How to Install Claude Code on Windows

Claude Code is Anthropic's code editor that integrates AI assistance directly into your development workflow. This guide walks you through downloading and installing Claude Code on Windows 10 or 11.

1. Download Claude Code from Anthropic. Navigate to claude.ai/code in your web browser. Click the 'Download for Windows' button to download the installer file. The file will be named something like 'ClaudeCode-Setup-1.0.0.exe' and will download to your Downloads folder.
2. Run the installer as administrator. Right-click the downloaded installer file and select 'Run as administrator'. Click 'Yes' when Windows asks for permission. The Claude Code Setup wizard will open with a welcome screen.
3. Accept the license agreement. Read through the license terms and check the 'I accept the agreement' checkbox. Click 'Next' to proceed to the installation location screen.
4. Choose installation directory. The default installation path is 'C:\Program Files\Claude Code\'. Keep this default or click 'Browse' to select a different folder. Click 'Next' to continue to the components selection screen.
5. Select additional components. Check 'Create desktop shortcut' and 'Add to PATH environment variable' for easier access. Leave 'Install Git integration' checked if you use Git for version control. Click 'Next' to proceed.
6. Complete the installation. Review your installation settings and click 'Install'. The installation process takes 2-3 minutes. Once complete, check 'Launch Claude Code' and click 'Finish' to start the application.
7. Sign in to your Anthropic account. When Claude Code launches, click 'Sign In' and enter your Anthropic account credentials. If you don't have an account, click 'Create Account' to register. After signing in, Claude Code will sync your preferences and activate AI features.