Quickstart changedquickstart
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Upstream edited this page at 8 Oct 2026 03:42 UTC, give or take a minute or two: the time comes from Anthropic’s own sitemap rather than from a commit. This site recorded the change at 20 Oct 2026 18:37 UTC.
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1212* A code project to work with
1313* A [Claude subscription](https://claude.com/pricing?utm_source=claude_code\&utm_medium=docs\&utm_content=quickstart_prereq) (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise), [Claude Console](https://platform.claude.com/) account, or access through a [supported cloud provider](/docs/en/third-party-integrations)
1414
15<Note>
16 These cases are covered on other pages:
15> [!NOTE]
16>
17> These cases are covered on other pages:
18>
19> * **Never used a terminal before**: start with the [terminal guide](/docs/en/terminal-guide)
20> * **Want Claude Code somewhere other than the terminal**: Claude Code is also available on the [web](https://claude.ai/code), as a [desktop app](/docs/en/desktop), in [VS Code](/docs/en/vs-code) and [JetBrains IDEs](/docs/en/jetbrains), in [Slack](/docs/en/slack), and in CI/CD with [GitHub Actions](/docs/en/github-actions) and [GitLab](/docs/en/gitlab-ci-cd). See [all interfaces](/docs/en/overview#use-claude-code-everywhere).
1721
18 * **Never used a terminal before**: start with the [terminal guide](/docs/en/terminal-guide)
19 * **Want Claude Code somewhere other than the terminal**: Claude Code is also available on the [web](https://claude.ai/code), as a [desktop app](/docs/en/desktop), in [VS Code](/docs/en/vs-code) and [JetBrains IDEs](/docs/en/jetbrains), in [Slack](/docs/en/slack), and in CI/CD with [GitHub Actions](/docs/en/github-actions) and [GitLab](/docs/en/gitlab-ci-cd). See [all interfaces](/docs/en/overview#use-claude-code-everywhere).
20</Note>
21
2222## Step 1: Install Claude Code
2323
2424To install Claude Code, open a terminal and run the command for your system. If you haven't used a terminal before, the [terminal guide](/docs/en/terminal-guide) shows how to open one and paste the command.
2525
26<Tabs>
27 <Tab title="Native Install (Recommended)">
28 **macOS, Linux, WSL:**
26**Native Install (Recommended)**
2927
30 ```bash theme={null}
31 curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
32 ```
28**macOS, Linux, WSL:**
3329
34 On Windows, your prompt shows `PS C:\` when you're in PowerShell and `C:\` without the `PS` when you're in CMD.
30```bash theme={null}
31curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
32```
3533
36 **Windows PowerShell:**
34On Windows, your prompt shows `PS C:\` when you're in PowerShell and `C:\` without the `PS` when you're in CMD.
3735
38 ```powershell theme={null}
39 irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
40 ```
36**Windows PowerShell:**
4137
42 **Windows CMD:**
38```powershell theme={null}
39irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
40```
4341
44 ```batch theme={null}
45 curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
46 ```
42**Windows CMD:**
4743
48 The install command shows no progress while it downloads Claude Code. When the installer finishes, open a new terminal window and run `claude --version`. A working installation prints a version number. If your shell says `claude` isn't found or isn't recognized, the install directory isn't on your PATH yet: see [Fix your PATH](/docs/en/troubleshoot-install#command-not-found-claude-after-installation).
44```batch theme={null}
45curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
46```
4947
50 If you see `The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator`, you're in PowerShell, not CMD. If you see `'irm' is not recognized as an internal or external command`, you're in CMD, not PowerShell.
48The install command shows no progress while it downloads Claude Code. When the installer finishes, open a new terminal window and run `claude --version`. A working installation prints a version number. If your shell says `claude` isn't found or isn't recognized, the install directory isn't on your PATH yet: see [Fix your PATH](/docs/en/troubleshoot-install#command-not-found-claude-after-installation).
5149
52 If the install command fails with `syntax error near unexpected token '<'`, a `403`, or any other error, see [Troubleshoot installation](/docs/en/troubleshoot-install#find-your-error) to match the error to a fix and for alternative install methods.
50If you see `The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator`, you're in PowerShell, not CMD. If you see `'irm' is not recognized as an internal or external command`, you're in CMD, not PowerShell.
5351
54 [Git for Windows](https://git-scm.com/downloads/win) is recommended on native Windows so Claude Code can use the Bash tool. If Git for Windows is not installed, Claude Code uses PowerShell as the shell tool instead. WSL setups do not need Git for Windows.
52If the install command fails with `syntax error near unexpected token '<'`, a `403`, or any other error, see [Troubleshoot installation](/docs/en/troubleshoot-install#find-your-error) to match the error to a fix and for alternative install methods.
5553
56 <Info>
57 Native installations automatically update in the background to keep you on the latest version.
58 </Info>
59 </Tab>
54[Git for Windows](https://git-scm.com/downloads/win) is recommended on native Windows so Claude Code can use the Bash tool. If Git for Windows is not installed, Claude Code uses PowerShell as the shell tool instead. WSL setups do not need Git for Windows.
