a browser. If sign-in fails, run /logout, close Claude Code, restart it with claude, and complete authentication again.

Start with a small request that does not change files, such as asking it to explain the project structure. That confirms the session can read the folder before you ask it to edit anything.

The installation flow at a glance

These four steps show the order from setup to an authenticated session.

If Claude Code says command not found

If the shell says claude is not found or is not recognized, the install directory is not on your PATH yet. First, make sure you opened a new terminal after the installer finished. A terminal that was already open may still have the old environment.

The native installer puts the executable at ~/.local/bin/claude on macOS, Linux and WSL. For Zsh, add that folder to PATH and reload the shell:

For Bash on Linux or WSL, use:

On Windows, the native executable is %USERPROFILE%\.local\bin\claude.exe. In PowerShell, add its folder to your User PATH:

In Windows CMD, open System Settings, choose Environment Variables, and add %USERPROFILE%\.local\bin to the User PATH. Open a new terminal and run claude --version again. Success is a version number instead of a command error.

Source: Anthropic's installation troubleshooting guide, viewed 30 October 2026.

If the Windows command fails immediately

Look at the prompt again. The most common Windows mistake is pasting the PowerShell installer into CMD, or the CMD installer into PowerShell.

• If the line begins with PS, use the PowerShell command with irm.
• If the line begins only with a drive letter such as C:\`, use the CMD command with `curl.
• If you are inside WSL, use the macOS, Linux and WSL command with bash.

On native Windows, Git for Windows is recommended for Bash support, but it is not required for the installer itself. Claude Code falls back to PowerShell when Git for Windows is absent.

Should you use Homebrew or WinGet instead?

Use a package manager when your team already manages developer tools that way. The commands are familiar and make inventory easier. The trade-off is manual updates.

For Homebrew:

For WinGet:

Native installations update automatically in the background. Homebrew and WinGet installations do not, so plan to run the matching package-manager upgrade command periodically. The update guide lists the matching commands.

Where Xtrusio fits after setup

After building or improving a page, the next question is whether AI engines can find it and describe the company correctly. The visibility check shows mentions and competing brands across supported AI engines.

For an access-cost comparison, read the Claude Code pricing guide. For the visibility side, run a free AI visibility check.

Official sources

The commands, requirements and troubleshooting steps in this guide come from Anthropic's documentation.

1. Anthropic: Claude Code advanced setup
2. Anthropic: Claude Code installation troubleshooting
3. Anthropic: Claude Code quickstart
4. Anthropic: terminal guide
5. Anthropic: Claude plans and pricing