Install Claude Code — desktop app and command line (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Software · 7 views · 🧭 Guided walkthrough
Claude Code comes in two forms and you can install either, or both.
• The desktop app — a graphical interface. No terminal needed. This is the easier starting point for most people.
• The command line (CLI) — you run it by typing "claude" in a terminal. Preferred if you already live in a terminal.
They run the same engine and share their settings, so nothing is lost by picking one and adding the other later.
This tour covers both, on Windows, macOS and Linux. Work through the steps for your platform and skip the rest — each step says who it is for.
Prefer the full text? See all steps at once
Claude Code comes in two forms. The DESKTOP APP has a graphical interface and needs no terminal. The COMMAND LINE (CLI) is run by typing "claude" in a terminal. They use the same engine and share settings, and you can install both.
BEFORE YOU START
----------------
• A paid plan is required: Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or Console. The FREE Claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code. Sort this out with IT first, or you will be stopped at the sign-in screen after installing.
• 4 GB+ RAM, x64 or ARM64 processor, internet connection.
• Administrator rights are not needed for the standard install.
SUPPORTED SYSTEMS
-----------------
Desktop app : Windows 10 1809+, macOS 13+, and (beta) Ubuntu 22.04+ / Debian 12+
Command line: Windows 10 1809+ / Server 2019+, macOS 13+, Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, Alpine 3.19+
DESKTOP APP — WINDOWS
---------------------
1. Go to https://claude.com/download and download the Windows installer (x64 for almost all machines; ARM64 only for ARM devices).
2. Run it and follow the prompts.
3. Launch Claude from the Start menu.
4. Also install Git from https://git-scm.com/downloads/win — local sessions will not work without it.
DESKTOP APP — macOS
-------------------
1. Go to https://claude.com/download and download the macOS build (universal — works on Intel and Apple Silicon).
2. Open the .dmg and drag Claude to Applications.
3. Launch it from Applications. Git is usually already present on macOS.
DESKTOP APP — LINUX (BETA, Ubuntu 22.04+ / Debian 12+ only)
-----------------------------------------------------------
sudo apt install curl gnupg
sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc https://downloads.claude.ai/claude-desktop/key.asc
gpg --show-keys /usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc
-> the fingerprint must be 31DDDE24DDFAB679F42D7BD2BAA929FF1A7ECACE
echo "deb [arch=amd64,arm64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc] https://downloads.claude.ai/claude-desktop/apt/stable stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/claude-desktop.list
sudo apt update && sudo apt install claude-desktop
Launch from your application launcher, or run: claude-desktop
On Fedora, RHEL or Arch, use the command line instead — the desktop app is Debian-based only for now.
FIRST RUN OF THE APP
--------------------
Sign in, then click the Code tab (the tabs are Chat, Cowork, Code). Choose Local, click Select folder, pick a project, and type what you want done. If Code asks you to upgrade, your account has no paid plan yet.
COMMAND LINE — macOS / LINUX / WSL
----------------------------------
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Or on macOS with Homebrew: brew install --cask claude-code
(The curl install auto-updates. Homebrew does not — run "brew upgrade claude-code" yourself.)
On Windows with WSL, run the curl command inside the WSL terminal, not PowerShell.
COMMAND LINE — WINDOWS
----------------------
Check which terminal you are in. The prompt shows "PS C:\..." for PowerShell, or "C:\..." for CMD.
PowerShell: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
CMD: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
winget: winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
Administrator rights are not needed. Installing Git for Windows is recommended.
CHECK IT WORKED
---------------
Open a NEW terminal, then:
claude --version -> prints a version, e.g. 2.1.211 (Claude Code)
claude doctor -> fuller check of install and settings
claude -> starts a session in the current folder (opens a browser to sign in first time)
KEEPING IT UPDATED
------------------
Desktop app : Windows and macOS update themselves. Linux uses "sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade".
Command line: curl/irm installs auto-update. Homebrew: "brew upgrade claude-code". winget: "winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode". Force an update any time with "claude update".
COMMON PROBLEMS
---------------
"command not found" after installing
The terminal was open before the install finished. Close it, open a new one, try again.
"The token && is not a valid statement separator"
You ran the CMD command in PowerShell. Use the PowerShell one.
"irm is not recognized"
You ran the PowerShell command in CMD. Use the CMD one.
