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How to get started with Claude Code

Claude Code is Anthropic's coding assistant that reads your project, edits files and runs commands from your terminal. This guide takes you from install to a first working session, plus the one file that makes every later session better.

Updated 30 October 2026

Commands below were checked against Anthropic's Claude Code documentation as of October 2026.

Which plans include Claude Code

Step 1: Install

1. Open a terminal. On Windows, PowerShell shows PS C:\ in the prompt; CMD shows just C:\.
2. Run the command for your system:
   • macOS, Linux, WSL: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
   • Windows PowerShell: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
   • Windows CMD: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd
3. Wait. The installer shows no progress bar while it downloads.
4. Open a new terminal window and run claude --version. You should see a version number followed by (Claude Code).

Prefer a package manager? brew install --cask claude-code on Mac or winget install Anthropic.ClaudeCode on Windows also work. On native Windows, installing Git for Windows is recommended so Claude Code can use Bash; without it, it falls back to PowerShell.

Step 2: Start your first session in a project

1. Move into your project: cd /path/to/your/project.
2. Type claude and press Enter.
3. On first use, follow the prompt to sign in through your browser. Your credentials are saved, so you only do this once. Use /login later to switch accounts.
4. Ask a question to get oriented, such as what does this project do? or where is the main entry point?. Claude reads the files it needs; you don't have to paste code in.
5. Try a small change, for example add input validation to the signup form. Claude shows the edit and asks before applying it; choose Yes to approve.

Claude Code also handles Git in plain language: what files have I changed? or commit my changes with a descriptive message.

Step 3: Give Claude your project's rules with CLAUDE.md

Every session starts with an empty context. A CLAUDE.md file is loaded at the start of each one, so it's where you put what Claude should always know: build and test commands, conventions, things to avoid.

1. In a session, run /init. Claude looks through your codebase and writes a starting CLAUDE.md with the commands and conventions it finds. If the file already exists, it suggests improvements instead of overwriting it.
2. Open the file and add what Claude couldn't discover by itself, such as "run the linter before committing".
3. Commit it so your teammates' sessions get the same instructions.

Anthropic suggests keeping each file under about 200 lines: longer files use more context and are followed less reliably. You can pull in other files with @path/to/file.

Commands worth learning first

• claude "task" starts a session with your first instruction already filled in.
• claude -p "query" answers once and exits.
• claude -c continues the last session in this folder; claude -r picks an older one. More in how to resume a Claude Code session.
• /help lists commands, /clear starts fresh, /exit (or Ctrl+D twice) quits.
• Type / to see available commands and skills.

Good to know

• Usage: on Pro and Max, Claude Code and Claude chat share the same five-hour and weekly limits. If an ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable is set and approved, Claude Code uses that key and bills at API rates instead; run /login to switch to your subscription.
• Permissions: the permission mode decides what Claude may do without asking. Press Shift+Tab to cycle modes.
• CLAUDE.md is guidance, not a lock: Claude treats it as context. Specific, short instructions are followed most consistently.

If it doesn't work

• claude isn't found after installing: open a new terminal. If it still fails, the install folder isn't on your PATH yet; Anthropic's troubleshooting page explains the fix.
• The token '&&' is not a valid statement separator: you're in PowerShell; use the PowerShell command. 'irm' is not recognized means you're in CMD.
• The install command fails with a 403 or a syntax error: see Anthropic's installation troubleshooting page for alternative install methods.
• Sign-in loops or uses the wrong account: run /login inside a session to sign in again.

Workbranch for Claude Code

If you track project work in Workbranch, its Claude Code plugin shows what's still open when a session starts in a folder linked to a project, and you can say "save this to Workbranch" to file the session's tasks, decisions and open questions by topic. Details are on the Workbranch for Claude page.

Sources

• Use Claude Code with your Pro or Max plan (Claude Help Center, checked 2026-10-30)
• Quickstart (Claude Code Docs, checked 2026-10-30)
• How Claude remembers your project (Claude Code Docs, checked 2026-10-30)

Frequently asked questions