Getting Set Up

Step 1: Get a Code Editor

Before we install Claude Code, you need a place for it to live. The most popular choice is Visual Studio Code (VS Code) — a free app from Microsoft that millions of developers use every day.

1. Go to code.visualstudio.com
2. Click the big blue Download button
3. Open the downloaded file and drag it into your Applications folder (Mac) or run the installer (Windows)
4. Open VS Code — you’ll see a Welcome tab. You can close it.

That’s it. VS Code is just a fancy text editor. You don’t need to learn any of its features right now — Claude Code will do the heavy lifting.

Pro Tip

Don’t want to install anything? You can skip VS Code entirely and use the Claude Desktop app or the web version at claude.ai/code. But the terminal experience is the most powerful, so we recommend starting here.

Step 2: Open the Terminal

The terminal is a text-based way to talk to your computer. It looks like a black screen with a blinking cursor. Don’t be intimidated — you only need to type a few words.

On Mac:

• Open VS Code, then press Ctrl + ` (the backtick key, above Tab) to open the built-in terminal
• Or open the Terminal app from Applications > Utilities

On Windows:

• Open VS Code, then press Ctrl + ` to open the built-in terminal
• Or search for PowerShell in the Start menu

You should see something like this:

That blinking cursor is waiting for your command. Let’s give it one.

Step 3: Install Claude Code

Copy and paste this single line into your terminal, then press Enter:

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

That’s the entire installation. The script downloads Claude Code and sets everything up automatically. You’ll see output like this:

Alternative Ways to Get Started

The terminal install is the full-power experience, but there are easier on-ramps if you prefer:

• Claude Desktop App — Download from claude.ai/download. A standalone app with a clean interface. Great if you don’t want to touch the terminal at all.
• VS Code Extension — Open VS Code, click the Extensions icon (the four squares on the left sidebar), search “Claude Code”, and click Install. Claude appears as a panel inside your editor.
• Web (claude.ai/code) — Zero installation. Open your browser and start building. Works on tablets and phones too.

All four options connect to the same Claude. Your conversations, memory, and project context sync across them.

Pro Tip

If you’re completely new to all of this, start with the Desktop App. It’s the friendliest experience. You can always switch to the terminal later when you’re ready for more power.

Step 4: Launch Claude Code for the First Time

Navigate to any folder on your computer and type claude:

The first time you run claude, it will ask you to log in. Here’s what that looks like:

1. Claude Code opens a browser window (or gives you a URL to paste)
2. You log in with your Anthropic account (the same one from claude.ai)
3. You approve the connection
4. The terminal says “Authenticated!” and you’re ready to go

Step 5: Send Your First Prompt

You’re in. Let’s make Claude do something. Type this:

What can you do? Give me 5 examples of things I can ask you to build, and make them sound fun.

Claude will respond with a list of ideas. Now try something real:

Create a file called hello.html that shows a big colorful heading that says 'Hello World!' with a fun animation. Open it in my browser.

Watch what happens — Claude creates the file, writes the code, and opens it. You just built your first thing with AI. No coding knowledge required.

What folder am I in right now? List all the files here and give me a quick summary of what's in this directory.

Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

Here are the most useful shortcuts to know right away. You don’t need to memorize them — just know they exist:

Pro Tip

Type /help at any time to see all available commands. It’s your safety net — if you ever feel lost, /help shows you every option.

Try It Yourself