# How to install Claude Code on Mac, Linux and Windows

The one-line installer, every package manager, what you need first, how to sign in, and the fix for each common install error.

Published 2026-10-28 by Richard Kaminsky and Mitchell Lipyansky, the co-founders of Poly. Canonical: https://usepoly.co/how-to-install-claude-code
Poly is a multiplayer AI coding workspace: a shared room where your team works with one AI agent, together. Free to start: https://usepoly.co/

**To install Claude Code, open a terminal and run one command: `curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash` on Mac, Linux or WSL, or `irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex` in Windows PowerShell. Then open a new terminal, run `claude --version` to check it worked, and run `claude` in your project folder to sign in. You need a Claude Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plan, or an Anthropic Console account; the free Claude plan "does not include Claude Code access."** Homebrew, WinGet, apt, dnf, apk and npm work too, and if you'd rather not use a terminal at all, the Claude desktop app runs Claude Code in a window.

## Key takeaways

- **Mac, Linux, WSL:** `curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash`
- **Windows:** `irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex` in PowerShell, no Administrator rights needed ([Windows guide](/install-claude-code-windows)).
- **Requirements:** macOS 13, Windows 10 1809, Ubuntu 20.04, Debian 10 or Alpine 3.19 or later, and 4 GB of memory.
- **Account:** Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or a Console account. The free plan doesn't include it.
- **Updates:** the native installer updates itself; package-manager installs don't.
- **Most common error:** `command not found: claude`, fixed by adding `~/.local/bin` to your PATH.

*Ways to install Claude Code, from Anthropic's setup docs, October 28, 2026.*

| Method | Command | Systems | Updates itself |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Native installer | curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh \| bash | macOS, Linux, WSL | Yes |
| Native installer | irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 \| iex | Windows PowerShell | Yes |
| Homebrew | brew install --cask claude-code | macOS | No; brew upgrade |
| WinGet | winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode | Windows | No; winget upgrade |
| apt, dnf, apk | From Anthropic's signed repositories | Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, RHEL, Alpine | With system updates |
| npm | npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code | Any, with Node.js 22+ | Yes, if npm's folder is writable |
| Desktop app | Download from claude.com | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes |

## How do you install Claude Code on a Mac?

Open Terminal (press Cmd+Space and type Terminal) and run:

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

The installer shows no progress while it downloads. When it finishes, open a new Terminal window and run `claude --version`, which prints a version number such as `2.1.211 (Claude Code)` ([Anthropic](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/setup)). It installs `claude` in `~/.local/bin` and keeps itself up to date.

**With Homebrew instead:**

```bash
brew install --cask claude-code
```

The `claude-code` cask follows the stable channel, about a week behind the newest release and skipping ones with major regressions; `claude-code@latest` gets every release as it ships. Homebrew installs don't update themselves: run `brew upgrade claude-code` now and then.

## How do you install Claude Code on Linux?

The same one-line installer works on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Alpine and WSL:

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

Anthropic also publishes signed package repositories, which update with the rest of your system:

- **Debian and Ubuntu (apt):** add Anthropic's signing key to `/etc/apt/keyrings`, add the `downloads.claude.ai/claude-code/apt/stable` repository, then `sudo apt install claude-code`.
- **Fedora and RHEL (dnf):** add a repo file pointing at `downloads.claude.ai/claude-code/rpm/stable`, then `sudo dnf install claude-code`.
- **Alpine (apk):** add the key and the `downloads.claude.ai/claude-code/apk/stable` repository, then `apk add claude-code`.

Anthropic's setup page has the exact commands and the key fingerprint to check, `31DD DE24 DDFA B679 F42D 7BD2 BAA9 29FF 1A7E CACE`. On Alpine and other musl systems, install `bash`, `curl`, `libgcc`, `libstdc++` and `ripgrep` first and set `USE_BUILTIN_RIPGREP=0`.

**On a small server:** installing needs roughly 512 MB of free memory, and a `Killed` message means Linux ran out. Add a 2 GB swap file or use a larger machine; Claude Code itself needs 4 GB.

## How do you install Claude Code on Windows?

Open PowerShell from the Start menu (not as Administrator) and run:

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

In Command Prompt the command is `curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd`, and WinGet works too: `winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode`. Or install inside WSL with the Linux command. Which to choose, Git for Windows, and the Windows-only errors are in [how to install Claude Code on Windows](/install-claude-code-windows).