6055
61 <Tab title="Homebrew">
62 ```bash theme={null}
63 brew install --cask claude-code
64 ```
56> [!NOTE]
57>
58> Native installations automatically update in the background to keep you on the latest version.
6559
66 Homebrew offers two casks. `claude-code` tracks the stable release channel, which is typically about a week behind and skips releases with major regressions. `claude-code@latest` tracks the latest channel and receives new versions as soon as they ship.
60**Homebrew**
6761
68 <Info>
69 Homebrew installations do not auto-update. Run `brew upgrade claude-code` or `brew upgrade claude-code@latest`, depending on which cask you installed, to get the latest features and security fixes.
70 </Info>
71 </Tab>
62```bash theme={null}
63brew install --cask claude-code
64```
7265
73 <Tab title="WinGet">
74 ```powershell theme={null}
75 winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
76 ```
66Homebrew offers two casks. `claude-code` tracks the stable release channel, which is typically about a week behind and skips releases with major regressions. `claude-code@latest` tracks the latest channel and receives new versions as soon as they ship.
7767
78 <Info>
79 WinGet installations do not auto-update. Run `winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode` periodically to get the latest features and security fixes.
80 </Info>
81 </Tab>
82</Tabs>
68> [!NOTE]
69>
70> Homebrew installations do not auto-update. Run `brew upgrade claude-code` or `brew upgrade claude-code@latest`, depending on which cask you installed, to get the latest features and security fixes.
8371
72**WinGet**
73
74```powershell theme={null}
75winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
76```
77
78> [!NOTE]
79>
80> WinGet installations do not auto-update. Run `winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode` periodically to get the latest features and security fixes.
81
8482You can also install with [apt, dnf, or apk](/docs/en/setup#install-with-linux-package-managers) on Debian, Fedora, RHEL, and Alpine.
8583
8684To confirm the installation worked, run:
from line 149
151149can Claude Code work with Docker?
152150```
153151
154<Note>
155 Claude Code reads your project files as needed. You don't have to manually add context.
156</Note>
152> [!NOTE]
153>
154> Claude Code reads your project files as needed. You don't have to manually add context.
157155
158156## Step 4: Make your first code change
159157
from line 225
227225review my changes and suggest improvements
228226```
229227
230<Tip>
231 Talk to Claude like you would a helpful colleague. Describe what you want to achieve, and it will help you get there.
232</Tip>
228> [!TIP]
229>
230> Talk to Claude like you would a helpful colleague. Describe what you want to achieve, and it will help you get there.
233231
234232## Essential commands
235233
from line 263
265263
266264For more, see [best practices](/docs/en/best-practices) and [common workflows](/docs/en/common-workflows).
267265
268<AccordionGroup>
269 <Accordion title="Be specific with your requests">
270 Instead of: "fix the bug"
266> **Be specific with your requests**
267>
268> Instead of: "fix the bug"
269>
270> Try: "fix the login bug where users see a blank screen after entering wrong credentials"
271271
272 Try: "fix the login bug where users see a blank screen after entering wrong credentials"
273 </Accordion>
272> **Use step-by-step instructions**
273>
274> Break complex tasks into steps:
275>
276> ```text wrap theme={null}
277> 1. create a new database table for user profiles
278> 2. create an API endpoint to get and update user profiles
279> 3. build a webpage that allows users to see and edit their information
280> ```
274281
275 <Accordion title="Use step-by-step instructions">
276 Break complex tasks into steps:
282> **Let Claude explore first**
283>
284> Before making changes, let Claude understand your code:
285>
286> ```text wrap theme={null}
287> analyze the database schema
288> ```
289>
290> ```text wrap theme={null}
291> build a dashboard showing products that are most frequently returned by our UK customers
292> ```
277293
278 ```text wrap theme={null}
279 1. create a new database table for user profiles
280 2. create an API endpoint to get and update user profiles
281 3. build a webpage that allows users to see and edit their information
282 ```
283 </Accordion>
284
285 <Accordion title="Let Claude explore first">
286 Before making changes, let Claude understand your code:
287
288 ```text wrap theme={null}
289 analyze the database schema
290 ```
291
292 ```text wrap theme={null}
293 build a dashboard showing products that are most frequently returned by our UK customers
294 ```
295 </Accordion>
296
297 <Accordion title="Save time with shortcuts">
298 * Type `/` to see the commands and skills available to you
299 * Use Tab for command completion
300 * Press ↑ for command history
301 * Press `Shift+Tab` to cycle permission modes
302 </Accordion>
303</AccordionGroup>
294> **Save time with shortcuts**
295>
296> * Type `/` to see the commands and skills available to you
297> * Use Tab for command completion
298> * Press ↑ for command history
299> * Press `Shift+Tab` to cycle permission modes
304300
305301## What's next?
306302
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