Install Claude Code

Time to put Claude Code on your computer. The good news: it’s a single command, and the installer brings everything it needs along with it.

Claude Code installs as one self-contained command-line program. You install it once, and claude becomes available in any terminal, in any folder, on this machine.

Step 1 — run the installer

Claude Code ships its own installer. You don’t need Node.js, npm, or anything else set up first — the installer bundles the whole program. Pick the line for your system and paste it into a terminal:

Mac, Linux, or WSL on Windows:

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

Windows (PowerShell):

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

That’s the whole install. It drops the program into your home folder — no admin rights, no sudo — puts claude on your PATH, and quietly keeps itself up to date from then on.

Already a Node.js developer? There’s also an npm route: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code (it needs Node 18 or newer). It installs the exact same program. If you don’t already live in Node, the installer above is simpler — so skip npm unless you have a reason.

Step 2 — confirm it worked

claude --version

You should see something like 2.1.30 (Claude Code). The exact number doesn’t matter — the fact that anything prints means it’s installed and on your PATH.

If you instead see “command not found,” close and re-open your terminal first (your PATH may need to refresh), then try again. If it still won’t run, type claude doctor — it inspects your installation and tells you what’s wrong.

What’s next

It’s installed. It still doesn’t know who you are. The next lesson signs you in.