## Can you install Claude Code with npm?

Yes, though Anthropic recommends the native installer:

```bash
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
```

It needs Node.js 22 or later, and installs the same native binary as the installer, so Node isn't used once it's running. Never use `sudo npm install -g`: Anthropic warns it "can lead to permission issues and security risks." To upgrade, run `npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest`, not `npm update -g`.

## How do you sign in after installing?

Run `claude` in your project folder and follow the browser prompt. Claude Code needs one of:

- **A Claude subscription:** Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise. Usage counts against your plan's limits ([Claude Code pricing](/claude-code-pricing)).
- **An Anthropic Console account,** billed per token at API rates ([Claude API pricing](/claude-api-pricing)).
- **A cloud provider:** Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud's Agent Platform or Microsoft Foundry.

If you set the `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` environment variable and approve it, Claude Code uses that key instead of your plan, and bills it.

**On a remote machine, WSL or a container**, where no browser opens or the browser can't reach `localhost`: copy the login URL the terminal shows (press `c`), open it on your own computer, sign in, and paste the code it gives you back at the `Paste code here` prompt. `claude auth login` does the same from the shell ([Anthropic](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/troubleshoot-install)).

## How do you update or uninstall Claude Code?

- **Update now:** `claude update`. The native install also updates itself in the background, on the `latest` channel by default; set `"autoUpdatesChannel": "stable"` in settings for a version about a week old.
- **Check the install:** `claude doctor` reports install health, the last update attempt and settings errors without starting a session.
- **Install a specific version:** `curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash -s 2.1.89`, or `bash -s stable` for the stable channel.
- **Uninstall the native install:** `rm -f ~/.local/bin/claude` and `rm -rf ~/.local/share/claude`. For Homebrew, `brew uninstall --cask claude-code`; for npm, `npm uninstall -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code`.

Your settings and history live in `~/.claude` and `~/.claude.json`; delete them only if you want to remove everything.

## Why does it say "command not found: claude"?

The install worked but the folder it put `claude` in, `~/.local/bin`, isn't on your PATH yet. On a Mac with Zsh:

```bash
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc
```

On Linux with Bash, use `~/.bashrc` instead; with Bash on a Mac, `~/.bash_profile`. Then open a new terminal. A terminal inside an editor takes its PATH from the editor, so restart the editor too.

## Other common install errors

From Anthropic's troubleshooting page ([Anthropic](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/troubleshoot-install)):

- **`syntax error near unexpected token '<'` or a 403:** the install URL returned a web page instead of the script, usually because a proxy or network filter blocked it, or Claude Code isn't available in your country. Check with `curl -sI https://downloads.claude.ai/claude-code-releases/latest`, which should show `200`.
- **Behind a corporate proxy:** set `HTTPS_PROXY` and `HTTP_PROXY` to the proxy's address before running the installer.
- **`TLS connect error` or `unable to get local issuer certificate`:** update your CA certificates, or configure your company's certificate.
- **`EACCES: permission denied`:** usually an npm install; switch to the native installer.
- **`App unavailable in region`:** Claude Code isn't offered in your country.
- **`claude` still runs an old version:** you have two installs. `claude doctor` shows which one runs.

## After it's installed

Your first session, permission modes, the VS Code extension and the habits that help are in [how to use Claude Code](/how-to-use-claude-code), and what it costs in [Claude Code pricing](/claude-code-pricing). If you'd rather skip the install entirely, Poly (usepoly.co) runs Claude Code in the browser in a shared room, where a team works with one agent together and nothing needs installing. Free to start. [What is Poly?](/what-is-poly)

## Common questions

**How do I install Claude Code?**

On Mac, Linux or WSL run curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash. On Windows run irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex in PowerShell. Then open a new terminal, run claude --version to check, and run claude to sign in.

**Is Claude Code free to install?**

Installing is free, but using it needs a Claude Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plan or an Anthropic Console account. The free Claude plan doesn't include Claude Code.

**Does Claude Code need Node.js?**

No. The native installer, Homebrew, WinGet and the Linux packages need no Node.js. Only the npm install method does, and it needs Node.js 22 or later.

**What are the system requirements for Claude Code?**

macOS 13, Windows 10 1809 or Windows Server 2019, Ubuntu 20.04, Debian 10 or Alpine 3.19 or later, an x64 or ARM64 processor, 4 GB of memory and an internet connection.

**Why is the claude command not found after installing?**

The folder it installs into, ~/.local/bin on Mac and Linux, isn't on your PATH. Add it to your shell's config file, such as ~/.zshrc, and open a new terminal.

More guides: https://usepoly.co/guides · Security: https://usepoly.co/security · Pricing: https://usepoly.co/pricing