How to install Claude Code on Windows and Mac

This guide is written for business owners, not developers. Every command below comes from Anthropic’s Claude Code setup documentation, checked on 03/10/2026.

What do I need before I install Claude Code?

You need a reasonably recent computer, a paid Claude account and an internet connection. You no longer need Node.js or administrator rights, which older guides still tell you to install.

• Windows: Windows 10 version 1809 or later, or Windows 11.
• Mac: macOS 13 (Ventura) or later.
• Memory: 4 GB of RAM or more.
• Account: Claude Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise, or a Claude Console account. The free plan doesn’t include Claude Code.
• A practice folder: a new folder holding copies of the files for one real job.

Which account should I sign in with: a Claude plan or the API?

Sign in with a Claude plan if a person will use Claude Code day to day. Use a Claude Console account (pay per use) for agents that run on their own, so each one has its own key and spending limit.

	Claude plan (Pro, Max, Team)	Claude Console (API)
How you pay	Flat monthly fee	Per use, from prepaid credit
Best for	A person working with Claude Code each day	Scheduled agents on a server
Cost control	Plan usage limits; /usage shows where you are	A monthly spend limit you set in the Console
Price	Pro US$20 a month, Max US$100 or US$200 (as at 03/10/2026)	Varies by model and volume

For the full comparison in AUD, see how much Claude Code costs in Australia.

How do I install Claude Code on Windows?

Use PowerShell, which every Windows computer has. You don’t need to run it as administrator.

1. Click Start, type PowerShell and open Windows PowerShell. The prompt starts with PS C:\.
2. Paste this command and press Enter:

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

3. When it finishes, close the window and open a new PowerShell window.
4. Type claude --version and press Enter. A version number means it worked.

Optional: installing Git for Windows lets Claude Code use Git Bash for its commands. Without it, Claude Code uses PowerShell, which is fine for most business work.

If you prefer Windows’ own package manager, winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode also works, but it doesn’t update itself. Run winget upgrade Anthropic.ClaudeCode every few weeks.

How do I install Claude Code on a Mac?

Use the Terminal app.

1. Press Cmd + Space, type Terminal and press Enter.
2. Paste this command and press Enter:

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

3. Open a new Terminal window and type claude --version. A version number means it worked.

Homebrew users can run brew install --cask claude-code instead. Homebrew installs don’t update themselves, so run brew upgrade claude-code now and then.

Can I use Claude Code without the terminal?

Yes. The Claude desktop app for Windows and Mac includes Claude Code, so you can choose a folder and work with it in a normal window. Many owners find this the easiest way in. If you already use VS Code, the official Claude Code extension puts it in a side panel. The terminal gives you the most control, and it’s what the rest of this guide shows.

How do I sign in and run my first session?

1. Move into your practice folder. On Windows, if you made a folder called claude-practice in Documents, type cd $HOME\Documents\claude-practice. On a Mac, type cd ~/Documents/claude-practice.
2. Type claude and press Enter. Your browser opens; sign in with your Claude account and approve.
3. Claude Code asks whether you trust this folder. Say yes only for folders you meant to open.
4. Try a first request:

I'm new to Claude Code. Look at the files in this folder and tell me what you could help me with. Don't change anything yet.

Claude reads the folder and suggests jobs. When you ask for a change, it shows you what it wants to do and waits for your yes or no.

How do I tell Claude Code about my business?

Give it a CLAUDE.md file. Claude Code reads this file at the start of every session in that folder, so you only explain your business once. Type /init to have Claude draft one, or create it yourself. A starting point, for a fictional Melbourne cafe:

# About the business
Roastline is a Melbourne cafe (fictional example) with an online store.
We use Shopify for online sales, Square in store and Xero for accounts.

# House rules
- Australian English (organise, colour, centre).
- Prices in AUD. Say whether a price includes GST.
- Dates as DD/MM/YYYY.
- Never use em dashes. Use commas or full stops.

# How to work
- Work on copies, never on the only version of a file.
- Ask before deleting or overwriting anything.
- If you're unsure, ask rather than guess.

Keep it short. A tight one-page file works better than a long one, and it’s read at the start of every session.

Which safety settings should I set on day one?

Leave the defaults cautious until you’ve watched Claude Code work for a week or two.

• Keep Manual permission mode. It asks before editing a file or running a command. Don’t switch to the mode that skips permission prompts on a computer that holds real business data.
• Block secret files. Add deny rules so Claude can’t read files that hold passwords or keys. Our Claude Code safety guide has a copy-and-paste example.
• Cap spending. On a Console account, set a monthly spend limit in the Claude Console under Settings, Limits. On a plan, type /usage to see how much of your allowance you’ve used.
• Know your undo. /rewind (or pressing Esc twice) undoes Claude’s file edits. It can’t undo a file deleted or moved by a command, which is why you work on copies.

What are the common install problems?

• “claude” is not recognised, or “command not found”. Close the terminal and open a new one. If it still fails, follow Anthropic’s troubleshooting guide, which explains how to add Claude Code to your PATH.
• “‘irm’ is not recognized”. You’re in Command Prompt, not PowerShell. Open PowerShell and try again.
• “The token ’&&’ is not a valid statement separator”. You pasted a Command Prompt command into PowerShell. Use the PowerShell command above.
• Browser sign-in didn’t open. Copy the link Claude Code prints in the terminal and paste it into your browser.
• It says your plan doesn’t include Claude Code. The free plan doesn’t. Upgrade to Pro, or sign in with a Console account.
• A spreadsheet won’t save. Excel locks open files on Windows. Close the file in Excel, then ask again.
• Files in OneDrive or Google Drive are slow. Online-only files have to download first. Set the folder to “Always keep on this device”, or work in a local folder such as C:\work.
• Your work network blocks it. Some office firewalls block new tools. Ask whoever manages your IT to allow Claude Code’s addresses, listed in Anthropic’s network documentation.

How On Autopilot can help

If you’d rather not spend a weekend on this, the Claude Code Setup Day is $1,500 fixed (ex GST). In one remote day we install Claude Code on your computer, write your CLAUDE.md, set safe permissions and spending limits, connect your tools and build one real automation from your own work, with you at the keyboard so you can run it yourself afterwards. See all prices on the pricing page, or book a free 30-minute AI audit to check it’s the right fit first.

Already installed? Read Claude Code for non-developers for first jobs worth handing over, and connecting Claude Code to Xero, Shopify and Gmail when you’re ready to link your business tools.