Claude Code Download: How to Install in 30 Seconds (2026)

You want to download Claude Code. Here's how to do it in literally 30 seconds.

No lengthy setup guides. No dependency hell. Just one command and you're in.

//The One-Liner

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

That's it. Run this in your terminal, and Claude Code installs itself. The script detects your OS, downloads the right binary, and puts it in your PATH.

If you're on Windows, keep reading. Everyone else can skip to "Verify Installation."

//Prerequisites

The Claude Code download is refreshingly simple:

• macOS — macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later
• Linux — Any modern distro with glibc 2.17+
• Windows — Windows 10+ with WSL2 or PowerShell 5.1+

That's the full list. No Node.js required. No Python. No package managers. Claude Code ships as a standalone binary.

You will need a Claude Pro or Max subscription to actually use it after installation. More on that in a minute.

//Installation (macOS & Linux)

Open your terminal and run:

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

The installer:

1. Detects your architecture (Intel, Apple Silicon, x64, ARM)
2. Downloads the appropriate binary
3. Installs to ~/.claude/
4. Adds Claude Code to your PATH

You'll see output like this:

Downloading Claude Code...
Installing to ~/.claude/bin/claude
Adding to PATH...
Done! Run 'claude' to get started.

If you prefer not to pipe to bash (fair), you can download and inspect the script first:

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh -o install.sh
cat install.sh  # review it
bash install.sh

//Installation (Windows)

Option 1: PowerShell (Native Windows)

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

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

This is the Windows equivalent of the curl command. It downloads and runs the PowerShell installer script.

Option 2: WSL2 (Recommended)

If you're doing serious development on Windows, you're probably using WSL2 anyway. Inside your WSL terminal:

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

Same command as macOS/Linux. WSL2 is the smoother experience for terminal-based tools like Claude Code.

//Verify Installation

After installation, open a new terminal window (important—your PATH needs to reload) and run:

claude --version

You should see something like:

Claude Code v1.x.x

If you get "command not found," try:

source ~/.bashrc   # or ~/.zshrc for Zsh users

Then try claude --version again.

//First Run & Authentication

Now for the fun part. Run:

claude

On first launch, Claude Code will:

1. Open your browser to authenticate with your Anthropic account
2. Ask you to authorize the CLI
3. Store your credentials locally

You need a Claude Pro ($20/month) or Claude Max ($100-200/month) subscription. The free tier doesn't include Claude Code access.

Once authenticated, you're dropped into an interactive session. Type a message, and Claude Code responds. It can read your files, run commands, and make edits—all from your terminal.

Try something simple to confirm it's working:

claude "What files are in my current directory?"

//Updating Claude Code

Claude Code updates itself, but you can force an update anytime:

claude update

Or reinstall from scratch:

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

The installer is idempotent—running it again just updates to the latest version.

//Troubleshooting Common Issues

"command not found: claude"

Your PATH wasn't updated. Either:

• Open a new terminal window, or
• Run source ~/.bashrc (or ~/.zshrc)

"Permission denied"

The install script needs to write to ~/.claude/. Make sure you own your home directory:

sudo chown -R $USER:$USER ~/.claude

"Unable to authenticate"

Make sure you have an active Claude Pro or Max subscription. Check your subscription status at claude.ai/settings.

Proxy/Firewall issues

If you're behind a corporate proxy:

export HTTPS_PROXY=http://your-proxy:port
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

macOS Gatekeeper warning

If macOS blocks the binary, you may need to allow it in System Preferences > Security & Privacy, or run:

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine ~/.claude/bin/claude

//What's Next

You've got Claude Code installed. Now what?

Start a project session:

cd your-project
claude

Claude Code reads your codebase, understands the structure, and can make changes across multiple files.

Run a one-off command:

claude "Explain what the main function does in src/index.ts"

Use it in your editor: Claude Code has official extensions for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. Install them from your editor's marketplace.

Learn the commands: Inside a Claude Code session, type /help to see available slash commands like /compact, /clear, and /config.

The Claude Code download is the easy part. The real productivity gains come from learning how to work with it effectively. Start with small tasks, build trust, and gradually hand off more complex work.

Now go build something.