Clicking Code asks you to upgrade
Your account has no paid Claude plan. Raise a request with IT.
NO_PUBKEY BAA929FF1A7ECACE on Linux
The signing key did not download properly. Re-run the key step, then apt update again.
Still stuck? Raise a ticket with IT giving your operating system, the install method you used, and the exact error text. A screenshot of the terminal helps most.
BEFORE YOU START
----------------
• A paid plan is required: Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or Console. The FREE Claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code. Sort this out with IT first, or you will be stopped at the sign-in screen after installing.
• 4 GB+ RAM, x64 or ARM64 processor, internet connection.
• Administrator rights are not needed for the standard install.
SUPPORTED SYSTEMS
-----------------
Desktop app : Windows 10 1809+, macOS 13+, and (beta) Ubuntu 22.04+ / Debian 12+
Command line: Windows 10 1809+ / Server 2019+, macOS 13+, Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, Alpine 3.19+
DESKTOP APP — WINDOWS
---------------------
1. Go to https://claude.com/download and download the Windows installer (x64 for almost all machines; ARM64 only for ARM devices).
2. Run it and follow the prompts.
3. Launch Claude from the Start menu.
4. Also install Git from https://git-scm.com/downloads/win — local sessions will not work without it.
DESKTOP APP — macOS
-------------------
1. Go to https://claude.com/download and download the macOS build (universal — works on Intel and Apple Silicon).
2. Open the .dmg and drag Claude to Applications.
3. Launch it from Applications. Git is usually already present on macOS.
DESKTOP APP — LINUX (BETA, Ubuntu 22.04+ / Debian 12+ only)
-----------------------------------------------------------
sudo apt install curl gnupg
sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc https://downloads.claude.ai/claude-desktop/key.asc
gpg --show-keys /usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc
-> the fingerprint must be 31DDDE24DDFAB679F42D7BD2BAA929FF1A7ECACE
echo "deb [arch=amd64,arm64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc] https://downloads.claude.ai/claude-desktop/apt/stable stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/claude-desktop.list
sudo apt update && sudo apt install claude-desktop
Launch from your application launcher, or run: claude-desktop
On Fedora, RHEL or Arch, use the command line instead — the desktop app is Debian-based only for now.
FIRST RUN OF THE APP
--------------------
Sign in, then click the Code tab (the tabs are Chat, Cowork, Code). Choose Local, click Select folder, pick a project, and type what you want done. If Code asks you to upgrade, your account has no paid plan yet.
COMMAND LINE — macOS / LINUX / WSL
----------------------------------
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
Or on macOS with Homebrew: brew install --cask claude-code
(The curl install auto-updates. Homebrew does not — run "brew upgrade claude-code" yourself.)
On Windows with WSL, run the curl command inside the WSL terminal, not PowerShell.
COMMAND LINE — WINDOWS
----------------------
Check which terminal you are in. The prompt shows "PS C:\..." for PowerShell, or "C:\..." for CMD.
PowerShell: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
CMD: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
winget: winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode
Administrator rights are not needed. Installing Git for Windows is recommended.
CHECK IT WORKED
---------------
Open a NEW terminal, then:
claude --version -> prints a version, e.g. 2.1.211 (Claude Code)
claude doctor -> fuller check of install and settings
claude -> starts a session in the current folder (opens a browser to sign in first time)
KEEPING IT UPDATED
------------------
Desktop app : Windows and macOS update themselves. Linux uses "sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade".
Command line: curl/irm installs auto-update. Homebrew: "brew upgrade claude-code". winget: "winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode". Force an update any time with "claude update".
COMMON PROBLEMS
---------------
"command not found" after installing
The terminal was open before the install finished. Close it, open a new one, try again.
"The token && is not a valid statement separator"
You ran the CMD command in PowerShell. Use the PowerShell one.
"irm is not recognized"
You ran the PowerShell command in CMD. Use the CMD one.
Clicking Code asks you to upgrade
Your account has no paid Claude plan. Raise a request with IT.
NO_PUBKEY BAA929FF1A7ECACE on Linux
The signing key did not download properly. Re-run the key step, then apt update again.
Still stuck? Raise a ticket with IT giving your operating system, the install method you used, and the exact error text. A screenshot of the terminal helps most.